Our columnist is looking forward to the return of Goshen in Saturday's Unibet International Hurdle and she looks at the other Cheltenham action too.
As I’m sitting here in front of my laptop with the action from Sky Sports Racing on the TV, the Moore family are having a storming day at Fontwell.
They have won the first three races and that impressive tally might improve further before the sun sets in an hour or so. Trainer Gary will be hoping that run of luck continues into the weekend where we are keeping everything crossed that hurdling sensation Goshen reappears over obstacles at Cheltenham on Saturday.
It’s fair to say his two runs on the flat were a little underwhelming and he has missed a couple of options this season over hurdles as he wasn’t quite 100%, so we are champing at the bit to see him back on track and back to his glorious best.
Goshen could return at Cheltenham
He’s entered for the Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham and if he’s anything like his best should take some beating. That’s not to say it will be an easy task with the likes of Fighting Fifth Hurdle runner-up Sceau Royal among the entries, along with Dan Skelton’s Ch’tibello, who is seeking his first win since landing the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019.
Song For Someone comes here in tip-top form for a stable in red-hot form with Tom Symonds’ gelding having won his last two, including the Coral Hurdle at Ascot last time out. Silver Streak could bid for compensation after being barged out of the Betfair Fighting Fifth at the second flight of hurdles by the recalcitrant Not So Sleepy while Ballyandy isn’t averse to putting his best foot forward at the home of National Hunt racing.
Call Me Lord, Summerville Boy, Verdana Blue and Stormy Ireland make up the entries and can’t be ruled out either. So, a competitive renewal if the majority of those horses stand their ground, but if Goshen lines up, you can guarantee his team will think he’s ready to go out and show us what he’s made of.
He’s 2/1 with Sky Bet to lay the ghost of the Cheltenham Festival to rest.
One of the other quality races at Cheltenham on Saturday is the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, a Grade Three handicap chase over an extended two-and-a-half miles. The Paul Nicholls-trained Master Tommytucker has been allotted top weight here having finally started to fulfil his potential and is on a hat-trick mission.
He had a shocking completion rate last season, falling in three of his four outings after being switched to fences, giving a whole new meaning to “nervous chase”.
Presumably intensive schooling has taken place and he’s now a much safer conveyance, showing more respect for his obstacles. He has also been given an entry for the rescheduled Peterborough Chase, but this race is much more valuable, so it will be interesting to see which route Nicholls takes.
I’ll fancy him wherever he rocks up. He’s a 6/1 shot with Sky Bet for this contest. If he doesn’t go here then Windsor Avenue would be an intriguing runner for Brian Ellison and one I’d want on my side, having shown up well when runner-up to Imperial Aura in the Colin Parker Memorial at Carlisle last month.
That was his first run since wind surgery and his trainer has always held him in high regard. He’s currently 15/2 joint third-favourite.
There’s now an eight-race card at Prestbury Park on Friday with the Peterborough Chase being salvaged from Huntingdon’s abandoned meeting last Sunday.
Nicky Henderson had suggested it could be an option for Tingle Creek absentee Altior if the race were to be re-staged, but he’s switched to an B, or is that C, and will reroute his star two-mile chaser to Kempton over Christmas instead, where hopefully the ground will be to his liking.
Tommytucker hard to beat wherever he runs
So Master Tommytucker has a couple of options this weekend which now includes this race and he will be popular if taking this route rather than the handicap chase on Saturday (as you’ve just read, I think he’ll be popular if he goes there as well). I guess what I’d like to see is Master Tommytucker in this and then I’ll be with Windsor Avenue in the Caspian Caviar, let’s just wait and see what is declared to run where.
I’m hoping that Gordon Elliott decides to leave Duffle Coat at home rather than run in Saturday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial and if that’s the case then I hope French import Adagio has a great chance of winning it for David Pipe.
He was unfortunate to meet the aforementioned unbeaten hurdler at this track last month and without him in opposition he can get another win to his name.
I thought Coral Welsh National winner Potters Corner ran really well on his first foray into cross country races and hope he can back that up in Friday's Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase.
Easysland at his best would be hard to beat, but he disappointed last time out in the race Potters Corner was third in tand the French star has to give a huge amount of weight to Christian Williams’ tough staying chaser. He’s 7/2 second favourite with Sky Bet.
Good luck and enjoy, particularly if you are heading out to the ‘sports’ in person.