Horse Power: Madara can win the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham

MADARA can win the Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (1.50pm) at Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon.

Dan Skelton’s five-year-old can build on his first start for the stable over course and distance last month to land the feature at Prestbury Park. Last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup has generally been a good guide to this similar contest with 10 of the past 16 winners having run in it. Although only Exotic Dancer in 2006 has won both races in those renewals which although Paul Nicholls’ Paddy Power hero Il Ridoto should be in the shake-up again counts against him doubling up.

Madara was a fast-finishing fourth to Il Ridoto last month on his first start for Skelton since he moved from the Keiran Burke stable a week earlier. It was Madara’s first start over this 2m4f trip and he relished it. He wasn’t stopping at the end and but for being slightly hampered four out may have been closer to the winner. Madara won at this meeting 12 months ago over 2m½f when trained by Sophie Leech and also landed the Listed Ryanair Handicap Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February. He was only ninth in the Grand Annual at the last season’s Cheltenham Festival, but he still remains open to more improvement especially now stepped up to this 2m4f distance.

The Skelton stable is in good form and with that expected improvement and revised terms with those ahead of him in the Paddy Power, Madara can land a second successive victory at this meeting at Prestbury Park. There are plenty of dangers to Madara, not least the aforementioned Il Ridoto and others who ran well in the Paddy Power – Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law (second) and last year’s December Gold Cup winner Fugitif (fifth), from the Richard Hobson yard. While the in-form stable of Venetia Williams have won the race in the past and Gemirande – who scored at Ascot on his seasonal return last month – is probably the biggest rival to Madara’s hopes of success.

SKYJACK HIJACK can bring up a magnifident seventh straight success in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (3pm). Jennie Candlish’s prolific six-year-old has won six times since August including a 16-length romp over three miles at Aintree Racecourse in October and a similar wide-margin success in a 2m6f contest on his most recent start at Newcastle last month. He can take the step up into Grade Two company in his stride and continue his winning run.

GEORGI GIRL can also score in the Betmgm mares’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.35pm). The Philip Hobbs and Johnson White-trained five-year-old won for the third time in her last five starts when scoring at Warwick on her seasonal return last month. She can back that up with another success in the extended 2m4f contest.

Irish raider THEONEWEDREAMOF can land the Quintessentially Mares’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.13pm). The Gavin Cromwell-trained five-year-old crosses the Irish Sea, having not run over obstacles since taking a 16-runner Beginners Chase at Tipperary in July. She ran on the Flat at Galway in August, but on her return to action she can build on the promise of that first win over fences and triumph.

Gary and Josh Moore’s stable has been in good form in recent weeks and they can land the Quintessentially Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.25pm) with ISSAR D'AIRY. The six-year-old won his first two chase starts around this time last year and into the new year, both at Newbury. Although Issar d’Airy has not won since, he hinted that he may be about to get his head back in front when second at Ascot, then fourth back at Newbury last month. He can get the better of course and distance winner Libberty Hunter to triumph.

James Owen’s LAVENDER HILL MOB can land a first win on his second start in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (12.10pm). The three-year-old was a modest performer on the Flat when trained by Michael Bell, but he hinted at better over obstacles when second to Inappropriate at Newcastle on his hurdling debut last month. With that run under his belt Lavender Hill Mob can go one better at Prestbury Park.

HAITI COULEURS can make it two wins from three starts over fences with victory in the John Wyke Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (12.40pm). The seven-year-old – a winner twice over hurdles last year – made a decent debut over the bigger obstacles when second at Chepstow. But he improved on that when scoring at Aintree over 3m1f last month. Under Sean Bowen, Haiti Couleurs can continue that progress with another win at Cheltenham.

At Doncaster course and distance winner GABORIOT can score again in the Bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.05pm). Trained in Malpas by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, the eight-year-old was due to have another crack at the Randox Grand National fences in last week’s BoyleSports Becher Chase – but he has been rerouted to Town Moor following the abandonment of the Aintree meeting due to Storm Darragh. The eight-year-old had been third over the big Aintree obstacles in last month’s Grand Sefton Chase and was among the favourites to go a couple of places better back on Merseyside. Before that run he had won both his previous starts at Cheltenham and Cartmel in May. He has a good strike-rate over fences winning five times in his last eight starts. He can add to that and make up for missing out on another crack at the National fences with victory on Town Moor.

Jonathan England’s JETEYE can win the Bet Boost at Bet365 Handicap Hurdle (1.30pm). While others who may score on Town Moor are Adrian Keatley’s GALE MAHLER in the Listed Bet365 Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.05pm); and the Merseyside-born, Cheshire-based Donald McCain-trained duo HIDALGO DE L’ISLE and JUNGLE JACK in the Bet365 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (12.25pm) and the Bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.15pm).

At Newcastle Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith’s MR MAHLER can win the K Ord Paving & Groundworks Handical Hurdle (1.57pm); and the Lucinda Russell-trained TOMMYS LAW can take the Hawkstone Stout Available At The Hawk Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.17pm).

Wright Ones

CHELTENHAM

12.10pm Lavender Hill Mob
12.40pm Haiti Couleurs
1.13pm Theonewedreamof
1.50pm Madara (NAP)
2.25pm Issar d’Airy
3pm Skyjack Hijack
3.35pm Georgi Girl

NEWCASTLE

11.42am Paddy O’Mahler
12.17pm Tommys Law
12.47pm Susiesparkle
1.22pm Chemical Warfare
1.57pm Mr Mahler
2.32pm Ballynaheer
3.08pm Retreat Archie

DONCASTER

11.55am Thirty Bob
12.25pm Hidalgo De L’isle
12.55pm First Angel
1.30pm Jeteye
2.05pm Gaboriot
2.40pm Gale Mahler
3.15pm Jungle Jack

SOUTHWELL

3.45pm Saddadd
4.15pm Edge Ofthe Unknown
4.45pm Hitched
5.15pm Arabian Cobra
5.45pm Misty Grey
6.15pm Havana Sky
6.45pm Billyb
7.15pm Haku
7.45pm Under Curfew

WOLVERHAMPTON

4.30pm Lia Rose
5pm Spirit Of Jura
5.30pm Trouble Man
6pm Cairn Gorm
6.30pm Havana Force
7pm Son Of Red
7.30pm Mykonos St John
8pm Outrace
8.30pm Beauzon

SUNDAY'S NAP: Gipsy Lee Rose (Carlisle 2.42pm)