/ Andy Constantinou / 12 March 2009 /

A tricky Festival so far has come down to a crunch day for Andy Constantinou, with Kasbah Bliss rating a major fancy, and at the current price, a value punt.

Day two of the festival was all about one horse, Master Minded. He won well, not quite as impressively as the year before but his brilliance was once again undeniable. He'll be the one to beat next year and the year after that, they could be writing about this guy in 30 years time as one of the true greats. Plaudits to David Pipe and Well Chief also, massive run after all his problems to finish a gallant second. One can only wonder about what 'could have been' had he not had such a truncated career.

The two advised selections yesterday ran poorly.

Gone To Lunch didn't jump a fence and was beat within a half mile of the race, unfortunate to see but had he jumped he was playing for second anyway, such was the manner in which Cooldine obliged. That was a huge run and one which will see him accorded plenty of legitimate respect as a Gold Cup contender next year.

The Polomoche was punted into the price I felt he should have been in the first instance but ultimately he didn't get home. Some questioned tender handling but for me Barry Geraghty was merely looking after a beaten horse.

I felt aggrieved in not advising Mikael D'Haguenet but I'm glad at least to have given him the strong positive mention on both days of the column thus far. He was a well-punted winner, a welcome ante-post winner in this quarter as plenty of money was done in that sphere on Cousin Vinny the day before. Ultimately, though, I didn't feel his price was big enough to suggest him as a 'value' selection for purposes of the column. He is, however, some machine and I'm looking forward to his chasing career with eager anticipation.

So we move onto tomorrow, Thursday, or 'Judgement' day if you have the ante-post dockets sitting on the desk that I do about two running tomorrow.

Those that have heard me on Timeform Radio or Racing UK must surely be sick about my continual praise since November for Kasbah Bliss.

For me he's been the horse to beat all year in the World Hurdle, a view unchanged going into the race. Trained by a master who's had plenty of success in this race in recent years with Baracouda, this horse put in a huge effort to chase home recently retired modern great Inglis Drever last year. There is nothing of Inglis Drever's class in this race while Kasbah Bliss showed himself an improved animal in Group class staying company in France over the summer. His recent fluid win at Haydock confirmed his well-being prior to this race.

Physically he looks to have improved, a view recently confirmed by his trainer, there are no concerns over the going or the track and he should have way to much speed and class for his rivals. I recently said on another medium that he should be long odds-on for the race tomorrow and he still trades odds against, that's value in my book.

I've backed him heavily ante post at [4.3] and some have asked me if I am laying any of it back. There's a simple answer to that question, no. You should not lay back if you're doing so at above the price you make the animal in question, he's [2.2] for this race currently, if anything I'm inclined to go in and back him again.

The doubts expressed by plenty of experts regarding French pilot Christophe Pieux are, for me, unfounded. Yes, he's not AP McCoy or Ruby Walsh but he gave the horse an excellent ride in the race last year and given the way KB travels and quickens, he rates an uncomplicated ride. KB should win well tomorrow and beyond that I expect this year to be the first in a dynasty of World Hurdle wins for this horse in the coming years.

The second race where I've had a strong interest for a while is tomorrow's 4pm contest, the Freddie Williams Festival Plate. The name of the unfortunate animal blessed with my ante-post money and more which I shall burden upon his back this evening, is Three Mirrors.

This horse has a wonderful profile for this race and a dry night to quicken conditions will bring things even more in his favour than they already are. The racing tomorrow takes place on the new course, virgin ground, and this will suit an animal who has clearly been laid out for this race and looks very well treated at present.

Starting the season off a mark of 145, he ran extremely well first time up this season to finish fifth over course and distance in the ultra competitive early season highlight, the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Unfancied that day, he was sent off 50-1 on going very much against him, it was far too soft, he ran a seriously eye-catching race staying on strongly having been given plenty to do to finish 20 lengths behind Gold Cup pretender Barbers Shop and Ryanair second favourite, Imperial Commander.

Two subsequent equally eye-catching efforts have seen him miraculously drop 3lbs to a mark of 142 for this contest. In the near five months he has been off the track he's had a wind operation which no doubt will improve a horse who, even on his previous efforts, already looked good enough to win a race of this nature despite his ailment.

He's trained by Ferdy Murphy, who has a record in festival handicaps over recent years which is second to none, and whose horses thus far this week have run extremely well. Given an untroubled passage he will be very difficult to beat even in such a competitive field.

Three Mirrors rates by far the best bet in a handicap I've seen at this years Festival and I've backed him heavily to justify my lofty opinion of his chance. Talking of trainer Ferdy Murphy, he has plenty of chances tomorrow in numerous races and although I can only take involvement in two races a day for purposes of this feature, I'd recommend interest in his other runners on the card tomorrow, even if it's just to add them into your Placepots.

The other race of note tomorrow is the Ryanair Chase. It looks set for Alan King and to claim his first win of this year's festival, his Voy Por Ustedes looking to hold outstanding credentials. I shall be backing him to win while looking at Tidal Bay to make up the exacta.

Prices Available at time of writing on Betfair.

Cheltenham 3.20 Kasbah Bliss 5pts Win @ 2.2

Cheltenham 4.00 Three Mirrors 2.5pts W & 1.5pts P (Win 10.0 & Place 3.35)

Staked Today: 9pts

Running Total: -6.4pts

Back with the final installment of this year's Cheltenham Daily Festival Duo, tomorrow.

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