It's D-Day for Chacun in the Queen Mother

 

A big day for Chacun Pour Soi, with his chance for domination across both sides of the Irish Sea

After a very good Tuesday for us, with the evergreen Vintage Clouds landing us a nice win at big odds, together with the big run of Indefatigable in the Mares and Coltor in the Boodles both running well and taking advantage of the extra places in each way markets. For Pleasure also ran an absolute blinder in the Supreme despite not hitting the low in-running price I was trying to match. One down and three to go as we move onto day two with four more selections.

3.05 - Queen Mother Champion Chase:

As the caption above indicates, tomorrow is the biggest day in the career of Chacun Pour Soi to date. Having defeated all before him in Ireland in recent times, and doing so easily, he arrives here to take on a new set of opponents and have his first experience of Cheltenham in the process. Do I think he is the right favourite? Yes but at the price, I wouldn't go near him, and there is plenty to go at as far as an each way alternative is concerned. Put The Kettle On has the bonus of the 7lb mares allowance, which of course came in very handy for Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle for the same connections, and would hold claims, as would Nube Negra and last year's winner Politologue. But with plenty of pace on, I thought Sceau Royal could run another good race. The ground in the race last year was too sticky, that coming a year on from his exceptional effort in 2019's renewal when leading at the last before finishing third to Altior. He looked as good as ever when disposing of Champ in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month and at around 14/1, he looks overpriced.

3.40 - Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country):

Easysland is going to go off a short price favourite for jockey Felix De Giles, formerly based over here, and trainer David Cottin. Easysland bolted up in this race last year, and this year is using it as a stepping stone to the Grand National at Aintree, where he has top weight. The one big concern would be the form of the Cottin stable, who are usually very consistent and in the winners on a regular basis but have been going through a real cold spell, with just five winners this calendar year. Tiger Roll, the dual Grand National winner is coming here as opposed to Aintree this time around under instruction from his owners, but he's been in poor form and plenty must be taken on trust. Balko Des Flos would have a massive chance if he a) stayed the trip and more importantly b) took to the fences. But I'm going to throw a dart at Defi Des Carres here each way at big odds. He is trained by Charlie Mann having formally been in France, but he turned up here on his British debut and finished a very good second to Some Neck, getting reeled in close home. His second run is excusable and he has had a nice break since. He jumps very well and although not very well in at the weights, he can go well with extra places. 

4.15 - Grand Annual Handicap Chase:

As ever a very competitve contest. With nineteen runners, there will be lots of extra places around. Zanza has been well talked up by connections, and you can see why, together with Sky Pirate and Chosen Mate. The two I want to play are Us And Them and Glen Forsa. The latter has had his issues but has been given a wind operation and I think the drop down to two miles could be the answer. Pause the tape at the halfway point in both his last two races over 2m4f and he is travelling as well as anything before bombing out. Back down to 2m, I thought he could go well. Us And Them was placed in the race last year off one pound higher and has been freshened up in preparation for this.

4.50 - Champion Bumper:

Kilcruit won on the bridle at Leopardstown but it just seems too good to be true, and I'm not willing to take less than 2/1 to find out. I backed Three Stripe Line at 33/1 after his debut rout at Navan, and he has every chance. If you have a lot of places (5+), then I wouldn't put you off Jack's A Legend, who despite being the only maiden in the field, has good course form, will appreciate slightly better ground and a strong pace to aim at here. He has had a wind operation as well and if he was trained by a more fashionable trainer, he'd be much shorter than he is.

Hopefully more of the same on Wednesday.

Be lucky!