The weather claimed both of the scheduled jumps meetings in Britain on Wednesday when Warwick and Uttoxeter were frozen off but Cheltenham are confident their very popular New Year’s Day fixture will go ahead.
Frost covers have been down at the track since Sunday but while they will not be removed until Thursday morning, the clerk of the course, Simon Claisse, does not envisage any problems.
“The weather is becoming milder and we are forecast only minimal frost overnight into tomorrow,” Claisse said on Wednesday. “But we are keeping the frost covers down until the morning and are looking forward to a splendid day’s racing. The going is still good to soft and it is all systems go.”
Cheltenham will attract its traditional big New Year’s Day crowd and the card, which has been upgraded in recent years, promises to be highly informative.
The Dipper Chase, which was transferred from Newcastle to this fixture in 2005, is the most prestigious event and has attracted what is arguably the best novice line-up seen this campaign.
Paul Nicholls has enjoyed a very successful season and Ptit Zig (1.20) can complete a four-timer for the champion trainer. The selection was useful over timber and finished sixth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
The classy runner has taken well to fences and completed a hat-trick over the larger obstacles when impressively disposing of Josses Hill at Ascot in December, jumping in good style before smoothly easing clear before the last.
Champagne West is the obvious danger on paper but his jumping did not wholly convince when winning at Cheltenham last time out where he was far from sure-footed at the last two fences.
Urban Hymn and Little Jon will ensure there is a good gallop on and the latter, who was going well until running out four from home in the race won by Champagne West and who will be well suited if this becomes a test of stamina, is the suggestion for those wanting an alternative to the favourite in this race.
The Dornan Engineering Hurdle features the return of the hugely promising Beat That but Barry Geraghty has chosen his stable companion Vaniteux (3.05) and, in receipt of 8lb, his choice is likely to prove difficult to beat.
The selection was firmly put in his place by The New One when he was upped in class last time out but is likely to be suited by the step up in trip while, with due respect to the 2012 Champion Hurdle winner, Rock On Ruby, who has reverted to hurdles after failing to come up to scratch over fences, he meets nothing of that class this time.
Nigel Twiston-Davies can land the Betbright On Mobile Handicap Chase with the bottom weight Hollow Blue Sky (12.45), who looks a fair bet at what should be decent odds. This will be run at a decent pace, given those who like to race prominently, and the selection is likely to progress for the longer trip and for the fitting of cheekpieces.
The Irish Turf Club is to hold an investigation after Sadler’s Risk, who passed the post first in the Free Festival Hurdle at Punchestown on Wednesday, was disqualified when it emerged that the clerk of the scales had weighed the winning rider, Andrew Lynch, out 4lb lighter than he should have ridden with.
