Lucinda Russell’s William Hill blog: Ahoy Senor very much a spring horse

William Hill ambassador Lucinda Russell looks ahead to her weekend runners at Doncaster and Cheltenham, including Ahoy Senor’s defence of his Cotswold Chase crown.

Doncaster, Saturday

It’s a big step up for Traprain Law in the handicap chase (11.50pm) but we think he’s progressive. We were a bit miffed he went up 10 pounds for the win at Kelso and had a word with the handicapper. He’s an improving horse, who has plenty of scope, so we’re looking forward to it. He’s got every chance of running a really big race, albeit I’d probably like the ground to be a bit softer.

Next up is El Elefante in the Grade 2 Rossington Main (1.30pm). She has to improve to beat the Nicky Henderson horse, but we wouldn’t be running her if we didn’t think she was capable of being competitive. This sort of ground is what she needs and I think this step back in trip should be okay. I’m not sure she quite got home at Cheltenham, so hopefully dropping back to two miles will help and if she could pick up some black type that would be fantastic.

We then run Esprit Du Potier in the Grade 2 River Don (2.40pm). We’ve always known he’s a stayer and this looks the logical next step after his good win at Ayr last time. We’ll know where we truly stand with him after this, but I do think he’s one of our best novices. He’s very classy and everything about him suggests he should thrive over this three-mile trip.

Cheltenham, Saturday

You look at PU, PU in Ahoy Senor’s form this season and you wouldn’t give him a chance in the Cotswold Chase (2.50pm) but there have been genuine excuses on both starts. He hasn’t been quite right so far but we think we’ve got him back to much nearer his best.

He’s probably not quite as tight as where he was when he ran in the Gold Cup last year, but we’ve got a bit of time to get him to that sort of form and I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing the real Ahoy Senor.

He came into the race in similar form last year and he won it, so it’s certainly not out of the realms of possibility he’ll be very competitive. We’ve always known he’s a spring horse that takes a bit of time to fully come to himself, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him run very well.

Stephen [Mulqueen] takes the ride and we have the upmost confidence in him. He won the Grade 1 on Apple Away at Aintree last season, so we think he’s up to it and we want to be loyal to our jockeys. The way he rides should suit the horse too.