This Friday, Saturday and Sunday we return to Prestbury Park for the Open Meeting with the Paddy Power Handicap Chase and the Greatwood Hurdle the two feature races on Saturday and Sunday respectively. As it stands recent Cheltenham winner Boondooma and RSA 6th Kings Palace are joint favourites for the Paddy Power Chase whilst there are 3 joint favourites in Mick Jazz, Nabucco and Superb Story in the Greatwood Hurdle.

On the Friday we start off with a just shy of 2m handicap chase including recent David Pipe recruit Le Vaticane whilst former Cheltenham winners Sew On Target, Astracad and last years winner Bold Henry all engaged to run. We highlighted Sew On Target as a horse to watch out for after his disappointing show last time out when a change of tactics didn’t work. If he reverts to front running here then he could go well as his form when prominent/leading at Cheltenham over 2m reads 221. Having run over further he is sure to stay and these tactics may catch a few out.

The 2nd race of the day is a eyecatching Novice Chase with the highly rated Ballyalton, Blaklion, Dell Arca and Dormello Mo all in the entries. Previous World Hurdle winner More of That is also currently engaged to make his chase debut here. This race has been won in the past by some high class horses including Imperial Commander, Grands Crus and Dynaste and it will be very interesting to see who lines up here as well as the end result.

A similar story can be said for the following race which is Grade 2 Novice Hurdle over 2m5f, having previously been won by Diamond Harry, Fingal Bay and in 2012 by Coneygree. There are 4 or 5 that jump out at us at the moment including Willie Mullins trained Long Dog who has won 4 times since July, Simon Squirrel, who was an easy winner of a Novice Hurdle for Paul Nicholls back in October, Champers on Ice who won a good bumper at Punchestown and features among our Horses to watch for over hurdles coming from NHF races and Penglai Pavilion who is a Ante-Post bet for the Neptune Novices Hurdle after his impressive win at the Showcase meeting.

There are 3 handicaps to end the first day of racing including the exciting Cross Country Chase. This year the Cross Country Chase at this meeting will be a handicap instead of a level weights race so although Uncle Junior has won this race twice and finished 2nd twice behind Balthazar King, he hasn’t fared as well in the handicap versions of this race. Other regulars in this race include Any Currency and Sire Collonges. Other notable names currently include the 2015 Cheltenham Festival Cross Country Chase winner Rivage D’Or, the unlucky Quantativeeasing who was carried out by Toutancarmont at the festival and 4th placed finisher Dogora.
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Saturday begins with a JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial which currently features the 5 times hurdle winner Leoncavallo who deserves this step up in class, two time hurdle winner Oceane who has won both his starts to date very easily and a couple of unbeaten in Britain Paul Nicholls horses including the very impressive and well bred Romain De Senam.

The competitive Murphy Group Handicap Chase is the race before the Paddy Power and this year the likes of Just A Par, Le Reve and Perfect Candidate are all engaged. The latter recently finished 2nd to What’s Happening at Cheltenham and his trainer won this back in 2013 with Alvarado. Last year the race was won by Sam Winner who later contested the Gold Cup whilst the runner up was The Druids Nephew who went on to win the Festival Handicap Chase before falling in the Grand National when still travelling really well 4 from the finish. In 2012 the race was won by Monbeg Dude who went on to place in a Grand National and the race could be worth watching for future Grand National horses.

The feature race the Paddy Power Gold Cup is the 4th race on the card and we have identified a couple that could run big races here in a thread on the forum started by Ian Turner. There are a few here that should run big races including Oscar Rock, Irish Cavalier, Cloud Creeper, Kings Palace, Johns Spirit, Buywise and Present View to name a few.

There are 2 further handicaps on the card before a Mares Bumper takes place in which some of these are likely to go down the Mares Novice Hurdle route afterwards particularly as there is now a Mares Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Impressive bumper winners Tobouggaloo, Snag List, August Kate and Point to Point Winner Theatre Territory who is by King’s Theatre and trained by Nicky Henderson catch the eye in the entries at this stage.
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Sunday starts with Supreme Novices Trial which has been won in the past by some smart horses including Cue Card and Dodging Bullets. This year the entries look strong with recent Ascot winner Altior, Mister Miyagi and Drumlee Sunset who were 1st and 2nd in a maiden hurdle at the Showcase meeting, Grade 2 Persian War winner Roadie Joe and Maputo who is an unbeaten 4 from 4 hurdle winner for John Ferguson. A cracking race and an informative one should be on the cards.

The following race is the Arkle Trophy Trial in which Garde La Victoire currently heads the betting after his very impressive debut over fences at Uttoxeter. He won’t have it all his own way though especially if the likes of Calipto for Paul Nicholls and Fox Norton for Neil Mulholland take their chance. The latter is also engaged in the 2m4f Novice event and it’ll be interesting to see which route they take with him.

The Shloer Chase is the next race and this is likely to feature Sprinter Sacre who will be looking to come back to form like his stablemates Bobs Worth and Simonsig did at Aintree last weekend. He’s likely to face some decent competition however including from the enigmatic but talented Mr Mole who will be ridden by Barry Geraghty for the first time, and the old timer but consistent Somersby. This should give us a great idea about whether Sprinter Sacre is back to anywhere near his best.

The Greatwood hurdle follows and this year looks very open now with the defection of L’Ami Serge and any number could win this including recent winner at Ascot Nabucco, recent Chepstow 2nd Rock The Kasbah,the rapidly improving Superb Story, the potentially well handicapped Mick Jazz and returning to hurdles off a good mark Three Kingdoms. This has been won in the past by some very smart sorts including Detroit City, Sizing Europe and Menorah whilst the biggest price winner in the last 10 years is just 12/1.

A conditionals jockey handicap hurdle and a NHF race complete the card and the racing at Cheltenham this weekend and there should be plenty of clues around for the festival. We are very much looking forward to seeing Penglai Pavilion again whilst we think Fox Norton could serve it up to Garde La Victoire should he take him on in the Arkle Trial.