Paddy Brennan isn’t any stranger to the 2 characteristic races on day three of the Cheltenham Pageant, profitable each the Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase in his glittering profession, and he joined Matt Chapman for a particular Unbridled preview present forward of Thursday’s motion.
Within the Stayers’ (4.00), defending champion Teahupoo is again to defend his title after a marketing campaign this season that has seen him on the observe simply as soon as at Fairyhouse in December.
Truth To File is one other returning Pageant winner having impressed within the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 12 months in the past.
He has ran into Gold Cup star Galopin Des Champs 3 times this season and now avoids a fourth conflict as he drops again in journey for the Ryanair (3.20).
On the Stayers’, which Brennan received aboard Inglis Drever in 2007, he stated: “It seems to me prefer it’s excellent floor and I do not suppose it will get in the way in which of Teahupoo profitable or shedding the Stayers.
“If there’s one other horse I’d pick out, it’d be The Wallpark. I think he could finish really strong up the hill.”
Chapman stated: “I am fearful about Teahupoo. I do suppose he is weak on this floor and he isn’t that far forward of the remainder.
“I’d hope something else in here can improve. Home By The Lee you could argue is in the form of his life, it just depends if that form is good enough.
“Fortunate Place is my choice. He is unbeaten this season and solely had eight races in his life so he is completely unexposed. I believe he’ll completely love this journey and was sensible within the Coral Cup right here final 12 months.
“He beat the Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace at Ascot this season and Nicky Henderson horses like drying ground.”
Fortunate Place heads for the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday
The Unbridled crew are additionally cut up on their picks for the Ryanair, which ought to see French contender Il Est Francais begin out in entrance.
“Il Est Francais will make this a very easy race to ride for Protektorat and Fact To File,” Brennan stated. “He’ll go a gallop and they’ll follow him. They’ve just got to go within their comfort zone, but not let him get 20 lengths clear.
“I believe this might be an excellent race however I am with Truth To File.”
Truth To File (close to) heads for residence alongside Galopin Des Champs
Chapman stated: “He’s a horse who would probably want a bit more cut in the ground but I don’t see much wrong with Protektorat.
“He was sensible at Windsor and has completed third in a Gold Cup. That is greater than plenty of these might do.
“I did speak to AP McCoy this week and I got the feeling they really fancy Fact To File. I think they’ll ride him forward and they think he’ll just go and win this.”
