Champion trainer Nicky Henderson conquers Worcester with promising Cheltenham contenders

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Nicky Henderson unleashed some potential stable stars as he enjoyed a treble on Worcester’s Wednesday card.

The Lambourn handler has enjoyed a successful start to the jumps season securing 20 victories from 55 runners, recording a tidy 36% profit.

Forever Field enjoyed his first victory over fences in the curtain raiser, beating Paul Nicholls’ odds-on favourite Black Corton in a head to head battle.

The novice chaser won three times over hurdles, and finished a close third behind former Sefton winner Ballyoptic in Chepstow’s Silver Trophy.

His maiden win over fences was both impressive and professional, he may remain a handicapper to follow.

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Forever Field is a half-brother to Kim Muir winner Same Difference, who won at the Festival in 2013.

Yet the most impressive winner of the trio came from newcomer Malton Rose, who enjoyed an easy seven length success in bumper company.

The well-bred six-year-old kicked on well from two furlongs out, to beat more experienced rivals in convincing fashion.

Not many were surprised as the penultimate race of the card went to the Seven Barrows handler, as Monbeg Legend justified 1-5 odds to secure a third straight victory.

The seven-year-old defied a two year absence to win at Southwell earlier this month, but found his third start the most troublesome.

Although the class act in the field, he struggled to overcome some obstacles but kept on to win in good fashion to complete the treble.

He hasn’t been the most straightforward winner, but should progress into a nice prospect throughout the season.

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Peace And Co enjoyed success in his first attempt over fences, he won the 2015 Triumph Hurdle at the Festival.

Earlier in the week former Cheltenham Festival winner Peace And Co won his first start over fences, winning a novice chase contest at Hexham by eight lengths.

The 2015 Triumph Hurdle winner had struggled in handicap company in two starts last season, and the switch to chasing seemed to work as he completed his fences in good style.

He’s a 25-1 chance of winning the Arkle in the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.

Top Hats vs Tweed: 6 reasons why I believe the Cheltenham Festival always beats Royal Ascot

With the end of Royal Ascot, we remind you some reasons why a cold afternoon in the Cotswolds always beats a summer's day in Berkshire. Well, we think so!

1 - Dress Code

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"Very pretty, but I'm trying to watch the race and I can't see a thing!"

In the build up to Royal Ascot, a lot has been said about the strict dress code at Royal Ascot. Some enclosures require a full top hat and full suit, which on a sweltering June day is the last thing you need. Cheltenham's dress code is less strict, and fashion doesn't take centre stage at the meeting which is ideal for real racing fans.

2 - Atmosphere

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Is it a fall? Is it a photo finish? No, they've run out of Guinness. Although that would never happen.

Cheltenham's atmosphere can vary massively depending on the results, and the day. The main mood is very good, with people in good spirits for the entire week. The meeting is kicked off by the famous 'Cheltenham roar', which the jockeys claim is so loud they can feel hit by it's sound wave. St Patrick's Day Thursday highlights the fun of the week, but the highs and lows on the track grip the crowd as horses fly over fences and battle up Gloucestershire's iconic hill.

3 - Value for Money

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Not all investments pay off

The lowest price for Royal Ascot is £37, for your place in the Windsor Enclosure. Whilst for the 2018 Cheltenham Festival you can get into the Best Mate stand for just £25. Yet Cheltenham offers live music in all areas, and better views of the racecourse. Parking, racecards and some drinks are all generally cheaper at Cheltenham.

4 - The very best in the game

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Going to Cheltenham is always a target, there are more options on the flat than Ascot

Although Ascot features plenty of top races and world-class horses it doesn't include all of them. The Royal meeting features global field, but with a wider flat calendar plenty of the flat's best rated runners miss the meeting. The Derby and Oaks normally grab a majority of Britain's leading three-year-old's, whilst plenty miss a Berkshire outing to go for the Eclipse, Irish Derby and many more lucrative prizes on the calendar.

The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the National Hunt season, and only really the Grand National is more illustrious than going to the Cotswolds.

5 - The pinnacle meeting, the pinnacle races

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Despite winning two King George's Silviniaco Conti, is always remembered as the horse who never won the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Flat fans drool over the Guineas, Derby and Arc to name a few races; but in the National Hunt all those races we crave for come at once... at Cheltenham. The King George, Betfred and Hennessy are all established races by themselves but a true jumps fan can't help but be teased by whether they believe such winners can win the Gold Cup in the following year. The National Hunt season slowly pieces together the Festival fields throughout the season, before all is revealed in the March spectacle and those long-awaited antepost bets are tested.

6 - The Irish

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This leprechaun is searching for a pot of gold at Prestbury Park

Whether it's in the pub telling you stories, at the racecourse picking their horse or drinking their Guinness somewhere else, the Irish make Cheltenham what it is today. They make the Festival so memorable as they conquer the Cotswolds in their numbers, uplifting the area with their fine spirits and beautiful dark drink.

Willie Mullins' Thomas Hobson flies into Cheltenham frame after Royal romp

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Willie Mullins’s Thomas Hobson forged his way in the Cheltenham Festival after an impressive week at Royal Ascot.

The seven-year-old won well in Tuesday’s Ascot Stakes under the hands of Ryan Moore, where he trailed for most of the way before powering home in the final few furlongs.

His six length success impressed Mullins so much he declared him for Saturday’s Queen Alexandra Stakes, where he ran creditably to finish second behind Mark Johnston’s Oriental Fox.

He failed to complete an Ascot double, but the hurdler may also attempt to add Cheltenham glory to his established CV.

Thomas Hobson looks set for a summer of flat racing, and may even go down under to contest Australia’s biggest race the Melbourne Cup.

After two good efforts at the Royal Meeting, Mullins was delighted by his efforts.

“It was a very good run,” Mullins said.

“I’m very pleased that he backed up like that.

“He was quite keen after his run the other day, which didn’t help him today.

“However, things are looking good for the future for his Flat racing. We will look at York.”

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Pierre-Charles Boudot, who bred Triumph winner Defi Du Seuil, enjoyed his first Royal winner this week.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winning handler Jessica Harrington enjoyed a good week at the Royal meeting, however her star two-year-old  Alpha Centauri could only finish second in the Albany.

Her other juvenile Brother Bear wasn’t beaten too far when fourth in Tuesday’s Coventry Stakes.

Alan King, trainer of Festival favourite Yanworth, picked up some valuable place money with handicappers Top Tug and Who Dares Wins.

Whilst three-time Champion Hurdle winning trainer Aidan O’Brien picked up the top trainers prize at Royal Ascot.

French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who bred this year’s Triumph winner Defi Du Seuil, also enjoyed Royal success aboard Le Brevido in the Jersey Stakes.

Jonjo O'Neill's promising Minotaur set for Aintree test on route to 2018 Cheltenham Festival

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Jonjo O’Neill’s exciting novice Minotaur is targeting his second victory over hurdles at Aintree this evening.

The former French listed winner is a short price favourite to follow up his maiden success in the Try Foot Golf At Aintree Golf Course Novices' Hurdle (6:50).

In the famous colours of JP McManus he enjoyed a creditable hurdling debut at Ffos Las, being defeated by more experienced rivals A Bold Move and Mon Palois.

But stepped up to power clear to a 20 length success at Cartmel on his next start to enhance his credentials for Jonjo O’Neill.

He takes on a stronger field at Aintree this afternoon, but connections are confident of another strong show from the potentially brilliant five-year-old.

“He’s in good form at home and ran well last time,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus.

“Jonjo (O’Neill) is happy with him and we hope he can run well.”

His flat form is exceptionally strong for the hurdler, having ending his time in France with a four length success in listed company.

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Wichita Lineman was the last winner of the Albert Bartlett for Jonjo O'Neill and JP McManus in 2007.

He won six times across the Channel picking up over £80,000 in prize money, winning on ground varying from very soft to good.

The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle or Neptune Novices’ Hurdle may be a long-term target for this eight time winner.

However, he does have a declaration for the Northumberland Plate on the flat and O’Neill may try and capitalise on his tidy handicap mark of 103.

This evening his biggest rival at the Lancashire track is Jimmy Breekie who was last seen winning a novice event at Perth in good style earlier this month.

Whilst Bere Haven makes his racecourse debut for Jennie Candlish.

The seven-year-old was victorious on his only start in a point-to-point, winning at Tralee by eight lengths.

Minotaur is as short as 8/13 to take this evening’s contest.

Paul Nicholls novice Alcala powers clear to gain valuable Newton Abbot prize as Irish Cavalier pulls up

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Alcala earnt his place among Paul Nicholls’ star novices after winning Newton Abbot’s feature newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase (2:45) in a convincing manner.

The seven-year-old jumped well and stayed close to the lead before making his move late on. Eyeballing Phillip Hobbs’ Brother Tedd over the last, his rival made a crucial mistake handing the victory to Sam Twiston-Davies’ mount.

It’s his second victory on the trot following an easy 33 length canter at this track only 11 days ago.

“We’re really happy with him," said Nicholls.

"I thought with the 7lb penalty was worth taking a chance on,

“They seemed to go pretty quick, and he jumped nicely. The ground is the most important thing for him.

“We have the option now of running in a nice handicap or keep him novice chasing.”

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The last time Paul Nicholls won the RSA Chase was with Denman in 2007, he won the Gold Cup the following year.

The Cheltenham Festival may not have his optimum quick ground, but he may take his chance in the RSA Chase which was won by Might Bite in 2017.

Alcala may feature in some of jump racing’s leading races throughout the summer period.

Nicholls hailed the prize money on offer at the Devon track, Alcala won the race with prize money in excess of £14,000.

“It’s a credit to jump racing to put on that sort of prize money at this time of the year,” said the Ditcheat maestro.

“You don’t mind supporting them, and there were some nice horses on show here.

“With novice races in the summer it’s worth bringing some good horses out for.”

Pre-race favourite Brother Tedd finished second, whilst Alan King’s Midnight Cowboy finished third.

Irish Cavalier, who won the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Haydock, was pulled-up sharply through the race.

Rebecca Curtis’ eight-year-old contested the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup but failed to finish in the Festival’s feature race.

Whilst pre-race favourite Ballybolley was withdrawn from the race in the morning by trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Former Ballydoyle ace Cook Islands out to emulate Festival winning stablemate Ivanovich Gorbatov

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Joseph O’Brien's Cook Islands will need to defy young age as he lines up in a tricky novice hurdle at Roscommon (6:10) this evening.

He continues his journey towards the 2018 Cheltenham Festival, where he hopes to follow in the steps of stablemate Ivanovich Gorbatov who was victorious at the Cheltenham Festival at the same age.

The four-year-old won impressively on his only start over hurdles, winning a very competitive Punchestown maiden in good style.

His flat form is encouraging , he enjoyed one success when at Ballydoyle but ran well in pattern events such as the Dee Stakes.

With conditions an optimum he’s set to improve from the outing, however his close rivals in the betting are three years older than him.

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Ivanovich Gorbatov and Barry Gerahty celebrate after beating Apple's Jade to the Grade One Triumph Hurdle in 2016.

The Triumph Hurdle could be his main target, which Ivanovich Gorbatov won two years ago.

The trainer rode him to maiden victory, before training him to Triumph Hurdle success just a year later.

The JP McManus-owned star was last seen finishing sixth in the County Hurdle at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival.

Willie Mullins’ Robin Des Foret looks to be his biggest danger in the betting, the seven-year-old has won his last three starts for the County Carlow trainer.

He enjoyed the step-up in trip at Kilbeggan last time, but may not get optimum quick ground.

“The ground and track will be fine but he is not particulary well suited by the race conditions,” said Mullins to his website.

“He is dropping back in trip having won over 3m1f last time but he seems versatile enough.

“He has been in good form at home and should go very well.”

Gordon Elliott is represented by Dorans Rover, who was last seen finishing second at Ballinrobe last time out.

Cook Islands is estimated as a 3/1 shot to take the novice contest, whilst Robin Des Foret is a 9/4 favourite at the Connacht track.

London Prize boosts long-term Cheltenham claims after Goodwood romp

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Ian Williams' London Prize enhanced his flat and hurdle form after an impressive victory in handicap company at Goodwood.

Williams missed out on the Cheltenham Festival with the six-year-old, who instead went to the Imperial Cup where he won by a length ahead of Nicky Henderson's Fixe Le Kap.

The Scottish trainer insisted he would 'benefit from a break', after a month off the track following his eighth place finish in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock.

He stayed midfield throughout the race, before leading when travelling strongest and was pushed clear under James Doyle to enjoy an eight length success.

Remarkably the two-time hurdle winner looked to have plenty left after crossing the winner's post at the Sussex track, and could appear in the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.

Sternrubin, who dead-heated in the Ladbroke in 2015, could only finish third for Phillip Hobbs.

Easy, easy ... London Prize wins impressively @Goodwood_Races under @the_doyler - he's a top dual purpose stayer and could go to @Ascot next

— Ian Williams Racing (@ianwilliamsraci) June 11, 2017

The Northumberland Plate or Ascot Stakes could be next on his agenda, before he should campaign back over hurdles.

His principal target could be a return to the Imperial Cup, or he could be tested in the County Hurdle at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.

On the nature of his victory, he may even have a crack at some of the higher grade races in March's showcase.