Cheltenham Tuesday 13th March 2007

With Macs Joy a non runner the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle looks as though it will be fought out by the three market leaders. On the softish ground the winner will need to stay two and half miles. For me it is a race to watch and enjoy and not bet on. I do not think there is much between Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace and I think they will both be too strong for Detroit City. If I had to make a selection now it would be Brave Inca.
However the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at 4.00pm although a hot race has a runner that I have been waiting for. He is Distant Thunder. He was quietly fancied by connections for the Hennessy at Newbury in November but injured himself at the 24th hour. Andrew McNamara has been booked to ride and I think he is a good eachway bet on his form of two seasons ago. I would have thought he would have been a bigger price than the 10/1 quoted , but perhaps “others” have also been waiting for him.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".