Forget Conservatives and Christmas, racing fans have only one C to think about

Only Cheltenham could put Christmas on the back burner for the day. Only Cheltenham could put shopping for slippers, socks and selection boxes off for a few hours. Only Cheltenham could stop you thinking about the King George for a little while. Only Cheltenham could stop you talking about politics, Brexit and Britain's uncertain future.

Forget the Conservatives, Christmas and Cyrname, the only C you need to worry about on Saturday is Cheltenham.

The Champion Hurdle picture is about as clear as a misty morning on Cleeve Hill. Defending champion Espoir D’Allen is sadly no longer with us, while dual winner Buveur D’Air is recuperating from a nasty injury.

Melon has gone chasing, as has Laurina, and Supreme winner Klassical Dream suffered a shock defeat to Saldier at Punchestown. His conqueror is on the easy list now too.

There is now big pressure on the Unibet International Hurdle (3.05) to produce a genuine Champion Hurdle contender and the most likely candidate is Pentland Hills.

Pentland Hills exercises with Nicole Angel aboardCredit: Edward Whitaker

Triumph Hurdle winners do not win Champion Hurdles the following year. Or, that is what we used to think until Katchit did it, and Espoir D’Allen stood up for the second-season juvenile hurdlers in March too.

We now know it can be done and who better than Nicky Henderson to try to achieve the feat.

The Pentland Hills story is a heartwarming one. A moderate 73-rated middle-distance performer on the Flat for whom shares could have been bought for very little before he made his hurdles debut at Plumpton. He won that race by 14 lengths then powered up the hill to take the Triumph before making it three from three at Aintree when outbattling Fakir D’Oudairies.

Pentland Hills is good, but is he good enough to be just 7-1 for the Champion Hurdle? The answer is about to become much clearer.

Be warned, though, the last horse to do the International-Champion Hurdle double in the same season was Rooster Booster back in the 2002-03 campaign.

There are some similarities between Rooster Booster and another contender, Ch’tibello. They were both high-class handicappers who won the County Hurdle, and Dan Skelton will have no option but to follow the Rooster Booster route to the Champion Hurdle should Ch’tibello make a winning reappearance.

Call Me Lord travels strongly over further so this is the acid test of his two-mile credentials, while Tolworth winner Elixir De Nutz returns from a 343-day absence.

There are sure to be Triumph Hurdle clues in the opener at 12.10, and the novice chase at 12.45 is fascinating too. That is all before ITV goes on air. This is the perfect Saturday to forget about Christmas and the Conservatives. Just focus on Cheltenham.

Armchair Guide

1.55 Cheltenham
Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m4½f

Traditionally one of the hottest handicap chases of the whole season and one that Paul Nicholls has dominated in the last decade by sending out five winners. Secret Investor could continue Nicholls' fine record in the race under Harry Cobden, but Cepage, Brelan D'As and Good Man Pat have all been popular in the market this week. It is wide open.

bet365 December Novices' Chase (Grade 2) 3m

Just three runners but what a fascinating event we have in store. The stamina-laden Sam Spinner is unbeaten over fences but he has his own way of getting from a to b at his fences and the exciting Windsor Avenue is a worthy opponent.

Windsor Avenue gave Brian Hughes a fantastic spin around Carlisle as he maintained his unbeaten record over fencesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m

Unowhatimeanharry won this in 2015 before going on to land the Albert Bartlett at the festival, while other noteworthy winners include Blacklion (2014) and Coneygree (2012). This year's renewal sees Champagne Well trying to frank the form of the exciting Thyme Hill.

2.45 Doncaster
bet365 Summit Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m½f

James Reveley has a rare ride in Britain as he teams up with the exciting Tombee Du Ciel who has her first start for Nicky Henderson having done all her racing in France to date. The trainer has won this with Peace And Co (2014) and We Have A Dream (2017).

3.05 Cheltenham
Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m1f

This Champion Hurdle trial has an illustrious roll of honour which includes The New One (2013, 2014 and 2016) and My Tent Or Yours (2017). It is hard to know who might follow in their footsteps this time around, but Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills is favourite and deservedly so as he is unbeaten over hurdles for Nicky Henderson.

3.20 Doncaster
bet365 Handicap Chase 3m

Another small field but another tricky puzzle to solve. There are sure to be Grand National clues on offer as Cloth Cap could prove to be the ideal type for Aintree. The Queen has a runner too in the shape of Forth Bridge.

3.40 Cheltenham
Park Mares' Handicap Hurdle 2m4½f

JP McManus is responsible for two of the top three in the market and his number one, Barry Geraghty, takes the ride on Dame De Compagnie for Nicky Henderson. She caught the eye in the Greatwood when fifth on her first start for ages so should strip fitter here.

Twister storm

The Nigel Twiston-Davies stable were feeling blue on Friday morning when hot favourite Riders Onthe Storm was withdrawn from the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (1.55) due to a clerical error. Could that open the doors for Cepage, the horse he conquered at Aintree?

Charlie Deutsch is free to ride after being successful with his recent appeal against a ban and he would dearly love a big winner at his local track.

Paul Nicholls certainly knows his Caspian Caviar. He has won it five times in the last ten years and Secret Investor has been all the rage of late.

The legendary Flyingbolt won the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup for Tom Dreaper and Pat Taaffe in 1965, although it didn't have the same title back then. Dreaper won it again in 1971 with Leap Frog, but Irish-trained runners have an abysmal record in the race since.

There has only been two Irish winners since 1971, with Edward O'Grady-trained Go Roger Go winning in 2000 before Sir Oj triumphed in 2005 for Noel Meade and Paul Carberry.

The responsibility of ending that drought rests on the shoulders of Robin Des Foret for whom Willie Mullins has booked James Bowen to ride.

Time for Botox?

You cannot afford to spend too long in bed as the opener at Cheltenham goes off at 12.10 and the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle is a race worth watching.

Defi Du Seuil was successful in 2016 before going on to be a runaway winner of the Triumph Hurdle the following March. Sceau Royal (2015) and Sam Winner (2010) are other notable victors.

It has been a profitable race for punters as five of the last ten favourites have obliged. Botox Has, representing the father and son combination of Gary and Joshua Moore, is the likely market leader having chased home Allmankind on his last visit to Cheltenham.

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