A confidence boosting win on Castle Robin yesterday has set me up nicely for a big weekend ahead. Three selections today and I quite like all three.
First up is FRENCHY DU LARGE for the Venetia Williams stable. He travelled and jumped beautifully on hurdle debut at Lingfield in a race where the form has already started to work out. The front two home I expect to take high rank in the staying novice hurdles this year and the horse in third has come out and won. My selection had the third horse cooked before he tired himself and his finishing position doesn't quite do him justice. I expect him to take a step forward from that today and that should put him there or thereabouts.
Next up is MARIO DE PAIL at Wetherby. Sam Thomas is in red hot form and his stable star is sure to come on for his opening run in Welsh Champion Hurdle. He travelled and jumped with the best of them until they turned in and the classy types just quickened again and he couldn't quite keep up. He didn't falter though, he stuck on and what really impressed me was the way he pinged the last. He sailed over that and hit the line strong so this step up in trip should really suit. A mark of 133 looks very workable and I'm sure he can take this before heading onto better things.
I'm not sure a 6lb hike is enough to stop CAPTAIN TOM CAT from going in again at Cheltenham. Dr Richard Newland's horse has been in sensational form since going hurdling and he really stamped his authority last time out when making all over course and distance. You could make a case for a few of them reversing the form here such as Whatsupwithyou if you just looked at the bare form but if you actually re watch the race I think my selection has plenty left in the tank as he crosses the line. He perhaps just got a bit lonely late on but his ears are pricked and Cillin Leonard gives him an easy enough time of it once he is sure of victory. This doesn't look a particularly strong race today and most have questions to answer so I think it will pay to stick with the tried and tested.
Uttoxeter 12.22 – Frenchy Du Large
Wetherby 1.13 – Mario De Pail
Cheltenham 3.25 – Captain Tom Cat
