/ Editor / 15 March 2007 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Wichita Lineman is a worthy favourite for the three-mile novices' hurdle at Cheltenham (14.35), a race his trainer and jockey (Jonjo O'Neill/Tony McCoy) won 12 months ago with Black Jack Ketchum.

Despite the major disappointment surrounding the fall of Black Jack Ketchum on Thursday, Wichita Lineman's chances have been boosted by the events of the week. He has gained decisions this season over Massini's Maguire, Tidal Bay and Silverburn, and they were the first, second and fourth home in Wednesday's Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle.

Punters might be best holding fire until in-play, as the six-year-old is a real trier who responds wells to pressure and could be trading higher than his pre-race odds when he first comes under the McCoy drive.

Flight Leader is a very strong back-up for the home team. There may have been suspicions about whether Labelthou and Temoin ran up to their best form when he beat them in separate races at Cheltenham, but there can be no disputing the merit of his third in the Cleeve Hurdle.

He chased home World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever and Blazing Bailey and ran all the way to the line.

It took Black Harry four hurdle races before he gained winning brackets which has to be a concern, but he is highly rated in the Willie Mullins yard.

He beat Hairy Molly when they made their respective racecourse debuts and the second that day went on to win the Festival bumper last season. Hairy Molly's January conqueror, Scotsirish, did not boost the form at Cheltenham earlier in the week.

Sir Jimmy Shand couldn't ruffle Wichita Lineman at Newbury but was a solid second and with Nicky Henderson's ability to add some polish to his Festival runners, he will tempt punters in the place market.

Chief Dan George keeps being underestimated and, here we go again, this grinder does look as if he needs heavy ground to show his best.

It wouldn't be a complete shock if Joacci was to run into the money. He's a 150-rated chaser who earned that mark by beating subsequent Scottish National winner Run For Paddy, among others, at this course in January.

He then completely lost his form, started his rehabilitation by winning two very minor novice hurdles, but the jury is out again after he ran disappointingly at Haydock. If on a going day, he may be worth some in-play interest because he does stay.

Kauto looks the star turn
With no previous winners in the field, a new champion will be crowned in the Gold Cup (15.15) and the outstanding horse of the season, Kauto Star, will doubtless make the headlines.
Much is made of the youngster's rare blunders, but in general he is a superb jumper, and the form of five straight wins this season looks stronger by the day.
Admittedly Voy Por Ustedes was having his first run of the season in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown against a race-fit Kauto Star, but this week's winner of the Champion Chase was easily brushed aside.
And then Exotic Dancer, well-nigh unbeatable this season, couldn't live with the Nicholls chaser in the King George.
Like many a flawed genius, Kauto Star makes things interesting. The value may have gone in backing him now, but should he make one of his mistakes early in the race, he could become an attractive in-play option.
Fans of Exotic Dancer will be hoping the Cheltenham factor helps him to close the gap with the favourite - Kauto Star fell in last year's Champion Chase while Jonjo O'Neill's improver has won at Cheltenham on his last four visits. Don't worry if he is well off the action in the early stages, as these are tactics which suit him best.
Other contenders make much less appeal. State Of Play's defeat of Juveigneur in the Hennessy is surely not good enough; L'Ami was a never-dangerous fourth last year and was flattered to get so close to Kauto Star last time at Newbury in a false-run race that turned into a sprint finish and Beef Or Salmon has yet to perform up to his best in four previous Gold Cup attempts.
The Listener, who would have beaten Beef Or Salmon for the second time in a row at Leopardstown but for weakening late on in gluepot conditions, does have the ability to figure while two horses which are overpriced and should be considered in the back-to-lay category are Monkerhostin and Neptunes Collognes.
Monkerhostin once beat Kauto Star in the Haldon Gold Cup and started at only 13-2 in this race last year. He has been kept fresh for the race and compared to his starting price could be trading at much shorter odds in the final mile as he creeps into the race.
The same goes for the grey Neptune Collonges, who was only headed at the second last (fell at the next fence) by the subsequent winner Exotic Dancer in the Letheby and Christopher Chase over the course. He races with great enthusiasm at the head of affairs and he too could be traded in having been backed at huge odds beforehand.

Saint's alive in Grand Annual

Sporazene's appearance as top weight in the Grand Annual Chase (16.40) means six of the runners are out of the handicap which greatly benefits his stable companion Saintsaire, who gets in here with just 10st 2lb.

While former Festival winner Sporazene has ability to burn, he rarely puts in a round without four faults so he can never be a confident bet.

Saintsaire looks a shrewd purchase for 44,000 guineas out of Nicky Henderson's yard on the evidence of his first run for the Nicholls camp at Newbury where he jumped well, battled on hardily and has gone up only 7lb in the ratings.

He ran at the Festival last year in the Racing Post Plate and would have finished third to his then-stable companion None So but for falling at the last. It was actually an even better run because he raced too freely wearing first-time blinkers.

Pablo Du Charmil is unbeaten in three races this season but they were small uncompetitive novice events and this is much tougher.

Demi Beau and Hasty Prince are more serious candidates to foil the favourite.

Demi Beau simply did not stay the 2m 5f of the Jewson Chase at the Festival last year, but jumped these fences for fun until falling when tired. Over a more suitable two miles he has won two crackers at Ascot this season and, having been kept in his stable while the ground has been soft, he finds conditions coming in his favour.

Demi Beau is likely to race prominently and trade quite short in play but hold-up horse Hasty Prince could be the value during the race. He's not a very robust looking horse and seems to take a lot of himself jumping fences, but he has a big heart and the form of his second to Dempsey at Sandown last time has been well boosted.

Greenhope won this race last year but is 9lb higher, has run two poor races since and stable jockey Fitzgerald prefers Tysou, who also ran a good race behind Dempsey recently. Having been fourth in this race in 2005, Tysou is an attractive option in the place market at big odds.

Typically, Andreas is the last horse off the bridle in his races, but his regular in-play supporters are dwindling as he finds so little off the bridle.