John has right credentials to make bold Gold bid

JCB Triumph Hurdle
1.30 Cheltenham

When the Adonis Hurdle developed into a sprint, Charli Parcs was in trouble after three out but was virtually back on the bridle when falling at the next. This will be a much more suitable test.

Coeur De Lion has been running in all the right races and, with lots of stamina in his pedigree, he would ideally be suited by soft conditions.

Defi Du Seuil will be hard to beat, boasting all the right credentials from his three course wins and from Chepstow at Christmas. The record of Finale winners is curious in that Mysilv was the only one to win both.

Forth Bridge has gone north to Musselburgh in search of better ground having won on fast ground on the Flat.

Landofhopeandglory has had to concede penalties in recent races. Earlier he won an important mid-season trial at Fairyhouse giving Bapaume and Mega Fortune 4lb.

Mega Fortune was behind Bapaume on two occasions but reversed the form in the important Grade 1 Spring Hurdle at Leopardstown where Dinaria Des Obeaux was well back in third. Four of the past five winners were placed 3124 there including Gordon Elliott’s Tiger Roll in 2014. The Irish horses keep beating each other.

Master Blueyes travelled brilliantly at Kempton on good ground and bids to be the sixth Adonis winner to follow up since 1999. He was a
fast-ground flat-track gelding on the level.

Selection Charli Parcs
Alternative Defi Du Seuil

Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
2.05 Cheltenham

North Hill Harvey was put away for this after winning the Greatwood in November where winners have finished 4552. Dan Skelton executed the same plan last year with Superb Story, but this fellow is 11lb higher.

Mick Jazz didn’t have a smooth passage in an important handicap at Fairyhouse in December where a couple of recent winners ran with prominence. A novice victory at Punchestown has kept his rating in check.

Wakea won a 0-150 at Down Royal in November, a fixture where a couple of Irish winners were fifth and third before their victories here off 138 and 140.

Boite would have found the ground too soft in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. He got away with good to soft at Wetherby and would be suited by faster conditions.

Winter Escape was a sick horse after the Greatwood and as he is a good-ground gelding he has avoided the winter ground. Highly progressive last season, he is very interesting.

Harry Fry opted not to ask the novice Air Horse One to carry top weight in the Imperial Cup. His weight and conditions look much more suitable here.

This has been the long-term plan for Vosne Romanee and having gone up substantially for his May victory it was always intended to keep his rating intact. He has a massive chance on good ground.

There have been four successful novices in the past eight years rated between 134 and 139. Crievehill has progressed nicely especially when a hood was introduced at Lingfield and again last time when third to Neon Wolf in the Rossington Main at Haydock.

Kapstadt won the handicap over the course and distance in December on good ground that a former winner was runner-up in before he won this off 135.

Third in the Champion Bumper and fourth in last year’s race, Wait For Me is well treated and has each-way potential after two soft-ground races.

Song Light ran excellent races in the Greatwood and Betfair Hurdles. Tacky ground at Newbury wouldn’t have been suitable. In the past decade we have had Willie, Tony and Tom Mullins successful, so could it be cousin Seamus’s turn?

Before he ran away with a Taunton novice hurdle, Mohaayed had some smart form behind Neon Wolf and Elgin. He looks a really viable alternative to Dan Skelton’s higher-weighted North Hill Harvey.

Selection Kapstadt
Alternative Song Light

Timico Gold Cup
3.20 Cheltenham

Bristol De Mai was lame after he failed to sparkle in the Denman Chase at Newbury last month. For those who feel he only won a handicap at Haydock the time before, it should be remembered that Little Owl, The Thinker and Jodami all won this soon after their Peter Marsh victories.

Champagne West put up a superb performance under joint-top weight to win the Thyestes Chase at Gowran. He has thrived since moving to Ireland and would love some cut.

Driven between two rivals to get a better view of the
third-last, Cue Card barely took off a year ago when still full of running. Has been in terrific form since and wasn’t right when runner-up to stablemate Thistlecrack in the King George. His advancing age is the only drawback.

Djakadam was too young in 2015 and last year his preparation was interrupted by an injury sustained when falling in the Cotswold Chase two months before. He was impressive in the John Durkan where every Irish-trained winner bar one has run since 1975. He had a good run at Leopardstown in December, while Punchestown 17 days earlier may just have taken the edge off him.

More Of That still had every chance when unseating Mark Walsh in the Irish Gold Cup. He now has to overcome the fact no Stayers’ Hurdle winner has won the Gold Cup, but he does like good ground.

Runner-up in the National Hunt Chase last year, Native River has been a revelation in handicaps this season. He won the Hennessy and Welsh National and then had a relatively easy task in the Denman Chase with Bristol De Mai below par.

Outlander reversed John Durkan form with Djakadam in the Lexus that Best Mate, War Of Attrition, Denman, Synchronised and Lord Windermere all used en route. His record from March 1 onwards reads 26623F22.

Sizing John burst on to the scene with a game victory over Empire Of Dirt and Don Poli in the Irish Gold Cup, which was won by Imperial Call and Jodami in the 1990s. It was the seven-year-old gelding’s first attempt at three miles and there is every chance he will stay, especially on the better ground.

Selection Sizing John
Alternative Djakadam

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase
5.15 Cheltenham

Dodging Bullets has been dropped 20lb to 151 in just over a year. The last winner rated above 145 was in 1992.

Rock The World was third last year after being hampered. He goes well fresh and has had a wind op since he was below form in the autumn.

Seven novices have been successful since 2000. Le Prezien is rated 146 and may have a few pounds too much.

Velvet Maker can be expected to go considerably closer than last year when he made a mistake at the final fence. He had a nice prep over hurdles on his only outing since.

All roads lead here for last year’s runner-up Dandridge. When Arthur Moore secured a second victory in this event with Tiger Cry in 2008, that gelding had also been runner-up in 2006. He must go close.

Gardefort comes into the race in better form compared to last year when a couple of late mistakes ended his chance.

Mr Fiftyone got some match practice in October and has been kept fresh for this ever since.

Nicky Henderson targets this race and Theinval likes good ground. His mark has been kept intact since a December win at Plumpton.

Un Beau Roman had some excellent form over the course before Christmas and won after a four-month break in November. He is 5lb worse off with Pairofbrowneyes for a head beating. Barry Murphy’s ultra-consistent gelding just needs to pull out a bit extra at the finish.

Selection Rock The World
Alternative Dandridge

Go toracingpost.com/freebets for the latest bookmaker offers