Trainer Willie Mullins has kept punters guessing as to the likely Cheltenham targets for Boston Bob and Back In Focus. Both horses have been entered for both the RSA Chase (3 miles) and this stamina-sapping four-mile event. As both are owned by the Wylie family they will be kept apart and the likelihood is that Back In Focus will attempt the longer distance.
Both horses needed every yard to scramble home in their last outings with Back In Focus just catching his stable mate Aupcharlie in a Grade 1 Chase at Leopardstown in December. Texas Jack was seventeen lengths back in third that day but got to within a nose of Boston Bob in February. Both the Mullins runners have enough class to be considered serious contenders for the RSA Chase so they his chosen representative should certainly be competitive in this.
Back In Focus was described as “a relentless galloper” by Mullins after his most recent victory and any rain will help his cause. Jockey Ruby Walsh admitted that he never thought he was going to get up and win last time out but just kept plugging away. He added that he would not want the ground any better than soft.
David Pipe is another trainer who is leaving it late before declaring his running plans and he has a couple of most interesting contenders here in Goulanes and Buddy Bolero. Goulanes got up to beat the useful Super Duty on his debut over fences at Wetherby recently and looks a useful recruit. He is also entered in the RSA Chase for which Pipe has the ante-post favourite in Dynaste. Buddy Bolero has several festival entries and is very difficult to assess after an effortless victory at Leicester off a mark of 129.
Alan King believes that Godsmejudge is one of his best chances at the festival this year. The seven-year-old put in a brave effort when second to Rigadin De Beauchene in the Warwick Classic in January. He looked certain to win jumping the last but was just collared by the renewed effort of the winner. He followed up by grinding out a victory over three and a quarter miles over the same course last month and stamina certainly should not be an issue for him.
Rival D’Estruval has been prominent in the betting for this race since romping to a 23-length victory at Kelso in December. He has been campaigned exclusively in the north so his form is a little difficult to weigh up. Jonjo O’Neill’s Merry King also comes into the reckoning after two solid efforts in handicap company. He got within three-quarters of a length of Rolling Aces at Newbury before doing everything but win at Haydock in a bitter struggle with Cannington Brook. He is only six and that hard race may have taken its toll.
Summary
Willie Mullins and David Pipe hold the key to this race with their powerful entries. It is difficult to second-guess what they might do but Back In Focus and Goulanes look their most likely representatives. All four of their entries have the scope to go on to better things. Godsmejudge may not have the class of the leading fancies but looks certain to run a good race and could reward each-way support.
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