Sky Sports Racing Cards / British Equestrian Events

Silver Roque could go really at a high price into the Becher Chase

By Alex Hammond

Silver Roque could get really at a price when you look at the Becher Chase

Sky Sports News presenter Alex Hammond answers the questions once we look forward to another interesting weekend of racing.

Smad destination ran away with the Hennessy Gold Cup in a fashion similar to another grey Desert Orchid but do you think he is able to emulate 'Dessie' in winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup?

Alan King isn't absolutely targeting the Gold Cup with his traveling grey. He will be entered in Ryanair along with his overall performance on Trials trip to Cheltenham in January will show the Barbury Castle handler which means he ought to be going on festival. The Gold Cup looks like it'll be a hot battle come March time and if he works within the Blue Riband he is possibly taken on in advance by Coneygree, but both need to get truth be told there however.

Paul Nicholls has actually announced that Saphir Du Rheu are going to be targeted at the planet Hurdle after 'only' final 5th at Newbury while Thistlecrack deposit a marker for a passing fancy card. Would you be backing either of the set to win at Cheltenham in March or has something else within the staying division caught your attention?

Well, I wouldn't be backing something until following the xmas sporting duration, therefore I'll reserve judgement. But, I won't be composing down my old pal Cole Harden at this time. On much better ground he'll be another type of proposition, however can't hit Thistlecrack. Colin Tizzard's seven year old necessary to improve to win and enhance he performed. He's got strengthened up and has won five of his 10 starts; he's the real deal. He is now the same price as Cole Harden (9/1 with Sky Bet) for World Hurdle. Saphir Du Rheu is still a new horse, but he made a jumping mistake into the Hennessy along with his Gold Cup aspirations are positioned on hold for the next season. He is held when you look at the greatest respect by Paul Nicholls and had been wise when reverting to hurdles final period, so he is a respected player in stayers' division again. He's 10/1 for World Hurdle, a race he was second in last season. At this stage the program is always to go chasing after once again at Aintree into the springtime.

It's been a beneficial few days when it comes to novice chasers because of the likes of forget about Heroes, Three Musketeers, local River, Douvan and Shaneshill all winning. Has actually any specific overall performance, in triumph or beat, caught your eye?

Forget about Heroes seems like an aeroplane after their win inside Drinmore and then he's now 5/1 joint favourite (Sky Bet) with additional of the when it comes to RSA Chase. He showed truth be told there he's a good amount of gears, but is even better when stepped-up in travel. Three Musketeers appears like he could be a potential flagship horse for Dan Skelton after his Newbury win. He is 14/1 when it comes to JLT, that will be their most likely alternative on event, but here check out be some good rewards to win before after that.

If he goes to the JLT he may satisfy Shaneshill (7/1 favourite) just who won their newbies Chase in a canter at Thurles. He oozed class and can intensify in level over Christmas now. Local River is another exciting horse for Colin Tizzard and another that will step up in quality on their next start. Douvan very nearly don't put a foot wrong on his chase first. He stretched the past fence at Navan, however it wasn't a critical error and it's onwards and upwards for last period's Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner. He's 6/4 for Arkle, which does not tempt me currently, but he deserves to go the market.

We've got a remarkable Tingle Creek to appear forward to this weekend, how can you begin to see the race panning away?

The Tingle Creek at Sandown will undoubtedly be without among its performers on Saturday as instructor Willie Mullins ruled out ante-post favourite Un De Sceaux regrettably. The seven-year old won the Arkle in March and it has won 13 of his 14 starts and it is favourite to win during the event again, this time around inside Champion Chase, but Mullins reported him to have already been only a little flat during the last few days and then he misses on the weekend's level One contest. He could reappear in the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27 as an alternative.

That leaves the Paul Nicholls trained Vibrato Valtat given that new favourite. He's increasing all the time and won the Haldon Gold Cup on their reappearance final month which can be usually a good stepping-stone because of this. He has kind as of this track whenever winning the Henry VIII Novices' Chase about this card just last year. I really fancied him at Exeter and ended up being impressed. He's now 2/1 to win on Saturday which might seem a little thin, but I think he's a horse going locations.

We have the chance to straight back something each-way and it could be worth using the opportunity that Sire De Grugy is on the way back and, at 6/1, he is a good price to help make the frame. I really like Vibrato Valtat though and believe he is able to take large order in two mile chase unit.

Alex Hammond

Simonsig is an interesting runner too having had his first run since winning the Arkle in 2013 over obstacles at Aintree last thirty days. He was runner-up to stable partner Bobs Worth after operating too keenly. It's difficult to assess him right back over walls after such a break, but he's the Barry Geraghty vote of confidence on Saturday, I'm guessing he has 'got down' Mr Mole for JP McManus, that horse will now be ridden by Sean Bowen. Unique Tiara has additionally are offered in for help recently for Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead. He won the Celebration Chase right here and extremely enjoys the test of jumping it provides. It would be a worry if the surface got too smooth, but that's similar for a couple among these right here.

Why don't we remember Sire De Grugy as he goes really at Sandown, but it is challenging determine if he's as effective as he had been. He is apparently in better type at home than before the Haldon Gold Cup (in which he trailed in final for the five athletes) and in case that's the instance he is in with a shout. Aided by the eight runners we have the possibility to straight back some thing each means therefore may be well worth taking a chance that he's on route back and at 6/1 he's a fair price to really make the frame. I enjoy Vibrato Valtat though and think he can take high purchase into the two-mile chase division this promotion.