CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2012

Champion Hurdle
2m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
4/6 Hurricane Fly, 11/2 Binocular, 6 Grandouet, 7 Zarkandar, 10 Rock On Ruby, 10 Oscar Whisky, 10 Oscars Well, 14 Peddlers Cross, 16 Thousand Stars, 20 Unaccompanied, 20 So Young, 20 Celestial Halo, 20 Zaidpour, 25 Brampour, 25 Overturn, 25 Mikael D’Haguenet, 25 Final Approach, 25 Starluck, 33 Topolski , 33 Bob Ewing, 33 Flat Out (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Queen Mother Champion Chase
2m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
2 Sizing Europe, 7/2 Big Zeb, 5 Finians Rainbow, 8 Somersby, 10 Peddlers Cross, 14 Hold Fast, 16 Realt Dubh, 16 Kauto Stone, 16 Wishfull Thinking, 25 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Ladbrokes World Hurdle
3m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
1/2 Big Buck’s, 4 Oscar Whisky, 7 Thousand Stars, 10 Mikael D’Haguenet, 12 Bobs Worth, 12 Dynaste, 12 Zaidpour, 12 Voler La Vedette, 12 Quevega, 14 So Young, 20 Mourad, 20 Our Father, 25 Poungach, 25 Carlito Brigante, 25 Celestial Halo, 25 Featherbed Lane, 25 Smad Place, 33 Restless Harry, 33 Five Dream, 40 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Cheltenham Gold Cup
3m 2f, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
9/4 Long Run, 7/2 Kauto Star, 7 Grands Crus, 10 Synchronised, 16 Midnight Chase, 20 Quito De La Roque, 20 Quel Esprit, 20 Weird Al, 20 Finians Rainbow, 20 Jessies Dream, 25 Burton Port, 25 Medermit, 25 The Minack, 33 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Triumph Hurdle
2m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
8 Sadlers Risk, 10 Minsk, 10 Ut De Sivola, 10 Pearl Swan, 12 Dildar, 12 Ranjaan, 12 Grumeti, 14 Hinterland, 14 Hollow Tree, 14 Baby Mix, 14 Kazlian, 16 Tango De Juilley, 16 Hammersly Lake, 16 Balder Success, 20 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Supreme Novices Hurdle
2m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
9 Steps To Freedom, 10 Galileos Choice, 10 Darlan, 10 Cinders And Ashes, 12 Tour Dargent, 14 Cash And Go, 14 Simonsig, 14 Colour Squadron, 16 Midnight Game, 16 Tetlami, 16 Oscar Nominee, 16 Baby Shine, 20 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Arkle Chase
2m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
9/4 Sprinter Sacre, 7/2 Peddlers Cross, 4 Al Ferof, 8 Cue Card, 12 Menorah, 16 Bog Warrior, 16 Blackstairmountain,20 Kid Cassidy, 20 Cristal Bonus, 25 For Non Stop, 25 Sanctuaire, 25 Shot From The Hip, 33 bar others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

RSA Chase
3m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
6/4 Grands Crus, 4 Bobs Worth, 8 Last Instalment, 10 Join Together, 10 Sir Des Champs, 10 Silviniaco Conti, 10 Bog Warrior, 16 First Lieutenant, 20 Mossley, 20 Champion Court, 20 Walkon, 25 bar, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Ryanair Chase
2m 4f, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
6 Noble Prince, 6 Somersby, 7 Rubi Light, 10 Riverside Theatre, 10 Albertas Run, 10 Kauto Stone, 10 Captain Chris, 10 Finians Rainbow, 10 Blazing Tempo, 12 Medermit, 14 Great Endeavour, 16 Poquelin, 16 Tranquil Sea, 16 Jessies Dream, 16 Kalahari King, 16 Quel Esprit, 20 Little Josh, 20 Realt Dubh, 20 Wishful Thinking, 25 Woolcombe Folly, (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
3m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
5 Fingal Bay, 5 Boston Bob, 10 Make Your Mark, 12 Sea Of Thunder, 12 Simonsig, 14 Samain, 16 Mount Benbulben, 20 Ongenstown Lad, 20 King’s Grace, 20 Captain Sunshine, 25 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Neptune Novices Hurdle
2m5f, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
4 Boston Bob, 5 Fingal Bay, 12 Make Your Mark, 12 Simonsig, 12 Batonnier, 16 Sous Les Cieux, 16 Captain Conan, 16 Monksland, 20 Fourth Estate, 20 Mount Benbulben, 20 Oscar Magic, 20 Allure Of Illusion, 20 Broadbackbob, 25 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

David Nicholson Mares Hurdle
2m4f, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
5/4 Quevega, 4 Voler La Vedette, 5 Unaccompanied, 12 Our Girl Salley, 16 Kentford Grey Lady, 16 Alasi, 20 Dare To Doubt (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
4m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
8 Harry The Viking, 8 Soll, 10 Loose Performer, 12 Alfie Spinner, 12 Lambro, 12 Crash, 12 Universal Soldier, 14 Fists of Fury, 14 Allee Garde, 16 Up The Beat, 16 Teaforthree, 16 Baile Anrai, 16 Medical Card, 16 Oscar Dan Dan, 16 Picture This, 20 Strongbows Legend, 20 Start Me Up, 25 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Champion Bumper
2m, Cheltenham Festival, March 2012
10 Champagne Fever, 14 Venture Capital, 16 Moscow Mannon, 16 Population, 16 Shutthefrontdoor, 16 The New One, 20 Circular Quay, 20 Mozoltov, 20 Silver Concorde, 20 Sword Of Honour, 20 The Paparrazi Kid, 20 The Westerner Boy, 25 Clondaw Warrior, 33 The Mighty Man (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

Who would be Willie Mullins?  So many high-class hurdlers, so few races.

So Young’s victory in the Follow Navan on Facebook Hurdle at, well, Navan on Sunday was obviously a positive for the trainer, but it also served to add to the Cheltenham head-scratch.

Say Hurricane Fly makes it to Cheltenham ready to run for his life.  That appears to be a likely scenario these days since he pleased his trainer in a nice piece of work at Leopardstown last week and confirmed himself on track for the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle on 29^th January.

In that instance, it is possible that Willie would not run another horse in the Champion.  Maybe Thousand Stars, like he did last year, maybe no other, maybe not even Thousand Stars.  Even if he did run Thousand Stars, it would still mean that Cheltenham homes would have to be found for the rest of them: Mikael D’Haguenet, So Young, Mourad, Zaidpour, Quevega, Final Approach.

Mourad will probably run in the World Hurdle however things pan out, he finished third in the race last year and there is no reason to expect that he would have the pace for a Champion.  Thousand Stars should probably run in the World Hurdle as well.  He did win the County Hurdle over two miles, but he also won the French Champion Hurdle over three and a quarter, and his better chance of victory, Big Buck’s’s (double apostrophe s is a strange one) monstrous presence notwithstanding, you would have to think, would be in the longer race.

Quevega would go for the David Nicholson race, that is almost a given, although if the cards fell in a certain way and there was a necessity, she wouldn’t be out of place in a Champion Hurdle or a World Hurdle.

That still leaves a handful of others.  So Young could go anywhere.  He would have gone closer than he did in the Neptune Hurdle over two and a half miles last March had he not made a significant mistake at the final flight, but his last two wins have been over two, and he showed a nice turn of foot to come away from the useful Trifolium on Sunday.  It is not beyond the realms of possibility to think that he would be competitive in either a World Hurdle or a Champion Hurdle, but he was the potential to progress for stepping up in trip, and the World Hurdle would appear to be the race for him at Cheltenham.  Also, a handicap mark of 149 means that the Coral Cup or the County Hurdle are not out of the question if it all got a little congested in the championship races.

Final Approach won the County Hurdle last March and, while he has competed over further than the minimum trip since, a fast-run two miles does suit him well.  He wasn’t disgraced in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle on his return this term, and he won nicely at Cork two weeks ago.  He probably shouldn’t really have the class for a Champion Hurdle, but a return to the County Hurdle may not be the most ridiculous idea in the world.  He is now rated 145, just 6lb higher than the mark off which he prevailed last March, and it is not impossible that he could find that magnitude of improvement.  Alternatively, he could step up in trip for the Coral Cup.  Another half-mile could bring that 6lb improvement.

Zaidpour is interesting again.  Hailed as the Second Coming when he won the Royal Bond Hurdle in December 2010, his season got away from him a bit after he was beaten by First Lieutenant at Leopardstown over Christmas (form that doesn’t look too shoddy now), and he was an also-ran behind Al Ferof in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

He has looked very good in two egg and spoon races this season so far, however, and he seemed to stay two miles six and a half furlongs well at Thurles, albeit against vastly inferior opposition.  It may be that he needs easy ground to be at his best, but he is another for whom the World Hurdle is a realistic aspiration.  Pity they haven’t introduced the new Grade 2 two-and-a-half-mile hurdle at Cheltenham, the Ryanair Chase for hurdlers that they talk about frequently.  That would have helped Mullins out this year no end.

Then there is Mikael D’Haguenet.  Winner of the Neptune Hurdle in 2010 when he had the world at his feet, a faller in the RSA Chase in 2011 when nothing was going right, he is busy re-gaining his confidence in small fields over small obstacles this term, and he is looking good again.

He does shape like a stayer, but he proved that he also retained plenty of pace when he quickened up nicely over two miles at Fairyhouse’s Hatton’s Grace meeting in early December to beat some useful rivals.  If Mullins can get him to Cheltenham in the same form as he was in when he won the Neptune, then he would be a player in either championship race.

We probably won’t know the exact line-up until the 11^th hour but, if they all remain healthy and well for the next eight weeks, it will be a nice head-scratcher for the champion trainer.

Three horses who shaped with promise recently and look ones to watch out for in coming weeks.

Kalacan: Dundalk 13th January

Kalacan has become an attractively handicapped horse,now dropped to a mark of just 57 and judging by his run at Dundalk last Friday, he looks capable of exploiting this rating in the near future. A horse who has previously competed well off marks in the high seventies and low eighties in the past, he lost his way somewhat last year, but has been shaping with promise on his last few outings.
The son of Kalanisi ran his best races previously over ten to twelve furlongs in the latter half of 2010, so it is interesting that he has been campaigned at much shorter distances throughout 2011.
In Friday’s race, he was dropped down to a six furlong trip and the suspicion that would prove way too sharp was correct, but he stayed on pretty strongly in the last couple of furlongs to come a promising third at the finish. Formerly trained by Ger Lyons, the six-year old has now joined Co Meath handler Denise Foster and connections will no doubt be aiming to exploit Kalacan’s falling mark in the weeks ahead. He will be interesting when stepped back up in distance again.

Forty Foot Tom: Punchestown 14th January

In general, horses coming from small stables tend to need a run after being off the track for a while, and this comment can certainly be applied to Forty Foot Tom on Saturday. A horse who displayed definite promise last season, when competing in valuable handicaps, his campaign has yet to get off the ground this season. After a lacklustre seasonal debut back in October,the son of Kings Theatre reappeared again on Saturday and displayed much more encouragement.
Although, well beaten at the finish, he travelled better than anything throughout the race and it looked a case of him simply blowing up due to lack of fitness in the latter stages. He could well need another outing to bring him to peak fitness and with the possibility that he will be dropped a few pounds in the ratings, there could be a handicap to be won with him him in the next month or two, possibly at one of the more low key Irish midweek fixtures.

Hujaylea : Meydan January 6th:

The admirable Hujaylea is pretty exposed now but he has not stopped improving throughout 2011 and he could well be knocking on the door for a decent handicap at the Meydan Carnival over the next number of Thursdays. On his first outing at this years Carnival, eleven days ago, he ran a fair race when seventh of sixteen behind Time Prisoner in a seven furlong handicap. The race was run at a fairly slow pace which did not suit the hold up performers and Hujaylea found himself with too much ground to make up in the straight.
Michael Halfords’s gelding stayed on quite strongly though, and would have finished closer but for being impeded slightly at the two furlong pole. Another furlong should help him and he might be a player in some of the upcoming big Dubai handicaps.

The Dipper Chase, one of the highlights on Cheltenham’s excellent New Year’s Day card on Sunday, was this year called the Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices’ Chase (registered as the Dipper Novices’ Steeple Chase). Seriously. This is getting ridiculous now.

This is a bit of an old chestnut, but we are used to commercial sponsors bullying tried and trusted race names out of the way. Names by which we recognise the races, names that have been with us for years, names that provide the narrative for the season, the stepping stones that take us through it, the names that are the targets for horses, without the trainer having to say: or whatever that race is called this year.

You know the races. The Bula Hurdle became the Boylesports International not too long ago, when the sponsors obviously decided that a change to the race name would allow them some extra purchase in terms of sponsor-mentions. Then the Boylesports contract ended and the race was just left as the International, with Stan James picking up the sponsors’ tab. So now it’s the International – the Stan James international for now – instead of the Bula, and we’re back to where we started, except for the fact that a temporary, now absent, sponsor’s whim has resulted in the wholesale changing of the name of a race that was embedded into jump racing’s tradition just because the piper calls the tune and this particular piper said so.

32Red tried to do away with the Bunbury Cup name, and succeeded in so doing for a season, because Newmarket complied, before the public outcry was so strong that the sponsors decided to reinstate the Bunbury Cup name the following year, that their association with the Bunbury Cup would have a stronger positive effect than their association with a non-descript unidentifiable seven-furlong handicap at Newmarket, coupled with the fact that they would be the company responsible for the death of the Bunbury Cup as we knew it.

Some racecourses and some sponsoring companies are worse than others. A lot of Punchestown’s races go under the sponsor’s name, with the registered-as term employed, although not that visible sometimes. As a result, you are not sure what the Champion Chase or Champion Novices’ Hurdle at their festival is going to be called from one year to the next. The Morgiana Hurdle was called the Mongey Communications Hurdle for a season or two, before sense prevailed. Now it’s called the Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle, which is perfect.

With a few exceptions, sponsoring bookmakers are generally fairly good about this issue, perhaps because they understand the game, perhaps because they recognise the value of having their name associated with a race, the long term benefit of such, as opposed to seeking the quick fillip that number-of-mentions provide in a given year. Coral have attached their name to the Coral-Eclipse, and to the Coral Welsh National very successfully through longevity of association. Surely that’s what sponsorship is all about.

Of course these are straightened times, and racecourses are up against it in terms of attracting sponsors, they have to employ whatever means necessary to secure financial input, and if a sponsor says that it wants to change a race name then racecourses have to listen. Also, of course, just because things have always been thus, it doesn’t mean that they should remain thus. However, these things really should be sacrosanct: unless there is a long-term reason for changing a race name, it really should be left as it is.

So the Cheltenham Pony Raceday Novices’ Chase instead of the Dipper Chase? Indeed.

· For more of Donn’s thoughts, visit www.donnmcclean.com

A decent finish to 2011 with a couple of winners yesterday – Royal Bajan at 9/2 (advised) and Rey Nacarado at an SP of 3/1 giving a near 20/1 double at advised prices. New Year’s Day brings a very competitive card at Cheltenham, and there look to be a few value selections on offer.

Cheltenham 1.35 – Richards Sundance 5/1

In a race full of exposed veterans, Richards Sundance looks back to a mark from which he can win as he bids to go one better than when chasing home Blazing Bailey in this race last season.

A horse who progressed rapidly when stepped up to trips beyond 3m a couple of seasons ago, he won off a mark of 134 at Wincanton in early 2010 over 3m1f on heavy ground. Although he has not been the most consistent since then, he has done enough to show he retains his ability and the handicapper has given him a chance by dropping him to 129 today.

His run here last year showed he can handle this track when always prominent and staying on well right to the line. After a few poor efforts in the spring, he has since bounced back well when 4th in the Badger Beer Chase at Wincanton and 4th again at Chepstow last month to the subsequent Welsh National winner Le Beau Bai.

As a true stayer he should be suited by a likely strong gallop with Hello Bud and The Sawyer amongst those who like to go fast from the start. The tactically astute Denis O’Regan should be able to place the 10yo handily and pick off the front runners late on.

Cheltenham 2.10 – Ghizao 13/2; Hells Bay 14/1 e/w

The presence of the top class The Nightingale has compressed the weights somewhat for this handicap leaving nearly half the field to race from higher than their official rating. That will be to the benefit of both my selections who can race off a nice racing weight today.

Ghizao was let down by his jumping somewhat in a similar event over course and distance last time out, but in the circumstances ran perfectly well to finish a staying on sixth having been shuffled to the back of the field early on. He made up ground so well down the hill that he held a chance two out before the exertions to get involved told late on. A combination of a slightly smaller field today plus slower ground will help his jumping and Ruby Walsh is happy to keep the faith with Ghizao over The Nightingale.

Hells Bay was a revelation at this track last year in novice company, the highlight being his win in the Dipper Chase on this card last season where he saw off Medermit amongst others. Sadly an injury kept him out of the Festival and the rest of last season. His comeback run at Ascot was something of a write off as he made several small mistakes before a bad stumble on the flat led to him being pulled up. Clearly nothing was seriously amiss as he makes a quick reappearance here, but he will be far more at home here than at Ascot where he did not seem to like going right-handed. This will be Hells Bay’s first appearance in a handicap and a mark of 156 looks plenty high enough. However he has Brendan Powell on board to reduce that by a valuable 7lbs and so racing off 10-8 makes his chance look much more realistic for this strong traveller who could be suited by the fast tempo that this sort of race usually provides.

Cheltenham 2.45 – Tidal Bay 7/1 ew

The most notable name from the clutch of horses Paul Nicholls picked up from owner Graham Wylie after Howard Johnson’s disqualification from training is Tidal Bay who makes a belated return to the track at a venue he has won at four times in the past (including twice over hurdles).

Whilst it is entirely possible that at the age of 11 Tidal Bay’s best days are behind him, he is the sort of quirky horse where a change of scenery might have rekindled his enthusiasm and we might yet see a high class performance or two from him. We have seen Paul Nicholls time and again get these class horses to win big handicaps off top weight (Celestial Halo being a case in point yesterday) and Tidal Bay himself has finished a fine second in the two handicaps he has previously completed.

Tidal Bay has successfully mixed hurdling and chasing throughout his career to a high level, winning the Cleeve Hurdle in devastating fashion from Time For Rupert here two seasons ago before disappointing in the World Hurdle next time out.

In truth his stablemate Oscargo looks a far more likely winner despite having to overcome a 12lb rise for his win here at the last meeting. At the odds however I favour an each-way play on Tidal Bay far more in case Nicholls can coax him back to his best.

A very Happy New Year to all Starbets readers. Some good days and some not so good days throughout 2011,but the aim will be to provide well researched and hopefully profitable selections going forward in 2012.

We will have a crack at two tough Cheltenham Handicap chases today.

Cheltenham 1.35 – Prophete De Guye 14/1 e/w

Prophete De Guye ran a shocker last time at Sandown but he had earlier looked a progressive handicapper in the making, and might be a different proposition today reunited with Timmy Murphy. The nine year old can be a bit of a sketchy jumper at times and never got competitive at Sandown most recently, but previously at Ascot he had jumped quite fluently in the main. He benefitted from an inspired ride by Murphy that day, who dropped him out at the back and got him popping his obstacles. The way he made up ground and pulled away from his rivals in the straight was impressive in the Ascot race, and the form got a boost with the runner up Fruity O Rooney winning at Kempton last week.

There is likely to be plenty of pace on today and that could set things up for a hold up performer such as this fellow. It will take Murphy’s considerable skill to get him jumping early on, but if he can succeed, there is no doubt the horse has plenty of ability and at a nice price, he is worth the risk.

Cheltenham 2.10 – Havingotascoobydo 7/1 e/w: Calgary Bay 8/1 e/w

Havingotascoobydo is not favoured by the race conditions given that he is four pounds out of the handicap but this negative is offset by the improvement anticipated stepping up in trip today. Martin Keighley’s gelding has run well on both recent starts over two miles, staying on strongly for second behind Tanks For That in a competitive handicap at the Open meeting back in November and again ran creditably in a simalar two mile handicap a few weeks ago. That November race has worked out well, with the third Imsingingtheblues, in particular, showing the form in a good light.

The son of Witness Box has previously shown good form over hurdles at today’s trip and looked to be in need of a longer trip in those two recent chase runs. He is likely to be settled out the back and if Alan Cawley can navigate a clear round, he could cut through the field with a strong late challenge.

Old reliable Calgary Bay is vulnerable to an improver, but he is a consistent sort and has a chance off a feasible mark today. Henrietta Knight’s charge likes Cheltenham and ran a nice race over this course and distance last year behind Wishful Thinking. On his second run this season, in the Boylesports Handicap, he was a little unlucky to get shuffled out the back mid way through the race and he did not fare badly to finish a staying on fifth, running past Ghizao in the closing stages. Henrietta could well have him primed for this contest today on his third outing this season and carrying only 10-4 on his back, he is handicapped to go close.

I wouldn’t go losing faith in Mount Benbulben yet. Lots of things conspired against Gordon Elliott’s horse yesterday, and combined to contribute to his defeat in the Grade 1 (unsponsored) Navan Novice Hurdle at (yes you’ve guessed) Navan.

For starters, Gordon Elliott’s horse had to make his own running. Or he did make his own running. Whether he had to or not is by-the-way, but you could see the rationale. He had needed every yard of Navan’s two-and-a-half-mile trip and every incline of the final hill and every drop of water that rendered the ground soft to heavy and every mile-per-hour that almost-all-the-way-leader Rebel Fitz went in order to enable him get up and catch Michael Winters’s horse in the Monksfield Hurdle over yesterday’s course and distance on his previous public appearance. The worry about him in yesterday’s race – 5/6 favourite though he was – was that, with no obvious pace-setter in the race, they would go too slowly, and turn it into more a test of speed than a test of stamina, and that wouldn’t have suited at all.

So Paul Carberry kicked Mount Benbulben out of the gate, and set off to make it a stamina test. The difficulty with that tactic was that, in all of his racing career, in two point-to-points, three bumpers and three hurdle races, Mount Benbulben had never before made the early running.

Front-running tactics don’t suit all horses – herding animals that they are and all, the majority of horses like being held up in behind, racing in among others, with something in front of them to chase – but you don’t know if those tactics are going to suit any individual horse or not until you try. Yesterday with Mount Benbulben, needs musted.

As it turned out, they didn’t suit. He didn’t seem to enjoy it at all. Carberry had to ride him away from the stands, around the bottom bend, past the exit to the unsaddling area, just to make sure that he knew he had to complete a second circuit. And on said second circuit, he didn’t appear to be happy within himself out in front. He jumped to his right, he slowed into one or two obstacles and, ultimately, he opened the door for Boston Bob.

The other major element that conspired against him was the fact that Boston Bob is probably very good indeed. Conqueror of the highly exciting (although regrettably ruled out for the season today) Days Hotel in a point-to-point and impressive winner of a bumper at Hexham on his only run for Howard Johnson, he had been impressive again in winning his maiden hurdle on his debut for Willie Mullins, significantly over yesterday’s course and distance, and there was and is no telling how good he could be. He was Mullins’s only representative in this race even at entry stage, a Grade 1 contest that the champion trainer last won with Mikael D’Haguenet, so he was obviously highly-regarded at home. He is a steeplechaser in the making, but he is very good over hurdles as well, and he probably shouldn’t have been as far away from Mount Benbulben in the betting as he was.

This was almost certainly a very good race. The front two finished in front of Ipso Du Berlais, another highly-regarded individual, representing a potent Noel Meade/Giggingstown House combination, who was unbeaten in three runs, a point-to-point, a bumper and a maiden hurdle, before he got turned over at odds-on at Thurles on his previous run. Also, the time was good, over a second faster that the time that the classy Zaidpour clocked – albeit largely unextended – in winning the Grade 2 Tara Hurdle over the same course and trip a half an hour earlier.

As well as all of that, Gordon Elliott’s horses were not going as well as you usually expect. Going into yesterday’s races, he had had 15 runners in December, and no winners. They weren’t running desperately badly, and he did win the bumper yesterday with Don Cossack, but they just weren’t excelling themselves.

Elliott said that the back specialist was coming in this morning to have a look at Mount Benbulben, he thought there was a chance that something was troubling him during the race, which was causing him to jump right. Even if something wasn’t, he should be a different horse now stepped up in trip and once allowed to take a lead rather than having to set his own pace, and he remains of interest for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

· For more of Donn’s thoughts, visit www.donnmcclean.com.

Four horses, strangely enough all French Breds, who caught the eye at Cheltenham last Saturday and look set to have productive seasons ahead.

Robinson Collonges – Cheltenham 10th December

I was happy enough with this galloping grey’s return to the larger obstacles last Saturday, following a few lacklustre performances previously. This French Import looked a nice prospect in the early stages of last season, and indeed, would have beaten Wishful Thinking at Wincanton but for tipping over at the last. That mishap appeared to have an adverse affect on the horse’s subsequent outings as he failed to jump,with any fluency.

Paul Nicholls reverted to hurdles with him initially in this new campaign and those two hurdle outings may have helped to restore the horses confidence. Although, ultimately well beaten on Saturday, it was encouraging that he jumped quite well throughout, in a two mile race, where there would have been plenty of pressure on his jumping.

Robinson is a staying type of animal and he did not have the pace to live with the principals over the latter stages. A step back up to around Three Miles should be much more to his liking and now that his jumping problems seem to have been rectified, he could yet prove a force this campaign.

Salut Flu – Cheltenham December 10th

A lightly raced six-year old with few miles on the clock, Salut Flu ran very well in the big Spinal Research Handicap at Cheltenham last Saturday, and can be expected to improve for his first outing in twenty months. A promising recruit back in the spring of 2010, this David Pipe- trained gelding had been sidelined for a long period through injury.

I was very impressed with the cruising speed displayed by the horse in such a competitive race last Saturday, and he travelled like the most talented runner in the race. Tiredness began to set in towards the last quarter mile and a couple of mistakes ultimately knocked the stuffing out of him.

I expect him to develop into a nice horse though, and he could have a big season ahead if staying injury free.

Roudoudou Ville – Cheltenham 10th December

Coming from the same Spinal Research handicap,Roudoudou Ville also gave a very solid run and looks to be a young chaser on the upgrade. Prominent in the front rank throughout, he also moved pretty easily through the race and did well to regain momentum after his jockey lost an iron for a few strides after a mistake at the top of the hill. The six-year old displayed good speed to quicken away from his rivals and was unlucky to just get run out of it by a couple of strong stayers in the closing stages. Victor Dartnell , no doubt, feels he has a fine young chaser on his hands and there should certainly be a decent handicap in him before the end of the season.

Grandouet – Cheltenham 10th December

A few weeks ago , it looked very much that the Champion Hurdle would be at the mercy of Hurricane Fly, but this young hurdler Grandouet could well emerge as a serious opponent now come March. A decent Juvenile last year, where he seemed to improve at a rate of knots, he finished the season in fine style at Punchestown beating Kumbeshwar by ten lengths.

I still believed he had plenty to find with the likes of Overturn and Menorah last Saturday, but he proved in a different league to those rivals, travelling sweetly throughout and most impressively of all, really pulling away from them up the Cheltenham hill. Last season’s third in the Triumph suggested he may not quite have the stamina for Cheltenham but he appears a much stronger horse this season, and still only four, there is likely to more improvement in him.

He will still need to find plenty more improvement to beat the brilliant reigning Champion, but Hurricane’s one flaw is that he is on the fragile side ,and there is always the fear that he might not get to Cheltenham. At any rate, Grandouet looks his main rival now and the 7/1 is probably worth taking.

The Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday – as well staking a fair claim to World’s Longest Race Title (non-dotcom section) – highlighted a couple of anomalies that exist in the declaration system.

Reserves are anathema to punters, especially to morning price shoppers. Understandably. If you don’t know the exact make-up of a race, how can you have a bet? There are enough known knowns and known unknowns in the Sodoku puzzle that is a horse race without adding the make-up of the race to the list.

Havingotascoobydo didn’t make it under the safety limit of 17 when final declarations were confirmed on Thursday morning. He was number 18 of 17, first reserve, only reserve. But the reserve system in the UK is different to the reserve system in Ireland, where reserves are in the will-they-won’t-they green room until the 11th hour. In the UK, reserves are kicked out the day before the race if a place hasn’t opened up for them, and it is rare that a place opens up between Thursday and Friday, still 24 hours before the race.

All 17 runners stood their ground on Friday, so no room for Havingotascoobydo. Trainer Martin Keighley had left him in the two-mile race, the Jenny Mould Memorial Handicap Chase, just in case, which was just as well, so he declared him for that.

There’s more though. Calgary Bay was declared for the Spinal Research race, but he was also declared for the three-mile handicap chase at Doncaster. His trainer Henrietta Knight indicated that the Doncaster race was his first preference, that he would only go to Cheltenham if the Doncaster meeting was abandoned. All perfectly legitimate under the rules as they stand.

However, it meant that Havingotascoobydo was being denied a run in his intended race because a horse who wasn’t really an intended runner at all was taking up a space. And it meant that punters weren’t certain of the make up of either the Cheltenham race or the Doncaster race.

Things got even more confusing when an inspection was called at Doncaster, which meant that you didn’t know for sure if Calgary Bay was going to run in the Cheltenham race or not. If Doncaster was on, Calgary Bay was out of the Cheltenham race; if Doncaster was abandoned, he was in it.

You probably could have had a bet in the Doncaster race, because you knew that, if it was on, Calgary Bay was going to run in it, seeing as it was his first preference and all. Right? Wrong. Another inspection was called at Doncaster as they waited to see if the ground was going to thaw out or not. Then another. Then another. Still not sure. Finally, at 11.45 or thereabouts, less than an hour before the first race, racing was given the go-ahead.

It was logical, then, to assume that Calgary Bay would run at Doncaster, but if you did, you would have been wrong. Presumably because the decision to race at Doncaster had been delayed for so long, Henrietta decided that she would just go to Cheltenham, where she knew racing was going ahead. It would have been frustrating to have been half way up the road to Doncaster – so far up it that you couldn’t have got back down it in time to race in the 2.30 at Cheltenham – when you learned that the meeting had been abandoned.

As things panned out, though, it was frustrating for punters and for Martin Keighley. There was a significant Rule 4 deduction in the Doncaster race after Calgary Bay’s withdrawal, which was the last thing you thought you would have been dealing with. Then, just to rub the salt in, Woolcombe Folly had to be withdrawn from the Cheltenham race at the start on a technicality, because his cheekpieces had been removed after he left the parade ring, because he had become fractious, and had been replaced at the start. Apparently you can’t do that.

So there were only 16 runners in the Spinal Research Gold Cup in the end, not 17. After all of that, there would have been room for Havingotascoobydo, although he probably would have been a little tired after finishing third in the two-mile handicap chase an hour earlier. They need to have a look at these rules again.

· For more of Donn’s thoughts, visit www.donnmcclean.com.

Racing returns to Cheltenham for the first of a two-day meeting, although it has to be said the quality is not quite up to the usual standard at Prestbury Park, largely down to the prevailing quick ground. Nevertheless there are a couple of races of interest on the card.

Cheltenham 12.35 – Edgardo Sol 9/2; Paintball 8/1

The biggest field of the day at Cheltenham lines up for this 2m1f hurdle, but only two horses stand out with rock solid credentials, Edgardo Sol and Paintball. I will therefore be backing both against the field.

Edgardo Sol is a recent import from France, and despite getting beaten on his first start in Britain at Newton Abbot in October, he has made quick progress since. He was a game winner of a handicap chase at Aintree on his next start, but showed his versatility by switching to hurdles and coming home clear in a novice handicap on the Old Course here.

Made favourite for a valuable hurdle at Sandown on Saturday, he did not look at ease on the right-handed track and was probably also unsuited by the softer ground on that occasion. That said he still had a chance when blundering two out. It looks significant that Paul Nicholls has sent him out again so quickly after that run, so returning to a left-handed track and quicker ground he could well resume winning ways.

Paintball looks the obvious alternative having shown good form on his first season hurdling last year. He won twice, at Ludlow and then in a handicap over this course and distance in a similar grade contest in April. He was also a respectable ninth at the Festival here in March.

He has put in two solid efforts so far this term, at Aintree where he was forced to race wide throughout and then when third at Sandown last time on ground that was arguably slower than ideal. After a brief dip in form, Charlie Longsdon’s stable looks to be back on the up in recent days, so this 4yo looks a value option to this event.

Cheltenham 1.10 – Thatlldoboy 2/1

Paul Nicholls’ 5yo has been making vast strides this autumn as a combination of blinkers and a transfer to jumping fences has transformed this previously modest hurdler into a progressive horse to follow for the winter.

Although beaten on his first chasing start at Chepstow in October, that was still an improvement on most of his runs last season, and he can be excused getting tired late on for his first start of the new campaign.

Blinkers were then applied for his next start at Wincanton, where despite a mistake five out, he cruised to the front turning for home and despite idling rarely looked like getting caught. However his last run at Newbury was far more impressive as he jumped far more boldly and had them all on the stretch from a long way out eventually gamely repelling the sustained challenge of Zarrafakt. Despite having to shoulder top weight today, he looks potentially a class above his rivals here, and can take his improved form on to land a hat-trick.

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Cheltenham Tips

12.35 – Edgardo Sol 9/2

12.35 – Paintball 8/1

1.10 – Thatlldoboy 2/1

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