It’s great to get the first day of the Cheltenham Festival under my belt and I must admit, I was getting a little bit excited aboard Sceau Royal two out in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.
He came there travelling nicely and I thought, ‘here we go’, but he was just a bit one-paced up the hill as the good horses quickened away from him.
We’re all very happy with him, though, he ran a belter really. He felt better than at Wincanton and improved a lot, he hasn’t been beaten miles in the end. He’s just seven or eight pounds below the class you need for that type of race.
There will be other days with him and a possibility could be the Scottish Champion Hurdle up at Ayr next month.
Moving on to Wednesday, I’m riding the horse I’d probably consider my best chance of the week: Messire Des Obeaux in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.
He’s come out of Huntingdon better than he did the Challow and is really bouncing. Alan King is positive about his chances and we can’t wait for the race.
With 15 runners there looks like there will be a good pace on and the ground and trip are perfect for him.
He hasn’t let me down all season. He gave weight to Ballyandy when he beat him at Sandown in December and he’s improved again since then.
It’s a good race as you would expect, but I wouldn’t swap Messire Des Obeaux for anything.
Finally, I’ve a good ride in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, too, with Domperignon Du Lys for Nicky Henderson.
It’s a competitive handicap with five, six or seven horses in with a serious chance of winning but my fellow would be one of those.
The ground will be to his liking which is a real bonus and the trip is obviously perfect for him. It’s not always easy to see how well handicapped juveniles are at this stage in their careers but a rating of 133 could be on the lenient side.
I think he’s got a touch of class and Nicky’s hurdlers are obviously in good form after that Champion Hurdle one-two!
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