Paul Ferguson has two selections from Cheltenham on Sunday; Sceau Royal at 2.25 and Western Ryder at 3.00.
Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle looks as competitive as ever, in which Western Ryder (3:00) looks worthy of each-way support.
He boasts a similar profile to several recent winners of this and was a course winner last December. He mixed it with the best novices last spring and a mark of 145 seems fair. He shouldn’t have a problem with the ground (plenty of good bumper form on a decent surface) and he looks worthy of each-way support.
Further down the weights, Deyrann de Carjac is a horse that I have plenty of time for and he looks on a fair mark. Quite whether he is ready for a test of this nature is another matter.
Earlier on the card Sceau Royal (2:25) returns to action in the Shloer Chase and he can strike for Alan King and the Munir/Souede combination.
The six-year-old was forced to miss the Arkle and Aintree last spring, but had earlier looked a very smart novice and won here in October. He went from strength-to-strength and put up a brilliant display when winning the Henry VIII at Sandown. He ought to relish the decent ground.
The Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle looks a really good race (as does the Arkle Trial), in which I expect a bold show from Anytime Will Do. I have also been taken with a couple of his opponents thus far, so make this one a watching brief.
Sunday’s selection:
2:25 Cheltenham – Sceau Royal; 5/4 Betfred
3:00 Cheltenham – Western Ryder; 13/2 Ladbrokes
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