Cenkos to land Champion Chase

LONDON: Paul Nicholls has had the Queen Mother Champion Chase as the target for Cenkos all season and the plan can come together perfectly at Cheltenham today.

He ran a storming race to be third in this last year and has looked a class act since, landing the big Queen Mother Celebration Chase at Sandown last April with consummate ease and then following up in similar fashion in the Tingle Creek, again at Sandown. Admittedly he was beaten pretty comfortably last time by stablemate Kadarann at Newbury but Nicholls had been at pains beforehand to stress that Cenkos would come on a huge amount for the run and could hardly conceal his delight afterwards at his effort. He can be expected to be at the top of his game today.

Keen Leader looks a star in the making will be a warm order in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Chase. He has got his act together since tipping up on his chase debut at this track and enjoyed a facile success at Ascot last time, thanks in no small part to the early departure in that race of Jair Du Cochet. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill regards him as potentially a Gold Cup horse and perhaps if his French rival had stood and Keen Leader had still beaten him easily, that is where he would have ended up this week.  Pizarro has to be of major interest in the opening Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.

Edward O’Grady’s six-year-old, conqueror of Rhinestone Cowboy in last year’s bumper here, has really looked the part over hurdles and his only career defeat has come at the hands of the smart Solerina when his trainer’s runners were under a cloud. Korelo will bid to land a  ?60,000 bonus for connections in the Coral Cup. And there is every chance of Martin Pipe’s progressive gelding doing just that after he scored in the Imperial Cup at the weekend to set up the double. That was over an inadequate two miles, although the desperate ground thankfully saw his stamina come into play as he looked an unlikely scorer turning into the straight. Pipe has bagged the bonus twice before and jockey Tony McCoy thought Korelo was saving a bit at Sandown so perhaps he did not have as hard a race as it initially looked.  He will relish the extra five furlongs today. Ballinclay King loves Cheltenham and is the pick in the 53rd Year of The Mildmay Of Flete Challenge Cup.

His last three runs have been at Prestbury Park, resulting in a win, a third and a fourth.  He was given a confident ride last time off the pace but found himself with too much to do in a race won by Lady Cricket. But he has been dropped a pound as a result will meet his main rivals on better terms today. A more positive ride may reap handsome dividends because he does stay further than Wednesday’s 21 furlongs. Pipe has been making bullish noises about Stormez in the 133rd Year of the National Hunt Chase and it would be folly to ignore the Pond House maestro. His six-year-old will love the four-mile trip and has been in great form this season. The closing Weatherbys Champion Bumper can go the way of Bourbon Manhattan. He looked tremendous when winning at Newbury last time, cruising to the lead two out before quickening right away to defy a penalty for scoring at Taunton in great style.

SELECTIONS: CHELTENHAM: 2.00 Pizarro, 2.35 Keen Leader, 3.15 Cenkos, 4.00 KORELO (NAP), 4.35 Stormez, 5.10 Ballinclay King, 5.45 Bourbon Manhattan.
HUNTINGDON: 1.45 Brush A King, 2.20 Forest Tune, 3.00 Pertemps Cindrella, 3.40 Brown Teddy, 4.20 Fandango De chassy, 4.55 Indeed, 5.30 Ay Carumba.
DOUBLE: Korelo and Stormez.