Bryan Cooper: Alpha Des Obeaux is good enough to carry these

1.30pm Cheltenham

Shattered Love

Neon Wolf is the one that everyone over here seems to be talking about and he obviously looked good at Haydock, and Bacardys looks the best of the Irish on his defeat of Bunk Off Early in the Deloitte last time, but I give my filly Shattered Love quite a strong each-way chance. She would definitely prefer a drop of rain but I think the step up to 2m5f will suit her, and the form of her 13-length defeat of Forge Meadow at Fairyhouse last time has been franked by the runner-up going on to win a Grade 2. I think she will run well.

2.10pm

Alpha Des Obeaux

This doesn’t look the strongest RSA and Alpha Des Obeaux is good enough to carry these if running to within 6-7lb of his World Hurdle form.  He did nothing wrong in his first three chase starts over 2m4f and 2m6f, winning twice and finishing third in the Drinmore over 2m4f, and then he bled badly when I had to pull him up in the Grade 1 at  Leopardstown over Christmas. Mouse’s stable has hit a bit of form recently and he is master at bringing horses like these back to health and form, and I know the horse has shown no signs of the problem recurring at home since. If he is at his best – and it is always a concern when they bleed – then I think he is the one to beat.

2.50pm

Tombstone

Personally, I am not getting over-excited by his chances here, like some are. Or should I say I am not going overboard. Of course, we think he is on a fair mark. Everyone knows how strong the Supreme form was last season, in which he finished an excellent fourth to Altior, and he has done nothing wrong this season. But quite what he has achieved against Jezki I am not so sure, as I don’t think he is the horse he was and I thought we would give him a good rattle at Gowran and that is how it proved. I don’t want to sound too negative though, as he is clearly a smart horse, and pretty unexposed. And a mark of 149 gives us a decent chance and a strongly-run race will suit him.

3.30pm

I don’t think you need me to tell you that Douvan will win. Special Tiara to chase him home on this ground.

4.10pm

I’d say Gordon’s Cause Of Causes could be the bet here.

4.50pm

Dakota Moirette

I think he has an each-way chance but there are probably less exposed and better handicapped horses in here.  I rode him a couple of times earlier in the season and since then he has won his maiden hurdle and then finished a good second to Prospectus at Fairyhouse. A mark of 125 is actually quite fair on that run I suppose, and I think he will handle the better ground okay.

5.30pm

We don’t have anything in the bumper but I think Someday’s form looks pretty strong and he would get my vote in the race.

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