BACARDYS can leave the bookies feeling rum by winning the Champion Stayers Hurdle (5.30).
He may be the Willie Mullins second string on jockey bookings but it wouldn’t be the first time Ruby Walsh was on the wrong one.
The quality of the opposition is not quite in the same class today and he looks a good price to trouble the principals.
Stablemate Bapaume is likely to be favourite after finishing fourth in the Stayers’ and he could be helped by the first-time tongue tie.
Aux Ptits Soins bypassed the Festival and that strategy paid dividends when he ran away with a good handicap at Aintree last time. He needs more for this Grade 1 but stays well and the Skelton yard is in excellent form.
SNUGSBOROUGH HALL can make up for his Fairyhouse disappointment by taking the 4.15.
The eight-year-old was going like the winner when carried out at the Irish National meeting. That came after good wins at Clonmel and Leopardstown and he’s handicapped for another big effort.
Impact Factor won that race and looks open to improvement with this course and distance suiting well. He’s up 6lb but that still gives him every chance.
3.40 Sil Ver Class
4.15 Snugsborough Hall
4.50 Josies Orders
5.30 BACARDYS (NAP)
6.05 Cuneo
6.40 Duc Des Genievres (nb)
7.15 Black Tears
7.45 You Raised Me Up
JOSIES ORDERS can give Enda Bolger another La Touche Cup at 4.50.
He’s already won a couple of cross-country races at this Festival and was a pretty convincing winner on his last trip here in February.
It was no shock to see that Tiger Roll proved too strong for him at the Cheltenham Festival and that form has been well and truly franked since. There’s no horse of that quality facing Mark Walsh’s mount today and he should be right there again.
Jamie Codd catches the eye on board Sizing Coal who was fourth in the champion hunter chase here last year. He’s got some decent form over the track and has solid place claims.
CUNEO was a good fourth in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and can go close in the 6.05.
He came with a smooth run there before the hill proved a little too much. He was just three lengths off the pace crossing the line and is 1lb lower in the official ratings here, which can’t hurt.
The seven-year-old has no problem with the hustle and bustle of a big field and can give Rachael Blackmore another Festival winner.
Three Musketeers is interesting going back to 3m after a good win over shorter at Aintree last time. That was his first run for Gordon Elliott so there could be more to come.
DUC DES GENIEVRES was an impressive Arkle winner at Cheltenham and can follow up in the Ryanair at 6.40.
He powered away from his rivals in that classy contest and his form looks stronger than main market rival Defi Du Seuil who won the JLT Novices’ Chase. Both are open to improvement and it should be a good duel.
BLACK TEARS can turn the tables on Elfile in the 7.15.
Gordon Elliott’s mare was a couple of places behind the Willie Mullins runner at Fairyhouse last time out. But that was over 2m4f and she’s much happier over this shorter trip.
That was evident in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham when it was Black Tears who passed the post in front of Elfile.
The latter shapes as though stepping up in distance would suit more than this drop back. Of the rest, Rhythm Divine keeps hitting the frame without winning and could run another good race just behind the front two.
