Cheltenham Newslines: Nicholls team sweet on Poquelin's chances

/ Mike Vince / 17 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Mike Vince has been speaking to the main movers and shakers ahead of the third day of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival

The silence that greeted Cue Card's extraordinary romp to victory in the Bumper last night said it all about a first two days where Big Buck's have been going one way- out of punters pockets.

Today, on the New Course and ground watered to maintain as Good and Good to Soft in Places, the need to redress the balance has never been greater.

Big Buck's is a worthy World Hurdle favourite, but there are many wanting to beat him, not to praise him, not the least two old Cheltenham heroes.

War of Attrition returns to the scene of his ultimate glory day off the back of emotional and battling wins at Gowran and Navan. Davy Russell, brilliant on Weapons Amnesty yesterday will give his all : "For him to come back and do what he has done this year is what racing is all about. Big Buck's is a big hurdle and hard to beat. We've no wild ideas of beating him but he'll run a nice race."

Another former Champion - this time over two miles - is Tidal Bay, a great winner over the track last time, and according to jockey Denis O'Regan he's a "good horse in a good race. It will be tough to beat the favourite but I'm hopeful of a good run."

The most positive noises are coming from connections of Time For Rupert, a six-year-old improving all the time and jockey Will Kennedy is expecting a huge run. "He's got a real good chance. He won here over course and distance and then finished second to Tidal Bay, giving him four pounds and beating Katchit. My horse is really good form, I am really confident." says the former Champion Conditional.

Team Nicholls are known to be sweet on the chances of Poquelin taking the Ryanair Chase, but the Tranquil Sea camp are thrilled at the better ground which they say will suit while Nicky Henderson says of the Queen's Barbers Shop, who paid his lifetime subscription to the 'I failed to get the trip at Cheltenham' club in last years Gold Cup that this race is right up his street.

Henderson says: "I'm happy and I think he is in great order. I think this race is ideal."

It says much for the week's results that Joe Tizzard thought Hey Big Spender, who is amongst the top weights in the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase, was his best chance of the week just hours before going out and making mincemeat of the Bumper field.

But whoever you talked to at Cheltenham last night, before the St Patrick's Night festivities moved into full swing all agreed this will be a tough day for the Irish. But a few shrewdies will flag up the chances of Smoking Aces in the Pertemps Final. The stable won a Handicap here last year and won well last time but, Cross Country apart, the Irish have had a bad time in the Handicaps on the first two days.

A bit like all those who arrived at Cheltenham what seemed an eternity ago proudly clutching the form book.