In his exclusive daily column, the Betway ambassador assesses his chances on the penultimate day of the festival...
RSA Chase
You might be wondering what happened yesterday.
Might Bite gave it away on the run-in by straying, and if anything I got to him too soon.
Obviously, the best horse won and there were no excuses for my horse. He just kept going at one pace.
Today
It’s the penultimate day of the Cheltenham Festival and once again I’ve got some really nice rides to look forward to…
1.30pm: I’ve no ride in the opening JLT Chase, which I’m pretty sure will go the way of favourite Yorkhill ({ODDS:144527857:11/8}).
He was a really impressive winner of the Neptune Novices last year and is quite simply the best horse in the race.
Don’t get me wrong, I know he is a little quirky and hasn’t been that impressive with his jumping to date, but I’m sure he will put it all together on the day.
He wasn’t that impressive when schooling in public the other day but got better as the session went on and was very good in the straight.
The first three fences are in the perfect spot for him here and I think he will be just fine.
2.10pm: I have made no secret of the fact that I think the handicapper has given my fella Presenting Percy ({ODDS:144527859:7/1}) no chance in the Pertemps Final.
He was really good at Fairyhouse the other day off a mark of 130, but is being asked to try and repeat that this afternoon off a 16lbs higher mark.
That’s crazy. Of course, I hope I am wrong but it’s an impossible task.
The one we have to beat is Dicky Johnson’s mount, For Good Measure ({ODDS:144527934:9/1}).
He ran well when second here last time back in December, and is only 3lbs higher today.
2.50pm: Once again I’ll be watching from the weighing room here, but I fancy a couple against Un De Sceaux ({ODDS:144306650:2/1}).
Listen, the favourite is a super horse, I just don’t really like him on decent spring ground like this.
I actually think it’s between Alan King’s Uxizandre ({ODDS:144306651:9/2}) – who has won the Ryanair before – and Gordon Elliott’s Empire Of Dirt ({ODDS:144306647:3/1}).
If I was forced to choose I’d go for the former, as he’ll be hard to peg back.
3.30pm: The Stayers’ Hurdle is a great race to look forward to and I reckon the favourite will be extremely hard to beat.
Unowhatimeanharry ({ODDS:144306664:5/4}) has gone from strength to strength all season and it’s difficult to oppose him.
I suppose the one horse that could give him the most to think about is Jezki ({ODDS:144306658:7/1}) if he settles properly, as he’s a proven class act.
4.10pm: I’m back in action in the Plate where I ride favourite Diamond King ({ODDS:144527878:5/1}) for in-form Gordon Elliott.
He’s obviously a previous Festival winner and the sunshine will help his cause as he loves decent spring ground.
The big question is whether he can rediscover his early season form as he has just gone off the boil a bit recently.
If he does, he is a serious player.
4.50pm: Willie Mullins won the Mares’ Novices hurdle last season with Limini and its hard to see past him again this year.
Ruby Walsh has opted to ride Let’s Dance ({ODDS:144527876:5/4}) instead of stablemate Airlie Beach ({ODDS:144527862:3/1}), and I’m sure the former is the one to beat.
I ride Awayinthewest ({ODDS:144527891:66/1}) who is very much in at the deep end here and will need to step up dramatically.
5.30pm: The Kim Muir rounds off the card for amateur riders and I’ll be cheering on my old friend Mall Dini ({ODDS:144527873:7/1}).
He does have his fair share of weight, but loves it around here, as he showed when winning the Pertemps Hurdle last season.
