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Massa gets into the groove in Madonna - and Arnold can do the same at Warwick

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Graham Cunningham looks at this weekend's Leamington Hurdle at Warwick and picks out some backs and lays for the fast approaching Cheltenham Festival

I am composing this week's blog at a flash alpine bar watching F1 star Felipe Massa being treated like royalty while getting excited about a horse named after a transvestite who made his name stealing women's knickers from washing lines.
Now that, dear reader, is the sort of intro I never thought I would write. Clearly, some clarification is needed.
The diminutive Massa is in the swish Italian ski resort of Madonna Di Campiglio for a major Ferrari shindig ahead of the upcoming F1 season which begins in Melbourne just after the Cheltenham Festival finishes.
I am there with the Daily Mirror's David Yates for a bit of skiing and a lot of gazing at unbelievably beautiful girls who, for some strange reason, seem to find larging it with the F1 massive more appealing than half a Warsteiner with two middle aged, poorly dressed English racing scribes.
And Arnold Layne - named after the eponymous hero of Pink Floyd's psychedelic anthem - is the horse who is attracting our attention ahead of Saturday's featured Totesport Classic Chase at Warwick.
Caroline Bailey's strapping grey has been the subject of sustained support for this valuable marathon and the gamble looks extremely well founded on several levels.
Firstly, Arnold Layne is very lightly raced and open to much more progress than most of his rivals. Secondly, he is a relentless galloper who jumps with a combination of boldness and accuracy which is a major asset in this sort of slog.
Thirdly, Arnold Layne lines up on the back of an emphatic success over this course and distance which could hardly be working out better. And, last but not least, Arnold Layne will have the peerless AP McCoy aboard for the first time this weekend.
In short, Arnold Layne looks to have everything you look for as regards Warwick's flagship jumping prize. Back him win and place for decent stakes and try to level up both halves in play for a gelding whose running style looks nailed on to attract the in running players.

Collonges and Trust Fund the two to take on for King and Nicholls

THE signature black run which plummets back into Madonna at gradients of up to 70 degrees is named after another F1 legend in Michael Schumacher.
"Just throw yourself off the ledge and hope for the best" was the advice offered by one fellow thrill seeker when we arrived at the start in midweek.
It's a motto which could also be applied to those who take on Alan King's horses this season, but a lay of Nenuphar Collonges in Warwick's Leamington Hurdle (15.00) can pay dividends this weekend.
The theory behind the lay is that this seven-year-old is penalised for a Grade 2 success and that the step down from three miles to two miles five on a sharp track will be less than ideal.
And the other one to take on this Saturday is Trust Fund when he goes in against Arnold Layne and company in the Classic Chase. Granted, this gelding has thrived for the move to Paul Nicholls, but he has shot up the weights for winning two softish contests and this is much his sternest assignment to date.

Time to get off the fence as thoughts turn to Cheltenham

For those who are partial to countdowns to the big events, it might be worth noting that there is just a little over eight weeks to go before the racing world loses its collective mind over the Cheltenham Festival.
Time enough for a host of hitherto unheralded horses to advance their claims to glory, and time aplenty for a clutch of leading fancies to tread on a stone, develop a cough or simply lose the form that carried them to the top of the ante post markets.
But now is also the time to show some courage in order to build the sort of books that make Cheltenham the betting highlight of the year for so many punters.
Such boldness can backfire badly, of course, but in the belief that faint heart never won fair lady - especially here in Madonna - it's time to leap off the fence and into the Betfair ante post markets.
Pinpoint three potential market springers for Cheltenham and follow it up with another three who can be laid with confidence was the directive from betting.betfair.com's slave driving supremo Joe Dyer. So here we go.

Three potential Festival springers...

1 Wins Now: One of the best novice hurdlers around last season, when he performed really well in defeat at both Cheltenham and Aintree, and jumped with plenty of zest on his Leopardstown chasing debut prior to departing at the last. Open to bags of improvement and could enhance his Arkle claims if he turns out again in Ireland this weekend.

2 Captain Cee Bee: Isn't well known to most punters on this side of the Irish Sea but might well remedy that over the next few weeks. Has taken extremely well to hurdling and made it two from two in his new discipline with a very convincing Punchestown defeat of the useful Leading Run in November. Hasn't been seen since but is on course for the valuable Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown in February and a bold run there would see his Supreme Novices' Hurdle odds contract appreciably.

3 Tidal Bay: Oh to be a fly on the wall in Howard Johnson's office when this gelding's Festival target is being discussed. Some feel it will be the Arkle, but given that nearly all his racing has been done over further than two miles the SunAlliance Chase has to be tempting, too. Either way, Tidal Bay looks capable of having a big say in whichever target is chosen. He's a high-class prospect and his ante post odds will shrink noticeably as soon as "HoJo" reveals which way he is leaning.

And three to take on as March draws closer...

1 Sizing Europe: Yes, he showed himself one of the most progressive young hurdlers around by beating Osana in the Greatwood at Cheltenham and that horse franked the performance by running away with the Bula. But the ground was very testing for the Greatwood. Add in the fact Sizing Europe makes the sort of high, measured arc over his hurdles which could cost him precious momentum in the big one and a win and place lay starts to become very tempting.

2 Wichita Lineman: Granted, he won at last year's Festival and looks to be crying out for a return to three miles after being outpaced over shorter of late, but Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has a lazy streak which is becoming more marked and such traits are hard to overcome at the top level. There isn't huge depth to the World Hurdle, but Inglis Drever and Blazing Bailey set the standard and set the scene for a win lay of the Lineman.

3 Joe Lively: Laying horses who acts as well round Cheltenham as this fellow is fraught with risk, but is Joe Lively really a worthy favourite for the Sun Alliance Chase? Perhaps he is, but I just wonder whether he is quite as good as he looked when trouncing a small field at Prestbury Park in December. A subsequent win in the Feltham at Kempton was game as opposed to spectacular and there is ample time for rivals to match and surpass the level that Joe Lively has reached thus far.

Cunningham's Weekend Warwick Wagers

Warwick 14.30: Back Arnold Layne win and place and lay him to save both halves of the stake at 2.5 and 1.2 in running.
Warwick 14.30: Lay Trust Fund
Warwick 15.00: Lay Nenuphar Collonges