BIG BUCK’S won four, Inglis Drever banged in three.
Today two-time champ FLOORING PORTER (3.30) has every chance of putting the bookies on the ropes and becoming another multiple
Cheltenham hero in the Paddy Power-sponsored Stayers’ Hurdle.
The Grade 1 feature is a right old conundrum, with young pretenders to the crown in Blazing Khal, Teahupoo and Home By The Lee out to show what they can do.
It looks like being one of the biggest battles of the Festival.
The race is dominated by the Irish in betting terms and I’m hoping Flooring Porter can once again show he’s the best of the best.
Although beaten twice this season — and also having met with a setback in training — the Gavin Cromwell-trained eight-year-old comes alive at the Festival.
And, as we have already seen down the years — and also this week — Cheltenham is one of the ultimate ‘horses for courses’ tracks.
Time and again we get returning heroes which is one of the things we love most about the Festival.
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It’s easier to play with the pace here and canny Danny Mullins is a master of that.
Day Three gets under way with the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase and MIGHTY POTTER (1.30) can make the rest look like they are running in clay.
Yes, he bombed out badly in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year but he’s since proved himself a pretty useful chaser this term.
He stays well and ultimately was a ready winner of a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time.
The odd mistake is a worry but should be hard to beat for Davy Russell and Gordon Elliott.
The Pertemps Final provides a chance for the Pipe family to be back in the big time at Cheltenham with THANKSFORTHEHELP (2.10)
This six-year-old has every chance of doing that for the yard in the colours of JP McManus.
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He is well fancied by jockey legend AP McCoy and might be chucked in off 128 after bolting up at Chepstow last time.
My tip travelled like a proper machine that day. JP’s main man Mark Walsh is in the plate.
Like many I think SHISHKIN (2.50) is very hard to beat in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase. He was back to his brilliant best when cruising home at Ascot.
Nicky Henderson — and Nico De Boinville in particular — have done a great job with this superstar.
The wind op has also clearly helped and I expect him to turn up in the same form. If he does I can see him jumping this lot into submission and powering clear.
However, he will go off at a shade of odds-on so we have to look for an each-way play and Fury Road fits that bill.
The nine-year-old is owned by the sponsors and hasn’t quite been seeing out the trip over three miles.
This drop back will suit and he was a good winner at Down Royal over two and a half miles not so long ago and was once third behind Monkfish and Latest Exhibition in the 2020 Albert Bartlett.
I believe Paul Nicholls will be celebrating a win in the Plate with IL RIDOTO (4.10).
A mark of 146 is high enough but he impressed me here last time out and this trip and distance is absolutely perfect.
There should be more to come from the six-year-old but, as always, this is a hugely competitive race with threats everywhere you look and I know John McConnell fancies Seddon who looks a nice each-way price.
There will be plenty of emotion around the place for the Jack De Bromhead Mares Novices’ Hurdle.
This is the sport that keeps on giving and it would be wonderful to see Henry win the race named in the honour of his son who tragically died after a fall in a pony race.
He runs five in the race with Rachael Blackmore riding Foxy Girl and the yard’s other main hope looking to be Magical Zoe.
Good luck to them, however, I’ll be surprised if they are good enough to beat LUCCIA (4.50) for Hendo. She was a fine bumper performer and Hendo thought about taking on the boys with her in the Supreme. She has jumped really well at Exeter and Newbury.
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Finally we have the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir for amateurs and BEAUPORT (5.30) can strike for local trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
He ran a huge run in a handicap hurdle at Aintree and has been tackling tough novice company over fences. I think he will relish this trip and has a fine each-way chance for Zac Baker.
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