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Wednesday’s highlight is the Champion Chase with Big Zeb (3.20) looking to retain his title. The Irish raider lost little in defeat behind Golden Silver in the Tied Cottage last time where he may well have hit the front too soon; there is little doubt that jockey Barry Geraghty will be playing his cards as late as possible this afternoon.
The enigmatic dual former winner Master Minded is vying for favouritism having looked back to his best this term. Still only an 8-y-o it would be some feat if he were to regain his crown and join the great Badsworth Boy who won the race in three consecutive years for the Dickinson family back in the early 80s.
Last year’s Arkle winner Sizing Europe has had a poor season with connections seemingly convinced he was a Gold Cup horse. Unfortunately he wouldn’t stay three-and-a-quarter miles in a horsebox but it is still something of a surprise that he doesn’t have an entry in the intermediate 2 m 5f Ryanair. He has much to prove but has attracted plenty of money in recent days.
Oscars Well (2.05) looked a potential star at Leopardstown last time and will take some beating in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle for Jessica Harrington but he is a very short price for one who has yet to show he can handle faster ground than he has been encountering in Ireland this winter.
In a recent Festival preview in Ireland sources close to First Lieutenant (1.30) compared the horse most favourably with their dual Festival winner Weapons Amnesty which is praise indeed and there is likely to be plenty of support for the horse given, as a son of Presenting, he should appreciate the better ground.
Time For Rupert (2.40) is many peoples’ Festival banker in the RSA Chase and the form of his last win was given a significant boost by the success in the Racing Post Chase of Quinz who finished third behind Paul Webber’s charge previously. He hasn’t finished out of the first two in his five runs at the track and he could be a big player in next year’s Gold Cup.
For Non Stop (4.00) is likely to start favourite for the Coral Cup as a result of some upbeat reports from trainer Nick Williams. You may remember the horse was very well backed at Cheltenham earlier in the season but ran into Grand Crus. He will be unlucky to run into another so well treated horse at the Festival although Call The Police has been backed as if defeat is out of the question and could be another winner for Willie Mullins who looks to have a very strong team fit and ready for Cheltenham.
Knight Pass (5.15) representing Lambourn trainer Warren Greatrex is reported in rude health ahead of the Champion Bumper. The selection has barely come off the bridle in winning at Sandown and Southwell and has oozed class in both starts. Cinders And Ashes represents Donald McCain and he is reported to be working the house down in Cheshire.
Allure of Illusion off the track since making a winning debut at Killarney back in August looks to be the principle hope of Willie Mullins but Raise The Beat could be the leading Irish contender with the ground coming right for this dual fast ground winner last year.
Charlie McCann is a senior sports commentator who runs the Media team at BetVictor
