Pointers and trainer views for ITV's final Cheltenham race of the season

2.40 Cheltenham
Barchester Healthcare Silver Trophy Chase (Grade 2) 2m4½f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Can cheekpieces fire former festival winner?

Mister Whitaker was a ready winner of the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival and was widely fancied – especially when the rain arrived – for the Ultima five weeks ago.

However, the seven-year-old, owned by Tim Radford, failed to fire and was pulled up two out.

The cheekpieces, therefore, go on and trainer Mick Channon's son and assistant Jack said: "He ran below par at the festival and we felt his jumping wasn't as accurate as it can be.

"We've done a bit of schooling and decided to put on a pair of cheekpieces and it's sharpened up his work. He seems in good form and we're hopeful he can get back to where he was."

The going at Cheltenham was described on Tuesday as good, and Channon added: "I'd like to think they'll do a good job ensuring the ground's not too quick. Really quick ground wouldn't be ideal, but as long as it's good it should be fine."

Ground for hope for Gordon?

Highway One O One (right): an excellent second to Kildisart in JanuaryCredit: Mark Cranham

Just like Goldilocks and her porridge, Highway One O One wants the ground to be just right.

A fine second to subsequent Aintree winner Kildisart at Cheltenham in January, the seven-year-old was a well-beaten tenth in the Close Brothers at the festival, but the rain was a particular pain that day for Chris Gordon.

"He's in good order," said the trainer. "The festival went against us ground-wise. It bucketed down. He got headed after the third-last and I'd told Tom [Cannon, jockey] to be easy on him once his chance had gone."

Gordon does not want conditions too rapid, however.

"He didn't have a hard race there and I was looking forward to running him at Ascot a couple of weeks ago but the ground was a little on the quick side," he added.

"This meeting was plan B, and provided it's safe ground on the easy side of good he'll run.

"I'd be very positive about his chance. He was pushed up to a rating of 145 after festival trials day and that form has been franked with Kildisart winning at Aintree."

Will they go quick enough for Got Away?

Oliver Sherwood is another trainer who would prefer different ground, but he does not dismiss the claims of Got Away, who is aiming to give her Lambourn yard its 32nd winner of a productive campaign.

Successful at Leicester in February, the useful mare was a respectable third at Newbury last time and Sherwood, whose best tally since the 1990s was the 34 winners he enjoyed in 2013-14, said: "I'd like the ground to be softer, but she's won on this and I think she's definitely got a good chance.

Oliver Sherwood: trainer saddles Got AwayCredit: Getty Images

"She had issues earlier in the season and kept on having poisoned feet, but we've always liked her and she had really good form in France.

"Physically she's much stronger and I'm dying to step up her in trip. If it was soft ground I'd be fancying her really strongly, but it's a stiff track and they'll go a gallop, so that will suit her."

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Wenyerreadyfreddie
He's in good form and he's a summer, good-ground horse, so he's had time off and is ready to come back. He beat Kildisart, who won at Aintree, at Ascot in November, which was good form. Last time at Newbury it was a bit of the ground and trip, and him saying he'd just done enough. He's had a rest and here we go again.

Kerry Lee, trainer of Tree Of Liberty and Kings Monarch
Tree Of Liberty is stepping back up to two and a half miles, which he won over at Musselburgh over hurdles, so I'm hoping – after running good races at Wetherby and in the Grand Annual under welter weights – that can help him. Kings Monarch has gone up in the weights after two wins in much lower grade than this, but he's progressive and I feel now's the time to have a crack at a race like this – he's for sale too! The ground will be okay for Kings Monarch. I'll be walking it for Tree Of Liberty, but I'm sure it will be fine for him as well.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Rene's Girl
We've kept her for this race after Aintree was so competitive, but this is a very competitive handicap, as it always is. It's her first run in a handicap over fences, so it'll be interesting to see how she gets on, but we're very happy with her and looking forward to it. The ground will be lovely for her, ideal.

Dollar chasing bucks after Ayr absence

Dingo Dollar, among the market leaders for last Saturday's Scottish Grand National until he was ruled out after the ground quickened up, gets a quick chance of compensation in Cheltenham's 3m2f handicap chase () – although Alan King will be on weather watch again.

Third in the Ladbrokes Trophy, Dingo Dollar returned to King's Wiltshire base from Ayr in good spirits.

The trainer said: "He seems to have travelled back well and had a little breeze this morning, so we're happy. We'll have to see how the ground is but if it's genuine good he'll take his chance."

The smart seven-year-old would be making his Cheltenham debut, and King added: "He should be all right on the track."

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