Ben Linfoot picks out three points of interest from Friday's card at Cheltenham featuring Elixir De Nutz, The Worlds End and Theatre Territory.
1. Can Elixir De Nutz defy a penalty in the opener?
The maximum 10lb penalty for his win in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial at Cheltenham last time makes life tough for Elixir De Nutz in the British Stallion Studs EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle (12.10).
Low sun meant hurdles were omitted in that race and the form looks a little frail because of that, while it couldn’t be described as a strong renewal, either.
His form with Thomas Darby gives hope that he can defy the weighty burden, but there is enough potential among the opposition to take him on this Friday.
Angels Breath looks an interesting point-to-point recruit for Nicky Henderson, while The McNeill Family send Carlisle bumper winner I K Brunel over hurdles for the first time.
Elixir De Nutz has the best form on show, but, with the penalty in mind, it won’t be a surprise if one or two are too good for him in this.
2. Lil Rockerfeller – are you for or against?
He’s a terrific horse Lil Rockerfeller.
I think punters like him because he responds to pressure and you never really feel like you’ve done your money even if he’s niggled early.
Cheekpieces help him. They were back on at Exeter last time and he did things in a much easier fashion, but Friday’s test looks his sternest yet over fences.
With that in mind, I’d have to be against him with The Worlds End taken to improve on his last run here.
He had a three from three verdict over Lil Rockerfeller over hurdles and he looked very good on his chasing debut at Chepstow.
Last time, at Cheltenham, he had to settle for third behind Ibis Du Rheu, but an 8lb pull can definitely help him reverse that form as he just seemed to be caught out by the stronger gallop last month.
The experience should’ve done him good and I can see him improving on that form. He could be the one.
3. Will Theatre Territory see out the trip?
It was surprising not to see Theatre Territory in the Becher Chase.
She’s an excellent jumper, has experience of the Aintree fences already and her style of racing is well suited to the Liverpool track.
You can’t really say the same about Cheltenham, even if she has run some great races in defeat there.
Last time at Prestbury Park, over just a little bit further than three miles, she jumped for fun up front and did nothing whatsoever wrong, but she was caught up the hill by Ibis Du Rheu, a horse that was previously zero from seven over fences.
Over another two furlongs on Friday she could be vulnerable up the hill again, even if she is well-handicapped.
She was a beneficiary of the proximity ruling after her second to Ibis Du Rheu last time, meaning the handicappers were unable to put her up despite her beating a 155-rated horse by almost two lengths(in receipt of 12lb).
If they could’ve, she would’ve gone up 7lb to 139. So she’s half a stone well-in here and looks set to go off a relatively short-priced favourite.
She’s nought from seven over fences herself, though, and that hill, at the end of this trip, could well be a long climb for the Robert Waley-Cohen-owned horse.
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