RIPPLING RING - WON @ 7/2
racingPost - RIPPLING KING scored in good style on his debut, overall, the form is easy to pick holes in. However, the winner did it well, travelling and jumping well, and after going on two out, stumbled for a stride on landing over the last, but ran on strongly to score cosily. He could well be a great deal better than the bare form suggests and will be an interesting candidate in the Supreme Novices.
ASHKAZAR - WON @ 4/7
racingPost - ASHKAZAR did not look entirely straightforward going to two out and briefly faced a serious challenge from Bormo until putting his Flat class to good use on the run-in and scoring comfortably.
The Chepstow Grade 1 in which he was fourth to Franchoek is working out well, and that was his only defeat since he arrived from France with smart staying form to his name on the Flat. He has entries in both the Triumph and the Supreme Novices', and is now a 16-1 chance with Corals (20-1 with Cashmans but shorter elsewhere)for the former, although owner David Johnson reportedly is not very keen on the race.
TIDAL BAY, currently favorite for the ARKLE (2miles)and SUN ALLIANCE (2m5f) Chases.
racingPost - Tidal Bay didn't run up to his best. He raced keenly in the lead, a tactic that probably wasn't ideal for him, but it was his jumping that really let him down. He can jump, but he was getting in tight early on, and made a complete mess of the seventh when going in too long. Although he came back to lead again three out, and was clear going to the last, he completely misjudged the final fence, did well to stand up, but lost out in a driving finish.
On this evidence you wouldn't want to consider him for any race, either over 2m or 3m at Cheltenham, for his jumping just isn't good enough. However, he is talented, though probably not a two-miler, and he shouldn't be written off completely but needs to regain confidence in his jumping.
THE TOTHER ONE - WON @ 9/4 backed in from an early morning 4/1
racingPost - maintaining his unbeaten record and confirming that he is very much on the upgrade. Connections must have felt it was like picking money up off the streets whenhe scored off a 23lb lower mark on his last visit to this course, and he took the rise in his stride as he was held up about five or six lengths off the pace and made his progress to be upsides the leader at the last before being driven out up the hill. He was made a 12-1 shot (from 25) for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle and a more generous 16-1 (from the same odds) by VCBet for that race; he is one of several who may have been much better served by a stronger pace.
SENTRY DUTY - WON @ 7/1
racingPost - A 101-rated Flat performer and had finished fourth at Newbury last season on his only previous start over hurdles. He stepped up on that with a fine display, travelling and jumping well and after quickening clear from the second-last, fairly romped home. He has a choice of novice engagements at the festival, and after this convincing win, he could go very well indeed in his chosen race.
The form has a more solid look than the first division as well for the first two finished a long way clear of the rest. Second went to the easy Newbury winner Celestial Halo, another smart recruit from the Flat who was odds-on to follow up thatsuccess. However, although penalised, he was firmly put in his place by the winner. He didn't appear to do a great deal wrong either, for though not fluent at every hurdle, he jumped well enough, came to the stands' side to challenge in the straight, butwas simply outpaced by the winner, though in turn he finished well clear of the remainder. He may well have run up to his Newbury form, which make his conqueror a pretty smart cookie.
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