CHELTENHAM throws opens its doors for the first time this weekend when it stages its Showcase meeting. This two-day affair has gained traction in recent years and is attracting a much higher quality of horse. Many trainers and owners will be slightly anxious about the ground but reports suggest Simon Claisse and his team have done the trick again to produce perfect jumping ground. It would have been a shame for the meeting to be remembered (or rather quickly forgotten) for small fields and uncompetitive racing.
ARISTO DU PLESSIS takes up his entry in the 2m novices’ chase on Friday (2.45). An exciting hurdler, he is one of this blog’s 10 to follow. He does not want extremes of ground and the surface should be ideal. He also has the not inconsiderable assistance of the marvellous Richard Johnson. Aristo Du Plessis was the highest rated of these over hurdles and likes to race from the front. So does Baron Alco and Paul Nicholls’ Marracudja who look the main dangers. There is sure to be plenty of pace up front and it should be some spectacle.
SHANTOU VILLAGE hacked up on his chasing debut and has good form around Cheltenham. He looks a possible for the RSA Chase but this time of year might be the best time to catch him. He had two entries at Cheltenham this weekend but he looks set to run in the 2m3f novice event on Saturday (4.40). Trainer Neil Mulholland has his horses running well and he will take all the beating.
WISHFULL DREAMING was mightily impressive at Chepstow on his reappearance and looks a very well handicapped horse on that form. He will carry a penalty on Friday in a competitive 2m handicap (5.40) but could still be very well in. Cyrius Moriviere is thought to be fit and well and should also run very well.
On Saturday THE TOURARD MAN (4.05) reverts to hurdles after a couple of novice chase victories. He had also earlier won twice over hurdles under 10lb claimer Kevin Dowling and the young jockey takes the ride again. The claim means he is effectively racing off the same mark as when he was third in the Pertemps in 2015. Good ground is essential for The Tourard Man and he should put up a bold show.
His trainer Alan King has his horses in good form and has SCEAU ROYAL and GIBRALFARO entered in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle (3.00). The former is a slick hurdler whose form only tailed off at the festivals in the spring while Gibralfaro ran well on his reappearance and should be spot on for this.
I really liked the way WHOLESTONE won at Warwick and he could step up in 2m 7f novices’ hurdle at 2.25. Nigel Twiston Davies has a good record at the Cheltenham Showcase Meeting and has his string in fine nick, and he looks another nice young recruit for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
Be lucky!
