Former jockey Paul Flynn believes that his Moon Dice is still improving and is capable of running a big race in Sunday's Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.
View from connections ahead of the Greatwood
Paul Flynn believes that there's more to come from
Moon Dice when the Galway Hurdle winner lines up at Cheltenham on Sunday.
Having already won his two starts in 2011, the six-year-old could still be relatively unexposed and Flynn is hoping to capitalise upon that possibility in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.
"He's in great form and I hope for a big run, but I hope it doesn't rain too much," said the County Longford trainer.
"I know you could argue he only beat summer horses in Galway, but I'm sure he'll give a good account of himself.
"Whether he's good enough to win is another thing, but he won the Galway Hurdle fairly comfortably.
"I don't think it looks as good a race as it did a couple of weeks ago.
"It's definitely very competitive but in years gone by you've had Champion Hurdle horses win it.
"He's a good horse and it looks like he's improving.
"The rest of them are fairly exposed, even the Philip Hobbs horse that's favourite (Pateese) has had lots of runs."
Blotted Copybook
David Arbuthnot has his fingers crossed
Topolski can show his true colours after a poor run behind Brampour at Ascot.
That was the first blot on the grey's record over jumps after being unbeaten in three runs last season.
"He seems fine, but it was a disappointing run last time," said the trainer.
"He hadn't bled, which I thought he had originally, but he had some mucus down there and he made a very bad mistake four out.
"He seems fine and I had him scoped on Thursday and he was as clean as a whistle.
"I would have preferred another week, but when you're rated 150 you've got nowhere to go.
"You either go in this or go in against the big boys and we're not quite ready for that.
"I'd go there hoping for a good run, but the last race leaves some doubt, so he's on a retrieving mission.
"We're taking 5lb off with Tom Cannon. He comes down to ride for us three times a week and he's very good. That will certainly help and he's not a big horse.
"As long as I get a good run I'll be very happy."
Ante-Post Favourite
Pateese became ante-post favourite on the strength of an impressive win at Sandown last weekend.
The six-year-old is still at the right end of the handicap, despite incurring a 5lb penalty for that success.
Conditional rider Matt Griffiths was in the saddle last time but Hobbs' stable jockey, Richard Johnson, will be in the plate at Cheltenham.
"He did it very well at Sandown. Matt Griffiths obviously got on really well with him and he won very nicely," said Johnson.
"He's a second-season novice who has done well for his summer break and hopefully he has found a bit of improvement.
"Going for something like the Greatwood Hurdle, what you need is an improving horse and hopefully he'll have a good chance.
"He's very straightforward, he takes everything in his stride, he stays well and the ground shouldn't be a problem."
King Pair
Alan King expects
Kumbeshwar to have come on a ton for his comeback run behind Brampour at Ascot two weeks ago.
"We were almost a month behind last year in getting on the grass gallops, so all ours have been needing their first run, and Kumbeshwar was no exception at Ascot," the Barbury Castle trainer told
www.alankingracing.co.uk.
"However, it was a case of mission accomplished as he ran well for a long way and the race will have blown away the cobwebs.
"It is very competitive, but he is tough and he stays, and he seems in good nick."
King also saddles
The Betchworth Kid, who reappears just a week after running on the Flat in the November Handicap at Doncaster.
"He ran well in the November Handicap at Doncaster last weekend, so he'll certainly strip fit enough, and the likely fast pace will suit him," the trainer added.
"Furthermore, Jimmy McCarthy, who rides, got a tune out of the horse when he rode him in last season's totesport Gold Trophy at Newbury."
