Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day card is always a good way to clear away any hangovers and there are several Cheltenham hopefuls in action on Wednesday.
The jury is out as to whether or not Oscar Whisky will be as good a chaser as he was a hurdler but he took advantage of a weight concession from Wonderful Charm here last time. He was forced to make his own running for the second consecutive race having done so against Taquin Du Seuil previously.
He lost out on that occasion but it was a highly unsatisfactory race and Barry Geraghty faces a similar dilemma here. It must be frustrating for the race planners to have a card like this attract only seven runners in total for the two feature races. There are only three involved in the two and a half mile hurdle which is also a rematch, this time between Annie Power and Zarkandar.
I am a great fan of Zarkandar and I thought he ran close to his best against The New One considering he was knocked sideways up the straight. He does seem to have lost a bit of toe and it may be that the World Hurdle is the right race for him at the festival in March. He was comprehensively outpaced by Annie Power at Ascot so has a bit to do on the form book.
A better proposition may be Double Ross who cruised into the lead in the December Gold Cup before needing to be bustled along after the last. He is usually up with the pace but found them going a little too quick that day. He likes softer ground and this smaller field may suit him so a 7lb penalty does not seem harsh.
Another horse with proven course form is Return Spring who produced a late thrust to cut down the Paul Nicholls pair Salubrious and Southfield Theatre in November. Neither of those has won since but they have acquitted themselves well and Return Spring was second to Sunnyhillboy on his return visit.
He is up another 4lbs for that run but he is one of the few who will definitely be staying on at the end of the three miles here. The one I fear most is Whispering Gallery who trotted up at Wetherby in a novice hurdle in February on a tight rein and is difficult to assess. He has high class form on the flat and Barry Geraghty could be a significant booking.
Double Ross at 2-1 BetVictor, William Hill
Return Spring at 100-30 Paddy Power, William Hill
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