Daily Placepots / Jamie Lynch / 17 March 2011 /

It's St Patrick's Day, which means Irish people enjoying themselves, English people pretending to be Irish enjoying themselves, everyone at Cheltenham drinking Guinness enjoying themselves, and a field day for my mate pickpocket Eddie. As well as green oversized hats and fake leprechaun lugs, we've got two other bankers for today to give us some chance of getting up the placepot.

13:30 - I liked it better when we knew what the races were by name. It seems like they're still not sure whether this is the new Jewson or the old Golden Miller, as both have been thrown into the mix, but first and foremost it's a novice chase, and not so competitive a race as it might look - there's as much as 32 lb between the best and the worst on Timeform ratings. The best is Wishfull Thinking, who might already be a Festival winner but for the pesky second last in the 2010 Coral Cup, but he has hit even greater heights as a chaser and arguably should be shorter than the [4.3] on offer in the win market. Cut back to November, and Robinson Collonges looked all set to give 6 lb and a beating to Wishfull Thinking, until the equally-pesky third last at Wincanton, and, back from a recharging break, today could be the day it all comes together for him.

14:05 - The opener might not be so competitive as it looks, but this is. The formlines involving Grands Crus are obviously some of the strongest of the whole season, highlighted again yesterday by For Non Stop before the each-way heartbreak of the pesky last, and Barafundle is the latest representative. The three-month absence is, if anything, a positive in his case, given he was fresh when running so well against Grands Crus at Haydock, and the feeling is that Barafundle is still several steps ahead of his mark. Another who remains with potential is Sivota, likely to have been primed for this by Willie Mullins, and less testing ground than he's generally faced in Ireland this season will be in his favour. Finally, as a lively outsider, we'll put in Barwell Bridge, given that big-field, well-run races at Cheltenham have stimulated him in the past and will hopefully do so again.

14:40 - You can make cases of sorts for most in the Ryanair, but the one that looks bomb-proof is Poquelin. He's been there and done it - second in the race last year - and has raised his game further this term, putting up an exceptional handicap performance when winning another big-but-unidentifiable race at the track under top weight in December. Banker number 1.

15:20 - Banker number 2. Yes, Grands Crus has brought a new dimension to the World Hurdle, but to focus on his progress is to overlook what Big Buck's has already done time and again. Whatever anyone says, this is a two-horse race, and it may even prove to be a one-horse race if Big Buck's turns it on as he can.

16:00 - It's a good job we've saved lines on two bankers, because we need as many picks as possible to negotiate the last two legs. Let's cut to the chase, and in the hope of catching favourite Aigle d'Or on one of his bad days, we'll side with Beautiful Sound, Call Me A Legend and Aimigayle. Gordon Elliott really entered the big time with his double yesterday, and his Beautiful Sound is an up-and-comer with more scope than most in the field, while Call Me A Legend is also relatively unexposed over this trip. Aimigayle is speculative, pulled up on her only start this season, but she has the ability to play a big part and her unfashionable stable is absolutely flying.

16:40 - This is even harder than the previous race, and we'll again need three goes, as well as plenty of luck. Faasel and Khachaturian both have 'previous' in the race - second and fifth respectively last year - and both have similar handicap marks this time around after keeping their powder dry. A final risky one to throw in is Deal Done, who is one of the youngest in the line-up, added to which this is his first go at the trip and first go in a visor, so there are plenty of reasons for thinking he could spring a surprise.

Selections: 54 lines

13:30 - 9,10
14:05 - 9,15,19
14:40 - 7
15:20 - 4
16:00 - 12,16,18
16:40 - 4,9,15

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