13:40 Cheltenham

A competitive race as it so often is, but preference is for PERSIAN TIME (10/1 NAP) who should have further improvement to come now stepping up to two-and-a-half miles.

Having chased home Djelo on his chasing debut, which in itself is solid form, he got off the mark over fences last time out at Ascot where Authorised Speed fell at the second last; Persian Time was rallying well when that incident occurred, and he stayed on well to beat fortuitous Grade 2 winner, Homme Public a shade cosily.

A four-pound rise may underestimate that performance, the ground drying out will be in his favour and he is capable of further improvement over the extra distance.

13:15 Cheltenham

STRAW FAN JACK (25/1) is a massive price but I think that underestimates his chances on Cheltenham Trials Day.

He beat subsequent Galway Plate winner, Ash Tree Meadow, at the October meeting last season over two-miles with the 150-rated Sole Pretender back in third, and has since been set a series of tough tasks. He was not disgraced in either the Arkle or the Manifesto, and his comeback run behind Pic D’Orhy was encouraging given the race conditions.

 

His last run was poor, but that was a rare blip and he now finds himself down to a mark of 137 which is workable. He is completely unexposed in handicap company at this distance, handles Cheltenham and the drying ground will suit.

15:35 Cheltenham

Another three-mile hurdle race in England featuring many of the stalwarts of the division, including the beloved Paisley Park, Dashel Drasher & Champ.

But this division is crying out for something fresh, and I’m of the opinion that the form achieved by the aforementioned this season is not that robust.

With that in mind, NOBLE YEATS (5/1) appeals as the one to shake up the division. The 2022 Grand National Winner showed no signs of regression last season, winning the Many Clouds before terrific runs to finish fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National from a mark of 166.

While a different discipline, that is a high level of form and he is completely unexposed over hurdles, with just his second start over the smaller obstacles coming last month when chasing home to exciting Sa Majeste. That looked like a run to shake the cobwebs off (2m4f, heavy) and I expect him to improve plenty for that.