So pleased with super Smad
Wayne Hutchinson reflects on day three of the Cheltenham Festival and a solid third place in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
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We were over the moon with Smad Place's third in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and he has travelled away beautifully in what was a muddly event early on.
No-one wanted to make it but once we have jumped two flights, Bog Warrior and Reve De Sivola have gone quite a nice gallop up front and nothing else really apart from the winner has come from behind us.
He really stuck to his task, galloped all the way to the line, and managed to get his head down to snatch third place.
He has enjoyed the ground and repeated last year's performance - he is going to make a really smashing chaser next season.
He may go to Aintree next month but he will definitely jump a fence next season and is going to be exciting - don't forget he is still young at only six.
He definitely sees out three miles on that gound as he showed today up the run-in.
Bakbenscher ran a sound race in the Pertemps Final and finished seventh so we were very pleased.
He gave me a a great ride all the way round and they probably did not go quick enough for us. He has seen out the three miles but maybe he is better in a stronger-run race over a shorter trip.
He lacks a gear and ideally wants the leaders to cut their throats a bit up front.
I was beaten on Bless The Wings before he made a mistake three out to be honest and he was always in top gear.
He jumped well for the first half of the race, but I have just missed the water and that has put us on the back foot and I was always niggling from that point.
He has landed out on his head three out and I have coasted home from there before pulling up before the last.
I think that the mark he is on will mean he needs to step up to three miles to find improvement as I was in top gear all the way. The ground was lovely and that is what he wants.
Friday is the final day of the Festival and I kick off on King Of Dudes in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
He showed great battling qualities last time at Doncaster to finish second and his first preference was the Fred Winter, but he did not make the cut.
So it is this race instead and he has got to find improvement, but he won't mind the track or the trip. He has cheekpieces on to sharpen him up a bit more and hopefully he can run a good race.
Manyriverstocross has his second run back in the County Hurdle after finishing in mid-division in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.
That was after over two years out and on bad ground and he is entitled to come on for the run but look back through his form, and he is well handicapped.
He is a strong traveller behind a good gallop so hopefully we will see him come up the hill powerfully.
Finally, I am on Kumbeshwar in the closing Grand Annual Chase.
This is a more realistic chance for him compared to taking on Sprinter Sacre twice and Sanctuaire. He is 6lb higher than his third in this race last year and the better ground is going to help him.
He is a model of consistency and I am sure he will run his race - he has good each-way prospects.
Finally, I am a fan of Bobs Worth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and think he is the one to beat.
It was good weight-carrying performance in the Hennessy at Newbury and he had to win that if he was going to be a Gold Cup horse. He is an RSA Chase winner as well so we know that he handles the track.
Silviniaco Conti has done nothing wrong and I think that we will see a different horse in Long Run with the cheekpieces on.
I think he has been crabbed unfairly - he has regained the King George and it would not surprise me if he did the same at Cheltenham in the Gold Cup.
The Giant Bolster has an each-way chance while Sir Des Champs has a decent record at the Cheltenham Festival and likes good ground but I would side with Bobs Worth.
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