Cheltenham Festival: The Irish Challenge, Thursday 18th March

Tipping / Timeform / 18 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Nicanor has good prospects of a second Festival win in the Jewson today

Timeform's Irish expert, Billy Nash, gives you the lowdown on the Irish challenge at Cheltenham on Thursday...

"Prince Erik figures prominently in the betting for the Pertemps Final but he hasn’t been done any favours by the handicapper and may struggle to even get placed"

Cheltenham 1.30 - Win and Place Back - Nicanor

It is possible to make some sort of a case for all five of the Irish runners in the Jewson but the one that gets my vote is Nicanor. His chase form looks very solid, slightly unlucky not to beat both An Cathaoir Mor and Kempes in maidens prior to readily getting the better of subsequent winner Deal Done over 2½m at Navan last time. He is a much better horse on a sound surface, as he showed when beating Denman in what was then the Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle here in 2006, and it looks significant that Paul Carberry has chosen to ride him instead of Jered. The Midnight Club is potentially well treated but the drying ground is not in his favour.

Cheltenham 2.05 - Place Lay - Prince Erik

Prince Erik figures prominently in the betting for the Pertemps Final but he hasn't been done any favours by the handicapper and may struggle to even get placed. He was a convincing winner of a qualifier for this race at Leopardstown in January but ran off 114 that day and has to race off a mark of 137 here. That looks very harsh and he is best opposed in what is a typically competitive renewal of this contest.

Cheltenham 2.40 - Win and Place Back - Scotsirish

Poquelin and Tranquil Sea have dominated the market for the Ryanair Chase for some time now and both have obvious credentials. However, one that should go well at a big price is Willie Mullins's Scotsirish. Paul Townend's mount finished fifth to Master Minded in the Champion Chase last year and wasn't beaten far by Voy Por Ustedes when fourth in the Melling Chase at Aintree on his next start. He warmed up for this with a very comfortable win in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last time and remains relatively unexposed at this trip.

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