Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Porter to wipe Floor with rivals on chase debut

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty looks ahead to the Showcase Meeting from Cheltenham, where two-time Festival winner Flooring Porter is set to make his chase debut on Saturday.

Cheltenham, Friday

My Mate Mozzie is the warm favourite in the squareintheair Novices’ Chase (2.10pm). He has some good form, but he was a little bit disappointing when beaten at Fairyhouse on his first run over fences. My concern for him would be that he has a tendency to hang and jump to his right, so I would have some reservations about him going left-handed around Cheltenham.

I would take him on with JETRONIC. We don’t have an awful lot on him, he’s a Paul Nicholls recruit from France and the fact that his trainer has chosen to run him in a chase like this is a positive.

The following novice hurdle (2.45pm) is a competitive heat. Lots have chances, but the one I like is ENCANTO BRUNO. He won at this meeting last year, when he beat Strong Leader in a bumper and in March finished 18 lengths behind A Dream To Share in the Champion Bumper, a race that is working out well. He put up a very strong performance when winning on hurdles debut at Bellewstown in July, but then disappointed badly in Galway. Having since switched from John McConnell to Gavin Cromwell, a little bit of forgiveness IS needed, but with the level of form he’s shown when winning his bumper 12 months ago and the performance he put in on hurdles debut, he’s the one for me.

TOTO TOO is the one I like in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle (3.55pm). He’s only had three runs and stepped up with each of them – running well at the Galway Festival on debut, winning at Killarney and then winning well last time on his first start over hurdles in Navan – and he looked like a horse that has more improvement in him.

Cheltenham, Saturday

I thought Gary Moore’s HADDEX DES OBEAUX would take a bit of beating in the opening race on Saturday, the William Hill Handicap Chase (1.15pm). It’s his first run since he won at Warwick in January, where he put in a really good performance. That was on heavy ground, but he was a winner on good ground at Doncaster the time before. He’s two from four over fences and would look to be a horse that’s very much on the up. Gary Moore is very much capable of having one ready to win a race like this first time up.

Notlongtillmay ran a huge race in the Turners at the Festival last season. He might benefit from stepping up in trip but that’s a very good level of form.

BLUEKING D’OROUX (1.50pm) I thought was a little bit unlucky to get beaten on his final start in Aintree last season. He led three out and was only headed after a mistake at the last. It was still a good run and was a step forward from his previous win in Ascot. He’d be one with the right profile for this race and is probably the one to beat.

Spirit D’Aunou has won his last four, he’s another progressive sort and would definitely have to be respected.

The 3m1f William Hill Handicap Chase (2.25pm) is another open looking race. QUICK DRAW put in a really good performance when winning at Ludlow on his reappearance last time. He had some good form last season too, when winning at Kempton and Uttoxeter.

The other one I thought could run well was Twig. He finished second over hurdles at this meeting last year and is four from five over fences. He has some nice course form as well, after finishing second at Cheltenham in April. He’s a horse that I think could still progress further.

The Pertemps qualifier (3.00pm) looks a very competitive race, I thought. The one I came down on in a race where plenty can be given a chance was HUGOS NEW HORSE. Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old ran well to finish third in the good novice handicap at Sandown in March and has won since there in Ayr. The step up in trip could very well suit him.

ANTRIM COAST (3.35pm) runs in the same colours as Toto Too, and owner Basil Holian could be in for a good weekend. Antrim Coast has a similar profile to Toto Too, having only had three runs and progressed well with each of them. He put in a good effort last time at Punchestown when beating two well-fancied rivals from the Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott yard, with a long distance back to the fourth placed horse.

FLOORING PORTER should be hard to beat on his first start over fences (4.10pm). He’s a dual winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle and was placed in the race last year when only beaten four lengths by Sire Du Berlais, so he’s the class horse in the race. He’s certainly not straightforward, so he’ll be a challenge for Danny Mullins, but I’d be more worried about his enthusiasm rather than his jumping. He did fall on his first run last year, but in the main be does jump well, and I think he has the credentials to take to fences. For Gavin Cromwell to bring him here on his first chase start, I’d imagine he has him well prepped. With a good round of jumping, he should be very hard to beat.

Weveallbeencaught was most interesting of the opposition, but he would have to find a lot of improvement to trouble the favourite.

The bumper (4.45pm) looks like it should be an informative event. It’s interesting that Willie Mullins brings CATCH YOURSELF ON for this. He’s a son of Noble Mission, and his owner Paul Byrne is famous for finding future superstars.

Aintree, Sunday

The Old Roan Chase (2.00pm) looks a great race. It will be fascinating to see how My Drogo gets on on his first start for nearly two years. I would rather watch him after such a long absence though.

Hitman is a very good horse, but he has only won three of his 15 chases and has a tendency to promise more than he delivers.

Datsalrightgino is a horse I like and has plenty of good form from last season, including when finishing second to Stage Star.

TOMMY’S OSCAR would be the horse that interested me most though. He loves a flat track and was a good winner on seasonal debut at Kelso. The Ann Hamilton stable won this a few years ago with Nuts Well and they could have another here.