I have a sense of deja vu - let's hope it works out better this time

Okotoks
1.20 Cheltenham
2pts win

Kingswell Theatre
3.05 Cheltenham
1pt each-way

Jester Jet
3.40 Cheltenham
2pts each-way

This time last week I was getting pretty excited about backing a former Tony Martin-trained hurdler on his first start for Fergal O'Brien, so there's a sense of deja vu about this week's column as I find myself in the same position again.

Hopefully things won't go as badly wrong as they did at Newbury, where the selection, I Shot The Sheriff, had cruised into contention in the straight only to apparently lose his action and be pulled up (traded around the 13-8 mark having been double figures overnight).

Just six days later, the 13-year-old Ratify ran a career-best on Racing Post Ratings on his first run for O'Brien, once again boosting the trainer's excellent record with new recruits from other yards.

O'Brien has a near 25 per cent strike-rate with that sort in the last two years alone for massive profits (102 per cent ROI) and his is of major interest in the Catesby Handicap Hurdle (1.20) just before the ITV cameras arrive at Cheltenham.

Unlike I Shot The Sheriff, the Malcolm Denmark-owned Okotoks may well have his best years ahead of him as he's still only seven and the last time he ran in a 2m hurdle – this month last year – he put in a cracking effort to be fourth to That's A Wrap in a 20-runner affair at Leopardstown.

That form could not have worked out much better as, while those ahead of him have done fairly well since, those behind have done even better as they include the winners of the Coral.ie Hurdle, Coral Cup at Cheltenham and the runner-up in the Galway Hurdle.

You would not expect Okotoks to be lacking in fitness on his first start for this yard and, against this competition, he could still be well treated despite being 7lb higher for his first run in Britain since his bumper debut.

Incidentally, Lucy Wadham runs Master Of Finance for the first time having picked him up from Malcolm Jefferson and nine of her last 14 runners from other yards have finished in the first two.

On Flat form, he ought to be much better than a mark of 117 over hurdles and he can go well, but I fear Champagne City most as he ran really well last time to be third to two well-in rivals.

There are plenty of horses with recent form behind the rapidly improving Thomas Campbell in the closing Citipost Handicap Hurdle (3.40), but the bookies prefer different formlines as the first three in the betting haven't met Nicky Henderson's inmate.

Given the way Arthur's Gift finishes he looks certain to improve, but he is up 9lb for winning what was a really weak Class 2 at Market Rasen (top weight 12lb below the ceiling for the race) and he'll surely find these much tougher to peg back.

The one who looks well in is , who has kept improving for Tom Lacey in 2017, running a career-best on each occasion.

A really strong traveller, she looked certain to win approaching two out (finished second, traded at 1.39) on her return from five months off at Ascot, but must have blown up because next time she absolutely hacked up at Plumpton, beating the Ascot fifth by almost exactly the same distance, but doing so on the bridle.

The handicapper has raised her 10lb for that, so she's 4lb well in under her penalty, and I can't see why there's no place for her in the top half of the betting. She is improving rapidly.

Finally, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (3.05) is not normally my sort of betting heat but, as Josies Orders hasn't run to within 20lb of what will be needed to win this for 21 months, I've got to play.

More Of That and Tiger Roll have the class angle, but took to this course like a duck to water last time and will be very hard to kick out of the frame.

Looking ahead

I got some value for once I've backed so many ante-post non-runners this year I was half thinking of knocking it on the head, but I'm getting quite excited by my 10-1 on King's Odyssey at Cheltenham on Saturday. I like Clan Des Obeaux, but he'll have to be good to give my selection 15lb and a beating