Four from five yesterday! Touch. How good was Energumene? Quite disappointed with Sir Gerhard, though.

Thursday is always the day that starts to swing it for the bookies, so proceed with caution whether you are up or down.

Turners Chase – Mighty Potter

This is Mighty Potter’s to lose but Appreciate It does command some respect. The Caldwell Construction product has been different gravy over the bigger obstacles and is a worthy favourite in this 2m4f contest. His most recent performance at the DRF was a demolition job and he has won his three starts over fences, including another Grade one at Fairyhouse in December. He seems to stand above the rest, but with Appreciate It stepping up in trip, you would have to keep an eye on him. Appreciate It is 1/2 at Cheltenham and according to people in the know, will appreciate….. the longer trip. This will be a good race, but Mighty Potter should dispatch his rivals if he runs his race.

Pertemps Handicap Hurdle – N/A.

No bet in this, but Johnny Dineen of the Racing Post likes Salvador Ziggy ew, and he’s going pretty well for the week.

Ryanair Chase – Shiskin

If Shishkin runs to his potential here, it will be game over. He was good, really good, in his last run at Ascot, where he took home the Betfair Chase, over Pic D’orhy and Fakir D-oudairies. It was his first time at the longer 2m5f trip and it really seemed to suit him. He is 8/10 chasing and while his run in the Champion Chase last year is a worry, I don’t think it’s enough to turn me off. I would also fancy Janidil ew, as the vibes around his performance the last day were really strong. According to reports, he was fat and unfit and still managed to bag the Red Mills chase over Haut En Couleurs and some of his stablemates. If you are confident that Shiskin will run well, then this is a certainty for you at evens.

Stayers Hurdle – Flooring Porter

This feels like a special Cheltenham for plenty of reasons and I think it gets a bit more special here when Flooring Porter wins a third successive Stayers’ Hurdle. It won’t be an easy task, because of the depth of this race, but he seems to come alive in Cheltenham. His last two wins are his two Stayers’ Hurdles triumphs, and his win last year came on soft ground, which it will be later on. Plenty of danger in this and you can make a very strong case for most horses.

Plate Handicap Chase – Datsalrightgino

Course form, well handicapped and a decent price. A race you’re probably head to the bar for though.

Mares’ Novices Hurdle – Princess Zoe

Luccia looked mighty impressive the last day in Exeter, and is currently unbeaten, but I am going to side with Princess Zoe ew instead. She is a bit of an unknown quantity and in her only run over obstacles, her jumping left a lot to be desired. But her trainer Tony Mullins was so bullish about her potential on the Paddy Power preview show and she is bound to come on from that run. Now, I would always take what Tony Mullins says with a pinch of salt, especially when its said on a Paddy Power show, but at 14/1 she is worth a squeak. In a big field novice race you don’t know what will happen, so taking Luccia at 6/4 just doesn’t hit the spot for me.

Kim Muir – N/A

No thanks good sir.