Peace And Co set to declare Champion war

If Willie Mullins, tucked up in his County Carlow bed, is to lose one wink of sleep over retaining the Champion Hurdle next March, then Peace And Co, currently regarded as far and away the best of the English contingent, will need to win today’s International Hurdle at Cheltenham and win it in style.

Mullins may even be dreaming of a second successive clean sweep with defending champion Faugheen and runner-up Arctic Fire now backed up by new boy Nichols Canyon instead of the retired Hurricane Fly.

So it is vital, if only for home pride, that Nicky Henderson’s Triumph Hurdle winner Peace And Co maintains his unbeaten record with a convincing display this afternoon to at least give the record-breaking Irish trainer something to think about.

Stablemate Hargam, third in the Triumph, will provide a decent test, as will Old Guard, down the field then but much improved since. Disaster would be getting beaten by Sempre Medici, a Mullins hurdler with a turn of foot and therefore dangerous if the race becomes tactical, but not considered in the same league as his big three.

The Caspian Gold Cup Handicap Chase, staged earlier in the afternoon than is usual for a centrepiece betting event so as to avoid problems posed at this time of year by the setting sun, features five of the first six home in last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at the same venue, but it will be surprising if they finish in the same order.

Indeed, Irish Cavalier, fifth behind the winner Annacotty, runner-up Buywise, third-placed Sound Investment and just in front of Art Mauresque, may well have the best of the argument this time.

Winner of a Festival handicap last March, Rebecca Curtis’s grey seemed poised to land another Cheltenham prize when cruising to the front in the Paddy Power but found disappointingly little when push came to shove up the final hill.

A first impression was that he paid the price for being too keen through the race and that is probably the correct assumption, for though problems related to horse feed prompted Curtis to shut down her yard a fortnight later, she does not believe it adversely affected this particular inmate.

Either way, the previously upwardly mobile Irish Cavalier, given a clean bill of health this week following a satisfactory blood test, should be a different proposition this time.

Among the rest, Philip Hobbs holds a strong hand with Champagne West and Village Vic, but an each-way suggestion from way out of left-field is the complete outsider Shantou Magic.

Always held in high esteem by trainer Charlie Longsdon, Shantou Magic’s career stalled after a promising start due to ulcers and a confidence-denting fall. But he has run much better on both starts this autumn than might seem apparent from his uninspiring form figures – jumping boldly and travelling enthusiastically until tiring late on – and may now be ready to do himself justice.

He would hardly be the first shock result of this two-day fixture; yesterday’s Tote placepot paid a record dividend of £91,774.50 to a £1 unit.

Enda Bolger won four of the first five Cross Country Chases at the Cheltenham Festival after the race was introduced in 2005, three times with Nina Carberry in the saddle, and trainer and jockey are favourites to do so again following Josies Orders’ second victory this season yesterday around the unique 32-fence circuit.

Bolger, who simply has no equal in this specialist discipline, revealed the secret of his success: “Just getting the horses to settle, relax and enjoy it. But having Nina on board is a massive plus.”

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