Horse racing: Javert, our great white Cheltenham hope - Emma Lavelle

We have always taken the view that having social runners at the Cheltenham Festival was not for us – we only ever wanted to have runners with a chance of being involved at the finish. Hence we have never gone there with a massive team, no matter how many nice horses we may have.

Next week will be no different.

JAVERT runs in the 2m4f novices’ handicap chase on Tuesday and is our great white hope. He is a seriously nice horse who has done very little wrong this season and won at Chepstow on his seasonal debut. He also beat subsequent winner Fairy Rath by 12 lengths at Doncaster.

I still think he is well handicapped. He was even better handicapped before last week when they put him up 2lb for standing in his box.

Javert, who is owned by the Axom Lii partnership, is definitely the best chance for us. He is a big, strong, laid-back individual and a good traveller. You can lose your race in the paddock at any course and especially at Cheltenham, as it is such an amphitheatre. Horses with a good temperament are at an advantage, because there is a lot of noise and excitement, and we have no worries on that score.

He has been in great order at home and I can’t wait for Tuesday. The ground should be near perfect and I’m expecting a big run.

FOX APPEAL will run in the 3m Ultima Handicap Chase, also on Tuesday, but I don’t know what I have done to upset the handicapper.

He ran at Kempton two weeks ago and ran better than the finishing position suggested. He got low at a few and still managed to get back into the race. The winner, Theatre Guide, dead-heated with Fox Appeal in a Graduation chase 18 months ago at Kempton off level weights.

But at Kempton, we were giving Theatre Guide 11lb – and that was even after he was second in a Hennessy Gold Cup. You do sit there and think ‘what have I done wrong?’

Fox Appeal is as hard as nails and one of these big handicaps will fall his way at some stage but he does have a very irritating habit of throwing the odd dreadful jump in – hopefully not on Tuesday! Whether he is good enough to go and do that at Cheltenham, who knows? But he definitely deserves to go and win one.

Many of our horses have quicker-ground pedigrees and with the incessant rain this winter, I may as well have gone into hibernation.

MOSSPARK (Sandown 2.35) runs in the 3m handicap chase but he is not the most reliable, despite having plenty of ability. He probably needs the sun to dry the ground a bit and he should be an each-way price. I’d suggest he has an each-way chance but no more than that.

We have FORTUNATE GEORGE in at Plumpton on Monday (2.10) in a novices’ hurdle. He suffered a hairline crack when he whopped a hurdle at Kempton in November, but he has worked very well and is in great nick. He could be worth an investment.

As for Lavelle’s Lucky 15 today, ALACALA (Sandown 2.00) won last time out at Fontwell, defying a penalty and won with a bit in hand. He is expected to improve for that and Paul Nicholls’ runner has a low weight for the EBF Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final.

Gary Moore and Sandown is always a great combination and CLAYTON (3.10) is at the foot of the weights for the Imperial Cup. The ground may be a shade slow but he is one to keep an eye on.

Venetia Williams’ string is in good order and PRESSURIZE (Chepstow 4.45) may be able to land the hat-trick. He made a horlicks of the last at Wincanton in a novices’ chase, but he looks progressive.

Finally, ONE FOR ARTHUR (Ayr 4.05) handled the extended 3m well at Carlisle last time and despite being beaten, he is down another 1lb and if conditions are not too soft, he may go one better for Lucinda Russell.

Say it ain’t so, Joe

It may have been a bolt from the blue to some, but not for those in racing circles. The news that Joseph O’Brien was to turn to a full-time training career at the tender age of 22 was not a complete surprise.

His height was always going to make it difficult to maintain his weight for Flat racing, yet it must be tough to give up what has been a spectacular riding career. His success with the likes of Camelot (a dual-Guineas and Derby winner) and Australia (dual Derby winner) is something most jockeys spend a lifetime dreaming about.

Of course, he has ridden Coolmore blue-bloods, but Joseph developed into one of the top jockeys on merit and the way he handled the pressure that came with the job deserves huge credit and is a lesson to many. His talent is certain to shine through in his new career.

But it is hard enough trying to compete with one O’Brien. Now we have to do it against two. Your sympathy is most welcome. I need a hug.

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