(17/03 17:15) 5:15 Cheltenham : Elegant Concorde Win nb @ 9.00

Horse Racing

Dermot Weld runs a couple here, the first of them being Elegant Concorde, a son of Definite Article who shaped with real promise at the beginning of last year when chasing home the useful Tornado Shay in a bumper at Leopardstown, going down by a length. He returned to Leopardstown on Boxing Day to land a decent enough contest, travelling well and making sustained headway on the outside from end of the back straight, quickening up smartly when asked for his effort, eventually coming nicely clear of his rivals, still looking a little green as he ran out a convincing 2 length victor from Spill The Beans. He clearly needs a sound surface to be seen at his best (both runs have come on yielding ground) and the drying conditions will most defintiely be in his favour; yards recent record in this race has been a little disappointing considering the derth of talent at their disposal each and every year, but this gelding looked a horse of serious potential on his last outing in a race which is working out very nicely; one of the few who will be suited by the conditions and sure to go well here.

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(17/03 16:40) 4:40 Cheltenham : Cross Appeal Win @ 21.00

Horse Racing

One who could go well at a price is the Noel Meade trained Cross Appeal, a son of Cape Cross who is unexposed after just a handful of runs in his entire career under both codes. After showing promising on the Flat in a couple of outings he made a winning hurdles debut when showing a willing attitude to see off Doctor Deejay by a head at Thurles; followed up with another hard fought victory in a juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse before running with credit in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown on Boxing Day behind Carlito Brigante. His latest effort was at the same track in January when a creditable second behind Pittoni in first time blinkers in a Grade 1 contest (weak race for the grade) when leading until the last, keeping on well once headed to hold off the rest of his rivals. He has the experience of a big field from when he won on debut and he needs holding up right until the last minute, so Paul Carberry, who rode Crack Away Jack to such good effect in this race back in 2008, is the perfect man in that respect; has winning form on similar ground.

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(17/03 16:00) 4:00 Cheltenham : Quantitativeeasing Win nap @ 9.00

Horse Racing

The full brother to Asian Maze has always been held in high regard at Seven Barrows, making a winning debut in a competitive Punchestown bumper back in April, coming nicely clear inside the final furlong to record a comfortable 8 length victory over Frawley. He landed a couple of novice hurdles at Newcastle and Newbury on the bridle late last year, travelling and jumping well; lack of pace counted against him last time when second behind Phidippides in a hotly contested 2m 5f novices hurdle at Kempton, pulling fairly hard throughout and perhaps not entirely suited by the track (previous wins had come on more testing tracks). However, acquitted himself well in the circumstances, again travelling well into contention and battling gamely for pressure, going down by half a length in the end, the first time he had been asked to come off the bridle. There is sure to be a true gallop on here, while this track is likely to suit him a lot better than Kempton did; remains unexposed after just three outings over hurdles and it would be something of a surprise if he wasnt good enough to feature here off what could be a very lenient mark.

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(17/03 15:20) 3:20 Cheltenham : Kalahari King Win @ 6.13

Horse Racing

Ran Forpadydeplasterer to a neck in last years Arkle, and may well have but for a blunder a crucial time, running on well without quite getting to the winner. He went on to win a Grade 1 novices chase at Aintree in brilliant style on his next outing, jumping well and easing his way to an 8 length victory; clearly something amiss (confirmed afterwards) when he ran a flat race in second behind Twist Magic at Sandown next time, still managing to run on get second. He made his belated reappearance in a decent 2m handicap chase at Doncaster last month off top weight and overcame top weight to see off his rivals with ease, scoring by 3¼ lengths from Oiseau De Nuit. Although that form is far removed from what is required to win this, the fact he wasnt fully wound up to win what was a competitive handicap chase off top weight was very impressive, and he also relishes the uphill finish here at Cheltenham, finishing a staying on fourth in Captain Cee Bees Supreme Novices Hurdle before his second placing in last seasons Arkle. He remains a horse open to a massive amount of improvement, while the drying ground here will most certainly be in his favour; this will obviously require a career best effort but something of a surprise if he doesnt go well here, and could well improve enough to cause something of a shock on his ideal ground.

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(17/03 14:40) 2:40 Cheltenham : Punchestowns Win @ 4.00

Horse Racing

Announced himself as a top-class prospect when romping to victory in a handicap hurdle here at the open meeting at the beginning of last season, and continued improving throughout the remainder of the campaign, readily seeing off stablemate Duc De Reigniere in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in fine style, travelled extremely well throughout. He met with defeat only twice thereafter, both times at the hands of the top-class staying hurdler Big Bucks, including when an honourable runner up in last years World Hurdle, playing his part in a thrilling finish up the hill. All has gone to plan so far in his chasing career, making a satisfactory winning debut over 2m 4f at Newbury, though the way he jumped early suggested he would be suited by a truly run race over further; stuck to a similar trip when disposing of fair yardstick Tchico Polos in a novices chase at Sandown, recovering quickly from his only mistake. He looks the sort who will relish a truly run race back up in trip and the only horse to beat him in the past couple of months is Big Bucks; preparation hasnt been without its problems, reportedly suffering with lameness recently, but clearly all is well now and must surely go well here with proven course form a bonus.

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(17/03 14:05) 2:05 Cheltenham : Finians Rainbow Win @ 7.00

Horse Racing

The Nicky Henderson trained Finians Rainbow looked a very smart prospect when landing a Kempton bumper from the useful Stoneys Treasure; further enhanced his reputation with a highly impressive 17 length victory over Cesarewitch third Sereth in a novices hurdle at Newbury on his debut, travelling well and going clear with ease. He appeared to get stuck in the mud when third behind Reve De Sivola in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle back at Newbury the following month, travelling smoothly into contention before clattering the last and finding no extra close home. He came through a routine test at Ascot with flying colours last time, cruising along throughout and quickening up nicely to come home a very easy 3 length winner from useful prospect Arkrose, seemingly more at home on the better ground. This is obviously a lot tougher, but was going very well before the deep ground got the better of him at this level back in December, and also worth remembering his astute trainer decided to re-route stablemate Quantitativeeasing to the Coral Cup; trip and ground no problem, progressive and likely to go very well.

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(17/03 13:30) 1:30 Cheltenham : Mobaasher Win @ 13.00

Horse Racing

Mobaasher from the Venetia Williams yard has always had plenty of talent though hasnt always seemed the easiest of horses, notably when winning a novices chase at this course whilst in the care of Paul Nicholls, hanging left badly before finally being straightened out to go on and record a comfortable victory. He hasnt looked too temperamental since that occasion, often running well in defeat in some classy races, chasing home the likes of Duc De Reginiere, Punchestowns and Big Bucks (seventh in last seasons World Hurdle) and it was no surprise to see him switched to fences this season. He made a winning start to his chasing career in a 3m ½f novices contest at Southwell, travelling well throughout and staying on to score comfortably; finished third in a novices chase here next time, making a few mistakes but running on powerfully in the latter stages to take third behind the useful Inchiadaly Rock. He found giving Giles Cross 6lbs beyond him when a staying on second in testing conditions in a 3m novices chase at Chepstow, but reversed the form off level weights at Plumpton last time over 3m 2f, seeing off his old adversary by 2¼ lengths. His attitude is a little suspect at times, but he is plenty of talent; well in at the weights and no surprise if he were to go well here at a track he often does well at (34173).

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(16/03 16:40) 4:40 Cheltenham : Voler La Vedette Win @ 3.09

Horse Racing

Her most notable success came back in November when seeing off Go Native in impressive fashion at Down Royal in a Grade 3 contest, outsprinting that rival after the last flight to run out a highly impressive 13 length winner. She wasnt quite as spectacular next time out when seeing off No One Tells Me in a mares Listed hurdle at Leopardstown next time, but that form alone would just about set the standard on recent form; a very exciting prospect who should prove a cut above these, while match fintess over Quevega may just win her the day here, though she did suffer a setback of her own back in January when pulling a muscle in work. For a while, she was thought Champion Hurdle material by connections and should win what looks an average renewal.

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(16/03 16:00) 4:00 Cheltenham : Monkerhostin Win @ 15.25

Horse Racing

He was once good enough to contest races such as the Gold Cup and though those heady days have now passed, he still retains any amount of ability, as shown on his only start this campaign when outpointing the relative youngster Exmoor Ranger in a handicap chase at Sandown over an extended 3m last time, grinding him into submission up the Sandown hill to get up and score by a nose. His schooling for this race is reported to have gone to plan and this is the type of race that could again tease out a bit more improvement; a class horse on his day, the ground is in his favour and looks the value of the race.

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(16/03 15:20) 3:20 Cheltenham : Medermit Win @ 12.00

Horse Racing

The Alan King trained Medermit is a gelding who has shown he can battle, having to do so to see off Dee Ee Williams when landing a Grade 2 at Ascot in his prep race for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, and he can be called a slightly unlucky loser in that race last year. He was making good progress approaching the last when he was hampered badly by Cousin Vinny making a mistake, badly checking his momentum; made a renewed challenge up the hill and was the only one to emerge out of the pack and challenge the idling Go Native, getting to within a neck and may well have got to him without being hampered at the last. His yard were under a cloud earlier in the season so his efforts earlier in the season can perhaps be upgraded, finishing third behind Khyber Kim in the Greatwood Hurdle (giving the winner 3lbs) and filling the same position behind the same horse when third in the Boylesports Hurdle back over this course and distance. He saw off Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock last time in a four runner event, quickening clear after the last to run on strongly and score by 4 lengths and looking back to something like his best. Many will argue that he has something to find with Khyber Kim on his early season form here, but it must be remembered where both yards were in terms of form at that stage of the season, while the slower ground may also not have suited this gelding as much as that rival (best form on good to soft or better) and his trainer is now back in form and is sure to have kept something back for this race.

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