The New One
He’s 100%. It’s a bit nerve-racking when you’ve got a week and five days to go, you just hope everything goes smoothly and at the moment it is. Not everybody was very impressed [by his win at Haydock last time] but I don’t think it was probably too bad. It was terrible ground, he was following a horse that was jumping to the right, but when [the trainer’s son] Sam [Twiston-Davies] asked him to quicken, he was hating every bit of it and it took him some time, but then away he went, same as always. Everyone seems to love knocking the horse, but it probably wasn’t that bad. He’s been powering up the gallops and he’s very well in himself. This is the race for him, it’s a long year [since last year’s disappointment] and it’s all you’re thinking about. It’s seen as a two-horse race [Faugheen] but Jezki and Hurricane Fly have done nothing wrong. It should really be four co-favourites.
Blaklion
He’s won over three miles and it’s what he needs. He won’t get very soft ground [in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle] on the Friday but it will be a true-run race [and] the only time he’s been beaten is by muddling race speeds. In a true-run race, he’ll be fine. All’s been fine with him. His rider will have to be discussed and I really don’t know. I’d very much like Sam if he could but I’m sure Paul [Nicholls] will have one, and I’d quite like Ryan Hatch to ride him but he won’t be able to claim his five so maybe not.
Little Jon
He’s in the last race on the first day [Chaps Restaurant Barbados Novice Chase]. I think he’s quite well in, he’s my other good one for the meeting. Hes been very unlucky at Cheltenham this year. He had one fall when going well and he’s crashed through a wing when going well. He’s not unfairly handicapped. When he crashed through the wing, no one knows why that happened. What makes a great big fencer try to do that? He’s a very good jumper, he’s very scopey and powerful. What you’d say is that his ability to shorten was looking dubious. [Event rider] Andrew Nicholson, who rides for us in the charity race, has been down here schooling him and getting him to shorten beautifully so we think we’ve got to the bottom of that and we should be all right.
Splash Of Ginge
He’s been running superbly at Cheltenham and I think he’s got a huge chance [in the JLT Novice Chase].
Cogry
He runs in the four-miler [Toby Balding National Hunt Chase] on the first day.
Double Ross
I think he’s been a bit forgotten in the Ryanair. He ran really well at Wetherby earlier in the season. He’s been under the weather a bit and came back to himself a bit more at Newbury last time. The plan is that he will then run in the Grand National.
Sybarite
He’s definitely improving all the time [and runs in the Pertemps Hurdle Final]. He’s been keeping a bit back for himself and he had a bad heart, and I think that taught him to look after himself. But his heart is absolutely fine now and he does his best work at the end when everyone else is done in. He’ll be flying up the hill and he loves Cheltenham. He could really surprise everybody. When he drops himself out coming down the hill, I think he’s just looking after himself, and when he discovers it’s not going to hurt him, he quickens up again nicely. You don’t want to bully him too much, too early. The whole thing is to keep him as close as you can, as nicely as you can.
Astrocad
We’re looking towards the Grand Annual as two miles seems right for him. He’s come down in the weights and the worry is getting him in, but he should be okay.
Foxbridge
Will he get in the Kim Muir? Probably not, but he could get in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase [on the opening day]. If he doesn’t get into either, he could go to the Midlands National.
Benbens
He’s in great form. He was a bit disappointing and got stuck in the mud at Haydock [last time out on 14 February] but he’s in good form and he’s run really well all season. We keep saying there must be a big race in him somewhere and that [the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Handicap Chase on 12 March] could be it. He does go well at Cheltenham and he’s definitely a very live hope.
Goodbye Dancer
We’ve kept him fresh for Cheltenham. He’s all right and he should get in the Fred Winter. He’s in the Triumph as well, but if he was going to win the Triumph, he’ll definitely win that, so it seems right to go for that one.
