Philip Hobbs wanted rain for Lead On (2.55), his big hope in today's Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, and his prayers have been answered. The going has changed to good to soft with the prospect of things getting more testing. Lead On ran into a handicap snip when second to Don't Push It at Chepstow. He has gone up 6lb for that but it leaves him looking pretty well treated just the same.
The Chepstow form can be judged after the 1.45 race, in which Sobers,who ran well to finish fourth behind Don't Push It, looks to have a fair chance. His wins last season came on heavy and soft ground.
After Saturday's setbacks, Paul Nicholls will be hoping for an early boost from Predateur, who took part in a racecourse schooling session with the ill-fated Granit Jack recently. With his track experience, though, Tramantano (1.10) could be a better bet. Second to Lingo in the Greatwood Hurdle two seasons ago, he looks sure to improve on the form he showed to win a novice chase here last month.
12.45pm Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse reports the ground is now good to soft, soft in places after further rain. That's a significant change from the official 'good' description yesterday and with conditions sure to get even more testing as the afternoon progresses, the strong advice is to ensure your selections today have the requisite stamina.
1.10pm Away from Cheltenham, Tidal Bay wins the 1.00 at Carlisle but not without incident. Made a bad mistake four out and needed to be pushed out to win despite being long odds-on for today's race. He is favourite for the SunAlliance Chase back at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and while he was well on top at the end there will no doubt be some wanting to oppose him considering his less-than-perfect jumping.
1.20pm One of the interesting pointers from the first race at Cheltenham is the continuing poor form of David Pipe's runners, Nous Voila jumping poorly before being finishing well tailed-off. Winner Moon Over Miami gets a 25-1 quote for the Arkle Chase back at the Festival. Two fallers two-out here and the course is sure to come under increasing pressure following the mayhem at he third- and second-last fences at the track yesterday.
1.25pm Going now soft at Cheltenham.
1.55pm Sobers, the selection in the second race, is well suited by the heavy rain and runs a close third which is a good pointer to Lead on in the 2.55 this afternoon.
2.05pm With the ground deteriorating there's a big move developing in the 2.20 race for Kalca Mome, who was backed this morning and has been well supported at the track as the rain has fallen. He will love the mudbath Cheltenham is turning into.
2.25pm The big race in Ireland is won by Jazz Messanger, who was the one who quickened up best off what looked a pretty slow pace. Not sure we learned too much from that. Winner gets a 16-1 quote for the Champion Hurdle.
2.30pm Kalca Mome duly wins under a clever ride from Richard Johnson, who held on to his horse until the last moment. But nothing should be taken away from Voy Pur Estedes, half-a-length second, who ran a superb race under top weight against a horse ideally suited by the desperate conditions. Last year's two-mile champion chaser did extremely well giving the winner just 2lb short of two stone. Still 4-1 favourite for the Champion Chase at the Festival in March with the next step the Tingle Creek at Sandown for which this will have put him spot-on, the only worry being how much this will have taken out of him.
2.40pm As far as Lead On is concerned for the next, he will love the conditions but it is very heavy going out there and he will need the sort of ride Richard Johnson gave the winner in the last race. Johnson is on board again. When the going gets as bad as it is only certain horses who will act on it. That should be factored in when deciding your stakes.
2.55pm Lead On all the rage now and into 4-1 clear favourite.
3.05pm A race to take a very positive view of as the season progresses. The winner, Sizing Europe, has always looked a potentially classy sort and proved it here under his big weight. The trainer says the winner will stay hurdling for the time being but he has the size and scope to make a lovely chaser in time. Osana is another to take out of this contest -- an excellent second under top weight and an especially meritorious run considering his stable are bang out of form. Lead On made two bad mistakes which put paid to his chances, but such was the confidence behind him he is worth bearing in mind in for future events.
3.40pm Horses can be forgiven for disappointing under these conditions but odds-on favourite Elusive Dream again looked a bit wayward before coming home a well-beaten fourth in the 3.30. Razor Royale won with more in hand than the official winning margin and is obviously a good prospect. What A Buzz ran an eye-catcher in third on his hurdling debut.
3.50pm This just in. Cheltenham abandoned. Earlier in the afternoon, Simon Claisse was adamant the card wasn't in trouble but the last race was scheduled to be a bumper (a National Hunt Flat race) and when the hurdles were being taken out of the ground the holes left behind were filling up with water. The course was considered dangerous and the last race will not be run. A shame as there are normally one ot two good types in this particular race and a few years ago Best Mate made his British racecourse debut in this event. Gerald Delamere (now of the Racing Post) told his readers in the Weekender that "we may have seen a future Gold Cup winner". Now that's tipping!
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