Pic-ture perfect

Just back in from a day of witnessing the action in the flesh. Some great racing and some great stories but great stories won't pay the bills so need to get things back on track tomorrow with a few winners. Will be brief because it's already been a long day.

Triumph;
The fav here is very good and looked a phenomenal talent but at odds on it is probably a little short against the field. The interesting horse here is Pic D'Orhy who had form in France that wasn't far off what Sir Eric has been posting and although he hasn't been seen in the UK since moving to Nicholls yard he does have previous in getting these French imports primed to go first time out at the festival. At 10/1 looks a much better option. Of the big prices the Mullins second string might have a decent bit of improvement left. Won an egg and spoon race down in Clonmel pretty easily the last day and might just improve enough to sneak a place

1.5pts ew Pic D'Orhy 10/1
0.25pts ew French Made 50/1

County Hurdle:
I rarely get this excited about a handicap! See the Kings section below

Albert Bartlett:
A race to side with the English on with the main Irish hopes looking pretty weak (although Derrinross couldn't have asked for more ideal conditions.) Lisnagar Oscar looks to have improved more than Dickie Diver since he beat him a head 2 races back and think he can just about shade it against a very solid yardstick in Birchdale, but probably not a whole lot between the 3 of them.

1pt ew Lisnagar Oscar 13/2

Gold Cup:
Presenting Percy has the fairytale story of the race but he also has a fairytale price - impossible to back a horse in a Gold Cup without seeing him jump a fence for 12 months. The Pat Kelly genius may deliver but I'll pay to see it. Comfortably the star horse of the year has been Clan des Obeaux and no way he should be 3rd fav coming into this. Unfortunately though I do have to tip up a second horse here. My Pavlovian reaction to hearing Bristol de Mai's name is generally to curl up in a ball shaking - he has unlimited talent but shows it fleetingly, almost always just after I've given up hope that the abillity is still in there lurking somewhere. He has perfect conditions tomorrow and put up a monster performance at the start of the year in the Betfair Chase which on its own should make his price too big. It kills me to back him but I can't stop myself on this one.

1.5pts ew Clan des Obeaux 11/2
0.75pts ew Bristol de Mai 25/1

Foxhunters:
Caid du Berlais wasn't far off last year and has been in sparkling form since

1.5pts ew Caid du Berlais

County Hurdle

Another handicap, another set of favs i dislike! Whiskey Sour beat 3l off 2 higher last year. Hasn't improved on that run on RPRs since so cant be having the 11/2 there. Ch'tibello angle is obvious with the wind op but still 11lb higher than his only ever handicap win. We are going down the headgear route again, this time wth Western Ryder. Beat 4l in greatwood and Ladbroke and up 5 lb for that. Rise is negated by Harry Teal's claim. What might make the difference is the first time blinkers. Will be in the mix but may come up short. However he must be backed though when you see the price. Should be around a 14s shot in my book, but youre getting 25s on exchange tonight. Hopefully that will translate to shops tomorrow for those without Betfair account. 

Also backing Leoncavello. The blog creator and I have been waiting about 3 years for this dog to have his day and i think it has arrived. No longer hamstrung by the garbage amateur that used to ride him and now in the care of Dr Newland. His galway hurdle third is red hot form, hes had a chase run since which can be ignored and i think Newland has been waiting to pick his day as hes been entered in the Betfair & Imperial Cup lately. The Doc presses go tomorrow. Get involved

1.5 pts ew Leoncavello 20s or 18s is ok

1.5 pts ew Western Ryder 25s on Bf is possible

Grand Annual

Must admit 2m handicap chasers are not my strongest interest but i think i can still spot a plot horse with great CD form. Le Prezien streaked home last year by 4.5 lengths and is only a lb higher tomorrow! Since then hes run in a Grade 1, G2, a hurdle and jumped like a piano at Sandown the last day. Worth noting he also put in a horror round last year in his run before this. Thats not how to prep a horse but it clearly shows Nicholls can correct this horses errors. His jumping the last day is probably factored into the price too but even still, he should not be fifth in the betting after the manner of last years win, his plot job prep up until the last day and the form of Nicholl's yard this week and over the last month.

If the rain arrives in the morning and his price drifts a bit, Top Gamble has an incredible CD record and also has had his jumping problems. If you can get 25s after some rain he is worth adding

2 pts ew Le Prezien

.75 ew Top Gamble 25s

Martin Pipe Hurdle

Top of the market is littered with lightly enough raced sorts who could have a good few pounds in hand. Same comments apply to a horse who is 33/1 though - Style Garde. Only his 6th hurdle run in Uk and trained by Hendo. He stayed on very stoutly to be 2nd in last years Fred Winter at 2m. PU at Aintree and got the Hendo special - the wind op! Chasing this year (to as gd a standard as over hurdles but all at 2m) except for one hurdle run over 2m3 behind Not That Fuisse. All his runs discuss his need to settle. If he does he could improve a huge amount. Ned Curtis rides and would be first choice ahead of non stable regular Richard Patrick who rides Pym at half the price. This horse has not turned up here with one hurdle run by accident in Hendo's care and has gone very close with ones stepping up in trip in this race before. He might not settle and thus not get home but many at the head of the market have huge question marks also and very few have the experience of a Cheltenham fez cavalry charge in their locker. 

2.5 pts ew Style Garde 33s