Hail to the Chief

Siding with WELL CHIEF

(Cheltenham, 3.15) earns

no prizes for originality,

but David Pipe’s gelding

must surely take some

beating in today’s Seasons Holidays

Queen Mother Champion

Chase.

The eight-year-old is head and shoulders

above his rivals on form and, with

the conditions rapidly drying out, his

credentials speak volumes.

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Sidelined through injury for more

than 600 days prior to reappearing in

last month’s Game Spirit Chase, the

gelding was produced in brilliant form

to saunter home at Newbury.

His 11-length demolition of Ashley

Brook was one of the most impressive

victories of the season and, if the Pipe

team have kept him in the same form

— always a slight concern after a protracted

absence — and he jumps cleanly, a famous win awaits.

Of those

at bigger prices, River City could easily

run into a place as he should relish the

strong pace and sound surface.

The 50-1 on offer about him in the village

simply looks too big in a race in

which some of the principals may find

conditions too lively, while his stable

are in cracking form.

Nicky Henderson is another trainer

with his string in superb form and

COPSALE LAD (4.00, nap) looks a

sporting bet in a typically competitive

renewal of the Coral Cup.

A lover of good ground, the Seven

Barrows representative was out of

sorts over fences before Christmas,

but served notice that he is no back

number with a hugely impressive win

at Newbury when returned to hurdles.

He held a host of entries this week,

but connections feel that this is the

best option and, although Mick

Fitzgerald favours stablemate All Star,

an interesting contender in his own

right, Marcus Foley could well enjoy a

cracking ride on the 10-year-old.

Willie Mullins dealt punters a blow

with Ebaziyan’s 40-1 shock in yesterday’s

opener, but SNOWY MORNING

(2.35, nb) could help punters recoup

their losses in the Royal & SunAlliance

Chase.

There should be no concerns

over the ground for the seven-year-old,

who won in similar conditions at Punchestown

last spring, and he has

looked extremely progressive over

fences this winter.

Mullins has sent out four winners in

the past fortnight and his record in

this race is excellent, with Florida

Pearl and Rule Supreme being successful,

while Alexander Banquet was

beaten a length.

Noel Meade has talked in glowing

terms about his ARAN CONCERTO (2.00)

and his words have helped to promote

the gelding to a ridiculous price for the

Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle.

He is undoubtedly a class animal, but

his ability is built into the price and

there looks plenty of strength in depth

against him, so a modest lay is

advised.