Moray Smith

It's available from the website on my bio, cheltenham-man.co.uk. Selling like hot cakes after the recommendation from the Timeform wizard!

Last month in an article I posted on cheltenham-man.co.uk I put up three for the Grand National: Jordans at 16-1, Jagwar at 33-1 and Iroko at 16-1, so I was interested to read the comments in the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero stable tour in today's Racing Post on Iroko and Jagwar. I couldn't help but smile when I read the following about Iroko.... "in the past we've always been mindful of looking after his mark and keeping him fresh for Aintree". If they'd avoided the 6lb he got for beating Firefox in a three-runner race he'd probably have won last year's race! Whatever. The handbrake is off now and he'll be given the chance in Grade 1 company granted soft ground. The comments about Jagwar certainly got my attention..."There wasn't a horse cantering or jumping as easily as him in the National. He looked like he was doing a half-speed and I was gutted when he unseated.....He's a big-striding horse who looked so comfortable at Aintree, whereas it has always been hard work at Cheltenham, going up and down hill. He's only seven, so he's coming to his best and is entitled to improve. He's relaxing and jumping really well at home." He's in to 25-1 now but that still looks a good bet to me. Hopefully they can do a better job at keeping his mark down before Aintree. Like Jordans he'll be 8 at Aintree in April and for me that's the perfect age for a modern National.

Always said Paul was a good judge 😃 Cheltenham and last season's Grand National went well so I could do worse than read the book again over the winter to remind me what to do, and just as importantly, what not to do for Fez27!

Kopek Des Bordes doesn't have the temperament or the jumping ability to be a Champion Chaser. I'm still topping up on Kargese each-way. I can see Kopek being switched back to hurdles for a Champion Hurdle campaign but he'll needs to relax...and with his sire that's no given.

Nothing in the Haldon Cup looked likely to make the jump to Champion Chase class, did it? Where are the top British 2 mile chasers at the moment? Jonbon (rising 11 and now needs further), L'Eau du Sud and JPR One? The race is surely bound for Closutton this season. It was only a throwaway comment in my latest RP article, but if he made it a target, could Willie do a "Michael Dickinson", but in the Champion Chase, and train the first five?! He's already got the clear front three in the market, and he's got Majborough, Salvator Mundi and even Kappa Jy Pike on the subs bench...

Royal Infantry winning at Aintree, highlighted a side of the Skelton success story that gets much less coverage than his ability to improve horses from other yards and target the big handicaps...jumping. All his horses seem to jump well. I've dug into his last 100 runners over hurdles and fences, there's only been one faller: Playful Fox at Warwick on 3 November. No doubt he learned plenty from his time at Ditcheat.

Getting stuck into the 16s Ew on Banbridge in the King George. He'd be on a hat trick if it weren't for Jukebox's nose last year. Weak renewal this year. He looks like being the only one of last year's first 4 to turn up. Yes he's getting on a bit now but looks at what Joseph's been doing with Home By The Lee.

My handicapper to follow this season is entered on Wednesday at Bangor....Christian Williams' House of Habsburg. He was given a mark of 120 after thrashing El Granjero at Warwick over 3m 5f when we last saw him in March. That one then went to Perth for the Highland National Handicap Chase and won by 11 lengths. I can see House of Habsburg working his way up the ratings to be their next big marathon chaser, following in the footsteps of Kitty's Light, Win My Wings and Potters Corner. He'll probably need to go up around 10lbs to 130 to get into the Welsh National, which seems a sensible target for the first half of the season. If Il Est Francais or Capodanno run, he could be a few pounds out of the handicap next week, and 3m on decent ground may not be enough of a stamina test, but if he's allowed to take his chance, he's definitely worth watching with an eye to the future.

My favourite race of the season, the Grand National is just 172 days away😀 If you're familiar with how I approach the race, you'll know I like to have a final squad of half a dozen running for me on the day (with a similar number traded before the day... hopefully for profit!) Last season's 1-2-3: I Am Maximus, Iroko and Jordans are once again likely to be in my final squad, but which of them really stands out as my best bet of the season, and which 33-1 shot looks worth getting on board before the price goes? Some "early" thoughts in the first of this season's articles on cheltenham-man.co.uk

If you enjoyed Cheltenham Man, you might like Mares, Maggots & Rosé, too. If you didn’t, you’ll probably still enjoy the maggots… A look back at the punting, trading and action at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, with a few of the old characters and a couple of new ones along for the ride. Available now at : cheltenham-man.co.uk

A great book and a great cause. Well done Paul for all your hard work 👏 Looking forward to reading it soon!

Thank you Adam!

Typical end of season stuff, but Gaelic Warrior looking every inch a real champion. Can he come back next year as a 9yo and run to the same level? If so then he'll be pretty unstoppable. Big IF though according to the ages of recent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners - the last 10 have been younger, but who among the younger horses looks a real threat at the moment?