Petit Mouchoir heads Arkle market after dominant debut display

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Henry De Bromhead’s Petit Mouchoir is now the favourite for the Arkle at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival, after an impressive chasing debut victory at Punchestown yesterday.

The duel Grade One winner was both workmanlike and impressive on his first run since the Festival, travelling strongest and easily quickening past his ten rivals.

Helped by a strong round of jumping, he forged clear by seven lengths for Davy Russell to enjoy an easy debut success.

A winner of the Irish Champion and Ryanair Hurdle, the former Champion Hurdle looks one of the leading novice chasers for the season.

"You'd be nervous heading out on him as today was very important he did things right with the future in mind,” said winning jockey Davy Russell.

“Henry is a master at improving hurdlers to chasers and he looks to have done it again.

"Having run in a point that's a huge bonus, it gives them such a good grounding. We hadn't done that much schooling, two bits outside, though Henry does plenty himself. He gave him a pop yesterday and he was very good.

"The country is full of high-quality horses and he's one, it's a highly competitive sphere but I'm sure he'll hold his own."

He currently heads the Arkle antepost market, along with last season’s dominant Triumph winner Defi Du Seuil.

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Gordon Elliott enjoyed a double on the card with Cracking Smart and Campeador both winning

Cracking Smart, who was tipped to win by our sister site Tippin Jimmy, enjoyed a comfortable four length success in his maiden hurdle.

Elliott also oversaw Campeador defy a long absence to take a hurdle event, and he looks another smart prospect in the making.

JP McManus-owned Espoir D’Allen won tidily, as A Sizing Network also tasted victory for Gold Cup winning Sizing John’s connections.

Champion Hurdle third Petit Mouchoir makes anticipated chase bow

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Henry De Bromhead’s dual Grade One winner Petit Mouchoir can make a winning chasing debut as he takes on nine rivals at Punchestown today.

The six-year-old has won three times over hurdles, including top level success in Leopardstown’s Ryanair and Irish Champion Hurdle last season.

He was last seen finishing third in the Champion Hurdle, but has the frame and potential to be an excellent chaser.

"He seems good and we've been happy with him at home. He's schooled well and Punchestown is a nice place to start him off," said Bromhead.

His main target looks to be the Arkle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. The bookmakers have currently priced him as a 12-1 second favourite, with impressive Triumph hero Defi Du Seuil heading the field.

This afternoon he is well fancied at 4-9 for debut glory, with his nearest market rival Brelade seeking improvement from his Gowran Park second.

Elswhere on the card Gordon Elliott’s exciting Cracking Smart makes his hurdles debut in the Maiden Hurdle (3:10) event.

The five-year-old was last seen winning a bumper contest at Fairyhouse by 13 lengths, prior to that he finished a close second behind a smart stable rival.

He’s always been the type to improve over hurdles, and even more so over fences, and expectations are high of a strong run from the improving Gigginstown prospect.

Tizzard targets Cheltenham after faultless Finian's chase debut victory

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Finian’s Oscar could be targeted towards Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting, after the dual Grade One winner made a winning chase bow at Chepstow.

The 1-3 shot jumped smoothly and travelled strongly throughout the contest, and was left clear when sole market rival Alcala slipped up before the closing stages.

He pulled clear of the remaining two runners in the field, to enjoy a comfortable eleven length success.

The option of the Royal Gloucestershire Novices Chase may be an option for the five-year-old. Last year it was won by Shantou Village.

“It is always nice to start with a win as it will do his confidence a lot of good," the Dorset trainer told the Racing Post.

“We’ve not really learned anything new about Finian’s Oscar and although he looked a bit ring-rusty in the early part of the race, he was closing up when Alcala unfortunately came down and then he has come home on his own.”

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Finian's Oscar gave jockey Bryan Cooper his first win since being retained by Alan and Ann Potts

"I’d not rule out going to Cheltenham with him at the end of the month, if he didn’t go to that meeting he’d be there for the November meeting.

“That’s where we want to end up with him in March so we’ve got to get the match practice into him and then we can pick and choose our races.

“He’s made the best possible start over fences and we can take everything from here.”

After his victory in South Wales bookmakers have shortened his price for the JLT from 8-1 to 6-1.

Elsewhere on the card, it was a brilliant day for Welsh trainer Evan Williams. The Glamorgan handler celebrated wins in the handicap with Silver Streak, before Court Minstrel enjoyed his first success in two years in the feature Silver Trophy.

He saw off Jedd O’Keeffe’S Sam Spiller and Paul Nicholls’ Peak To Peak in a tight finish.

Paul Nicholls recorded a novice hurdle double with Dynamite Dollars and If You Say Run, whilst 

Phillip Hobbs’ Rock The Kasbah ran out an easy winner at handicap level.

'He could be a Gold Cup contender' - Big Festival hero joins top novices in excellent Chepstow card

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Aintree and Punchestown winner Sizing Codelco can prove his Cheltenham Gold Cup claims, as he attempts to overcome top weight in the Toteexacta Handicap Chase (4:45) at Chepstow this afternoon.

The eight-year-old stepped up from his unplaced Festival effort to win impressively by 13 lengths, in a listed handicap at the National meeting.

Despite a fair 11lb rise for his Lancashire romp, he continued his progression to win in Ireland only for the handicapper to add another 10lb on his back.

With his handicap mark so high, to win giving so much weight away would surely prove him as another classy chaser in the Tizzard camp.

“He’s a 160-rated horse for us who really came good in the spring,” said Tizzard.

“Whether he is good enough to give weight to all of those I don’t know, it’s a tough ask.

“If he won this then I’d have to think he’s a Gold Cup horse, if he gets beat then he’s a handicapper.

“He seems in good form, and I am looking forward to seeing where we are with him.”

Currently he is unfancied for the Festival’s most illustrious prize, with stable stars Thistlecrack, 

Native River and veteran Cue Card setting a high standard for the three-time chase winner.

Odds of 66-1 may shorten should he enjoy a victory in South Wales this afternoon.

Phillip Hobbs’ Rock The Kasbah leads the market at Chepstow. A Grade Two second last season, he makes his first start since finishing sixth in Sandown’s Bet365 Handicap (commonly named the Whitbread).

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Ballykan, Lucy Wadham’s Potters Legend and Alan King’s Label Des Obeaux also line up in the 2m7f handicap.

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Champion trainer seeking Paul Nicholls sends two strong novice hurdlers to South Wales

Elsewhere on the card Paul Nicholls is strongly represented in the two opening novice hurdles on the card.

Dynamite Dollars (1:55) has yet to win for the Ditcheat maestro, but finished well when sixth in a competitive Newbury bumper.

“While he didn't manage to win any of his three bumpers last season when he was a little backward he created a good impression in twice finishing third including a good run in a Listed event at Cheltenham on New Year's Day,” Nicholls told his Betfair blog.

“I watched him jump well during a schooling session round a French racecourse before we bought him.

“He is built like a proper National Hunt prospect, is fit and well, can only improve with experience and I am looking forward to him starting off over hurdles here. He will run well.”

He’ll take on Captain Simon, who is two from two, for Dan Skelton and Jonjo O’Neill’s expensive new recruit Fleminport.

Meanwhile If You Say Run (2:30) has been steadily improving for Nicholls. After a point-to-point win in Ireland, he won impressively on his British debut in a bumper at this track.

“She is a lovely mare who made the perfect to start to racing with an impressive victory in a point-to-point in Ireland despite some jumping errors,” he added.

“She displayed a smart turn of foot that day and didn't surprise us at all when making all the running on her debut for us in a bumper at Chepstow in the spring on her way to winning by 13 lengths.

“She’s a smart mare who is ready to go, has a nice turn of foot and will appreciate the good ground.”

Jonjo O’Neill’s Rosie McQueen and Rebecca Curtis’ Just A Thought are her main dangers.

Read thoughts ahead of Finian's Oscar's chasing debut here, and exclusive comments ahead of the Silver Trophy here.

Twiston-Davies expecting classy hurdler Wholestone to shine in Silver Trophy

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Nigel Twiston-Davies' Wholestone has plenty of options available, as the former Cheltenham Festival third takes on handicappers in Chepstow’s Totepool Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (4:10).

The six-year-old landed two Grade Two prizes last season as a novice, and capped off a good campaign with a place in the Albert Bartlett behind Penhill and Monalee.

He is on a good mark to take on some of the big handicap prizes just like Twiston-Davies’ winner in the race last season, Ballyoptic. But Wholestone also has  the option of going novice chasing.

"He was one of the top novices of last season and I think he’s been fairly weighted at 145,” said the Gloucestershire-based trainer to the Racing Post.

"I’m quite looking forward to it. He’s a good horse.

“After the Albert Bartlett we thought he had done enough for the season.

"We won this race with Ballyoptic last season, and we’ll try to do the same and then go onto the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby.

"We’ll be looking at long-distance trips, but if he didn’t win we might go chasing.”

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Former Gigginstown jockey Bryan Cooper takes the ride for Ann and Alan Potts' Alary at Chepstow

Alary makes his first start over hurdles in the UK for Colin Tizzard.

Since joining Tizzard’s Milborne Port setup, he’s been a tad disappointing when failing to finish on two starts at Haydock and Exeter.

He capped off last season with a sixth place finish in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, and he hopes to break his hurdles duck on the eighth attempt.

“His last run in the Ryanair was actually a very good run,” said the Dorset-based trainer.

“He didn’t look himself last year but over the summer he has improved a lot and he looks fantastic now!

“We’ve had horses in the past who have lost their way a little so we try running them over hurdles.

“It’s important to see how he gets on, on his chase mark he is very well handicapped and he’s in great form.”

“I don’t know where we are with him, but we will let the horse do the talking!”

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Former Grade One juvenile winner Le Rocher joins a number of top hurdlers at Chepstow this afternoon

Sam Spinner looked an exciting hurdler in the making when winning three races from four last season for Jedd O’Keeffe.

JP McManus is represented by Drumcliff and River Frost. The latter won well in a handicap at Kempton back in February before finishing ninth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

Drumcliff was last seen being brought down at Punchestown five months ago for Harry Fry.

Away from the iconic green and yellow colours, Fry also saddles Bags Groove. The six-year-old won twice as a novice hurdler last season including a six length success at Taunton on his last start.

Paul Nicholls’ Peak To Peak and Peter Bowen’s Souriyan come here on the back of a two-timer, whilst Dan Skelton’s Whatduhavtoget is the only mare in the field. She may be more suited to races against her own sex.

Court Minstrel won this race back in 2015, but has a bit to prove following his most recent fourth place finish at Stratford last month.

Wishing And Hoping runs for Alan King, as Tom George is represented by Sumkindofking.

Le Rocher, Old Guard and Louis’ Vac Pouch all make their seasonal bow, whilst Milrow, Doesyourdogbite, Three Musketeers also feature.

Make sure to read our preview on Finian’s Oscar’s chasing debut here, and thoughts on the other races on the card here.

Confidence in Finian's Oscar and Alcala high, ahead of Chepstow clash

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Colin Tizzard’s reports dual Grade One winner Finian’s Oscar in ‘great form’ ahead of his novice chase debut in Chepstow’s Totequadpot Novices' Chase (3:05).

The five-year-old is one of the countries’ leading novice chasing prospects. The two-time Grade One winner landed the Tolworth and Mersey Novice last season, before losing narrowly at Punchestown on his last start.

Bacardys defeated him in a photo finish in the Champion Novice, but has always been regarded as a horse to improve significantly as a chaser.

“This looks like a good starting race for him,” said Tizzard.

“We like taking some of our better horses to Chepstow, and we’ve had some winners there over the last few years.

“This is an ideal place to start him, and he looks and has schooled very well. The ground will be perfect for him as well.

“We have to go there pretty confident, and hopefully he can go on to better things this season.”

Finian’s Oscar was a notable absentee from the 2017 Cheltenham Festival, but bookmakers currently make him a leading fancy for novice chases in the March showcase next year.

He currently heads the JLT Novice market at 10-1, whilst the RSA could also be an option for him if Tizzard opts to up him in trip.

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Alcala is bidding to give trainer Paul Nicholls a sixth straight victory

Paul Nicholls believes Alcala can continue his impressive run of form against top class opposition.

The seven-year-old has won all of his last five outings, including an impressive performance when winning Market Rasen’s Summer Plate.

He’s looked like a brilliant novice in the making, and has a huge opportunity to prove his credentials against a proven top class prospect.

“He has been a revelation this summer, coming into his own by completing a five-timer over fences,” Nicholls told his Betfair blog.

“Alcala is a forward going, bold jumper with a huge engine and his confidence is sky high so hopefully he should win plenty more races.

“He still seems to be improving and is well suited by the conditions of this Listed event as he is top rated on official figures and has to give only 3lbs to Finian's Oscar who is making his debut over fences.

“While I have plenty of respect for Finian's Oscar I am hoping that Alcala's experience can prove crucial.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Tintern Theatre and Dan Skelton’s Aintree My Dream also take their place in the 2m3f contest.

Read connections thoughts ahead of the Silver Trophy here, and a 66-1 outsider hoping to boost his Gold Cup claims here.

Grade One winners Ballyoptic and Flying Angel lead strong Nigel Twiston-Davies Newton Abbot raid

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Nigel Twiston-Davies is hopeful he can land a Newton Abbot double, as he sends stable stars Ballyoptic and Flying Angel to Devon for their seasonal bows.

Ballyoptic landed Grade One honours at Aintree only 18 months ago, and enjoyed a good campaign over hurdles last season where he finished second in Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle.

He looked well on course to strike in Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle before falling on the penultimate obstacle, but failed to build on his encouraging start to the season.

At Cheltenham he finished fourth in the Stayers’ Hurdle, and fifth to Yanworth in the Liverpool Hurdle.

“Ballyoptic heads the weights for the handicap hurdle from a mark of 157,” Twiston-Davies told his Facebook page.

“He is still down from a peak of 162, which he was a close up 4th of 15 in the G2 Cleve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January.

“That’s good form and he must have a very good chance under today’s conditions.

“Zac Baker rides and takes off what could be a valuable 5lbs.

He must overcome key rivals Paul Nicholls’ improving Winningtry and Harry Fry’s Whataknight.

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Flying Angel won the Manifesto Novices' Chase a length ahead of Arkle second Cloudy Dream

Flying Angel scored at the top level last term, and will take on some tough opposition in the Weatherbys Racing Bank Intermediate Chase (3:25).

The six-year-old landed Aintree’s Grade One novice event, but was disappointing when last seen pulling up a fortnight later at Ayr.

“Flying Angel is another who went well last term, added the Gloucestershire-handler.

“He won three chases including a Grade One at Aintree in April, but wasn’t his usual self at Ayr last time.

“He’s had some good time off and returns in good form with improvement to come. Jamie Bargary rides and the pair should go close.”

Nicholls duo Black Corton and Frodon are set to head the market for the race. The former won three races from four last season, and despite never racing in pattern company looks an improving type for the Ditcheat master.

Frodon won two Grade Two prizes last season, and made history when becoming only the second four-year-old to land Cheltenham’s December Gold Cup in 54 years.

Dan Skelton’s Knockgraffon and Colin Tizzard’s Sizing Tennesse also feature.