DEFI DU SEUIL has justified favouritism on all five of his hurdles starts since joining Philip Hobbs from France and is fully expected to land the six-timer. After kicking off his British career with a win at Ffos Las, Defi Du Seuil has gained invaluable Cheltenham experience with four straight wins over the course, culminating in a nine-length victory over Rainbow Dreamer on his most recent visit to Prestbury Park. Clearly the one to beat.
Mega Fortune kept on well under pressure when beating Bapaume in a Grade One juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown.
Charli Parcs was impressive when slamming Master Blueyes by eight lengths on his first run for Nicky Henderson but blotted his copybook when falling behind that horse on his only other British effort at Kempton.
Master Blueyes might have been a slightly fortunate winner that day but will be a threat to all judged on his 18l win over Long Call at Ludlow.
SELECTION: DEFI DU SEUIL
Each-way: Mega Fortune
Lay: Master Blueyes
NORTH HILL HARVEY has two Cheltenham wins from three tries. On his most recent run he had to be driven right out to the line to beat Modus by half a length when making a successful handicap debut. He travelled supremely well through most of the race and is sure to have more to offer.
Song Light travelled powerfully in North Hill Harvey’s race here but didn’t quite have the pace to peg back the front two, eventually having to settle for third, less than two lengths behind the winner.
Mick Jazz won a Listed novice hurdle at Punchestown in the hands of Jack Kennedy, showing plenty of guts and determination to get up in the final strides to beat the odds-on favourite Cilaos Emery by a neck.
Air Horse One is in the form of his life, having won his last three starts. Turned in a career-best performance on his most recent outing when proving too good for Divine Spear at Ascot.
Winter Escape was a long way behind North Hill Harvey on his last outing on this course but there was nothing wrong with his three previous efforts, which all resulted in victories. That setback came on Winter Escape’s seasonal reappearance so it might be worth forgiving him that below-par run.
SELECTION: NORTH HILL HARVEY
Each-way: Renneti
Lay: Diego Du Charmil
CONSTANTINE BAY hasn’t stopped improving since joining Nicky Henderson after landing a point-to-point for Amber Griffiths, winning all three starts over timber – at Haydock, Chepstow and Doncaster.
Death Duty will be a big danger. After winning two from three in bumpers, the six-year-old has really found his feet over hurdles. He won his first race over obstacles at Roscommon and has subsequently completed a hat-trick of wins. On his most recent run, Death Duty landed a Grade One novice hurdle at Naas. Augusta Kate was upsides when falling at the last.
Augusta Kate was in the process of running really well when jinking to the left at the last and then falling in that Naas race.
Wholestone has been flying for Nigel Twiston-Davies, winning four of his last five and gaining plenty of Cheltenham experience in the process with three wins over the course, including two over this three-mile trip.
SELECTION: CONSTANTINE BAY
Each-way: Death Duty
Lay: The Worlds End
THE Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup is more open than looked likely at the start of the week.
Two of the first three in the betting, Native River and Cue Card are trained by Colin Tizzard, who has not had a winner this month – but not for the want of trying.
In contrast, DJAKADAM is trained by Irish maestro Willie Mullins, who had four winners yesterday.
His star staying chaser has finished runner-up for the last two years, when six and seven years of age, yet 80 per cent of recent winners are eight or nine.
In a sense he overachieved in 2015 and 2016, so given a little improvement there is a good chance he will go one better.
Native River’s wins in the Hennessy Gold Cup and Welsh Grand National stamp him as a proven stayer.
He has finished in the first three in all 10 of his starts since he was tailed off when 40-1 for the 2015 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
Cue Card has won more than £1.3million in prize money and nine Grade Ones. It is 55years since an 11-year-old won (Mandarin in 1962) but a few have been placed in that time. He is one for Placepots rather than one to put the mortgage on.
Looking to the yards in form, Outlander comes into the race on the back of a career best.
He got the better of Don Poli and Djakadam in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown after Christmas.
He would only need to reproduce that to win today.
Bristol De Mai had finished in the first three in all his races over fences until his recent last of three behind Native River at Newbury.
Champagne West and Minella Rocco are willing handicappers with a poor record when raced in this grade.
SELECTION: DJAKADAM
Each-way: Outlander
Lay: Cue Card
WONDERFUL CHARM, a useful chaser in his day, has taken well to his new career in hunter chases, winning on his only two starts in that sphere. Was always in command on latest run, landing the odds to beat Pentiffic by a length-and-three-quarters.
On The Fringe has completed the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown foxhunters’ treble in each of the last two seasons. Enda Bolger’s runner won this race last year by 17l, beating Following Dreams.
Won three in a row in March and April last year and came back from almost a year off to go down by 3½l to Foxrock in a Leopardstown hunter chase. Foxrock franked the form, following up at Gowran in a similar contest, getting home by 13l.
Sweet As A Nut represents owner-trainer Michael Barry from Co Cork. Beat Captain Bizarro in a Limerick hunter chase by 15l, only having to be pushed cleared under hands and heels.
Ask The Weatherman has had a fantastic run in point-to-points, winning his last seven starts by an astonishing aggregate of 123l.
Paint The Clouds has won seven races in hunter chases, including his last two at Stratford and Doncaster, so comes into the race in good form for Warren Greatrex.
SELECTION: WONDERFUL CHARM
Each-way: Sweet As A Nut
Lay: Ask The Weatherman
COO STAR SIVOLA had run exclusively in Graded or Listed company since coming to Britain and appreciated the drop in class when landing a fairly warm novice hurdle at Warwick last month, scoring by no less than 38l from Chateau Robin.
Born Survivor was a faller last time out but had yet to be asked for his effort when crashing out of the race two out at Kelso.
No Comment is a very reliable type with form figures of 2111 in his last four runs. He appears to be getting better with racing.
SELECTION: COO STAR SIVOLA
Each-way: Born Survivor
Lay: No Comment
GARDEFORT is a very consistent performer and made it five chase wins when beating Astre De La Cour by a length-and-a-quarter at Wincanton in his Cheltenham prep race.
Dodging Bullets has won more than £500,000 in prize money and rarely runs a bad one.
Dandridge has a good chance of going a place better than last year in this race when he was a close second to Solar Impulse. A blunder at the first and a mistake four out didn’t do him any favours.
Le Prezien has won two of his four chases and hasn’t got many miles on the clock.
Rock The World has been out with the washing on his last three runs (beaten an aggregate of 138 lengths) but has presumably been laid out for this race.
SELECTION: GARDEFORT
Each-way: Dodging Bullets
Lay: Le Prezien
