Nigel Twiston-Davies’ William Hill Blog: Hoping Cuthbert calls first Dibs on the Pertemps

There’s plenty to be positive about from what we’ve seen from our lot at this year’s Cheltenham Festival so far. Matata outran his odds – just as I expected – and picked up some prize money in the Arkle, as did Weveallbeencaught in the Ultima.

Our best chance, I think, is yet to come, though. Read on to find out who…!

Cheltenham, Thursday

The Pertemps Final looks set to be a smashing race, and we’ve two interesting runners; Gowel Road and Cuthbert Dibble (2.10pm). The latter has done nothing at all wrong so far this season, coming back from a 296-day break to win very well indeed at Chepstow, which he followed up with another win at Haydock in February. He loves soft ground, so the conditions should be ideal, as should the trip, and he’s certainly the sort of horse I hope will be good enough to step into graded company in time. I think he could be my best chance of a winner all week if he does what we know he can!

Gowel Road is also a very nice horse on his day and has run some good races this season, also having come back from an even longer lay-off of 392 days. His homework has been very good indeed and I’m expecting him to outrun his odds, which – at 28/1 at the time of writing – are far too long for a horse of his calibre.

This race is extremely competitive and will not be easy to win, but these two are capable of rising to the occasion on their best form.

In the Plate, we run Torn And Frayed (4.10pm). He’s another nice horse who has come down to a very workable mark for this, but I do think that the ground will probably be too soft for him to get to the front. He does have plenty of ability, though, and – if conditions dry out a bit – he could pick up some prize money.

Finally, there’s Casa No Mento in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (4.50pm). She’s a nice mare who has won two races in great style this season, but she will probably be rather outclassed here. If she’s given some luck in running, though, she could be another to pick up some prize money. Having said that, she’s only a six-year-old and there’s no reason why she shouldn’t improve on what she’s already shown.

Cheltenham, Friday

Just the one runner on Friday; Kestrel Valley in the Mares’ Chase (4.50pm). At 10 years old, she’s been a great mare for her owner, winning seven races over her career so far. She can handle any ground and stays well, so I hope she’ll enjoy this, but she’s more there to run round and try her luck than to win. Willie Mullins’ two, Dinoblue and Allegorie De Vassy, look rather hard to beat!