Ben Linfoot looks ahead to the start of the November Meeting at Cheltenham and ponders what we can expect from Grand National hero Tiger Roll.
Can The Young Master back up his Chepstow win?
Bred for six furlongs and rated 43 on the Flat, it looked at one point as though hurdles weren’t The Young Master’s thing either.
But, as things turned out, all he needed was a trip and a pair of cheekpieces and then, eventually, a fence.
His colourful career didn’t end there as he won the Badger Ales despite not being qualified for the race but, despite a 14lb rise for not technically winning anything, he still won next time out.
When he got to a rating of 150, things got harder and he spent a few seasons in the wilderness but on October 13 he bounced back, in style, winning off a mark of 130 at Chepstow.
The runner-up Traffic Fluide franked the form at Ascot and, with that in mind, a 5lb rise looks one he could defy.
He’s won this type of race at this track before and he’ll like the ground as well so, on balance, I’m going to say yes, even if there are a few likely types in opposition.
Will Paul Henderson win the BetVictor Handicap Chase again?
The 'other Henderson' is going for a hat-trick in Friday’s feature, the BetVictor Handicap Chase, following wins for Un Beau Roman and Doitforthevillage the last two years.
The latter horse bids to follow up last year’s victory off a mark just 2lb higher and he’ll like the good ground, too, so he’ll have his supporters.
However, there is a word of caution. Last year he was race fit having had a spin over hurdles and a run over fences around Cheltenham at the October meeting, and he is a horse that usually needs a run.
This year he turns up fresh after 218 days off and while his trainer is obviously respected given what’s happened the last two years, one or two of these might just have a fitness edge on him this time.
What should we expect of Grand National hero Tiger Roll?
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase will be in the spotlight more than usual this year with the Grand National hero Tiger Roll making his seasonal reappearance in the race.
A winner of the Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival before his Aintree heroics, he now knows this course well having got acquainted with it when a 42-length fifth in the December version of this contest 11 months ago.
He’ll likely be a short price on Friday, but this is a handicap and he does have to give a lot of weight away, while connections will almost certainly be working back from the spring and a defence of his Cheltenham Festival title.
In answer to the question, probably not as much as the market does, even if it does look a weak renewal.
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