Re:Jump season and CHELTENHAM

Another cracking match race today which should go to the new star Defi Du Seuil.

Altior's underwhelming campaign means there is a new kid on the two-mile block in Defi Du Seuil, the Tingle Creek winner who is vying for Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase favouritism with Nicky Henderson's star.

Another Grade 1 strike – if it comes in decisive fashion against the mud-loving Un De Sceaux – could even promote Defi Du Seuil to the head of the betting and the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding ticks plenty of boxes, being a slick jumper blessed with speed and the ability to stay well

Richard Johnson broke his arm at Exeter today 😢

Would have backed him to win jockey championship

Dave Scott wrote: Would have backed him to win jockey championship

Did back him at the beginning of Jump season.
Would possibly have won but each year getting harder and harder with Skelton and Hughes etc chasing .
Dicky is 43 in July and he must be a safe bet to be a trainer in near future.

One of the star attractions going on trial at Cheltenham is defending Stayers' Hurdle champion Paisley Park, who bids to show why he is a strong favourite to retain his crown come March.

After a successful return to action at Newbury last November, fans of the eight-year-old have had to wait for their next sighting, with ground conditions at Ascot deemed too taxing on the morning of the Marsh Hurdle in December.

But trainer Emma Lavelle has enjoyed being able to give her stable star a longer prep for his Stayers' Hurdle tune-up and is excited to get him back out on track.

Bristol de Mei @ 9/4 looks a cracking bet today at Cheltenham

Dress rehearsals rarely go off without a hitch, but Paisley Park proved an exception to the rule with a professional Cleeve Hurdle success.

The Cheltenham hill has so often been the undoing of many festival hopefuls but hardly seemed to affect Paisley Park, who showed why he is favourite to retain his Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle crown when powering a length and a quarter clear of runner-up Summerville Boy.

Ok about 6 weeks to the festival and time for an update on the horses to watch over the next few weeks and probable winners .

Notebook
Fakir Doudairies
Pentland Hills
Benie Des Dieux ***
Envoi Allen ***
Champ
Defi Du Seuil ***
Altior ***
Tiger Roll ***
Paisley Park *****

Good Punting

Bob Brogan wrote: Bristol de Mei @ 9/4 looks a cracking bet today at Cheltenham

Bob it ran a good race and trainer pleased in a very open Gold Cup

Twiston-Davies said: "I think Bristol De Mai ran a blinder under a penalty at the weekend especially when you consider he tripped on landing after the third-last and was then playing catch up. To finish where he did was a great effort but others seem quick to dismiss him. Whatever they say, I'm happy with my 33s that I've taken about him."

He added of the nine-year-old's chances in the Gold Cup: "He was entitled to need the run as he'd had a 63-day break since Haydock and that will have put him on track for another crack at the Gold Cup.

"He was the best of the British last year and looks as good as he was then so why is he 33-1 and Santini 6-1 or thereabouts? It doesn't make any sense to me."

If you fancy a punt 33/1 still on offer

Good Punting

Jump racing star Envoi Allen was on Tuesday taken out of the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown but remains entered in Grade 1 novice hurdles over 2m and 2m6f at this weekend's Dublin Racing Festival.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned six-year-old had been entered in the day-one highlight on Saturday but did not feature in the remaining 11 entries that include Honeysuckle, Klassical Dream, Sharjah and Supasundae.

Tiger on a Roll
Would expect the cross country to be the warm up on the way to Aintree

Eddie O'Leary has warned that Tiger Roll will need to be treated similarly to previous Grand National topweights if he is to contest the Aintree showpiece, and insisted he and his brother Michael are not playing games with the handicapper.

Tiger Roll has won the world's most famous chase for the last two years and another success on April 4 would equal the record set by the legendary Red Rum, who took the National three times between 1973 and 1977. On Wednesday, 105 entries were confirmed for the Randox Health-sponsored event, for which Tiger Roll is the general 5-1 favourite.

Some top racing in Ireland over the next 2 days from Leopardstown.

Many potential stars for Cheltenham will be on show, a must watch.

Good Punting

4 grade ones and a grade two on today and the same on sunday