DAY THREE LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE:Those who believe Christophe Pieux, rider of today's Ladbrokes World Hurdle hotpot Kasbah Bliss, is going to dissolve into a puddle of uncertainty when faced with Messrs Walsh, Geraghty and Johnson clearly don't know who they are dealing with.
This is a man who rejoices under the nickname "Extraterrestrial" in France due to the freakish balance he exhibits on a horse by pulling his stirrup irons so high up, his knees appear to be almost hitting his chin.
It might also have something to do with the Frenchman being 42 years of age, which is positively venerable by the standards of most jump jockeys. Not that he has any idea of retirement.
"If I can stay on my diet, I can keep riding for 20 years," he said some years ago. That diet is pretty unique too, consisting of two days fasting a week, three days of vegetables and salad and then two days of getting stuck into whatever he wants. Like his riding style, it is different but it works. And although French jockeys are traditionally a soft target for punters more used to the rousing antics of McCoy and co, a fundamental truth remains that different does not mean the same thing as wrong.
More importantly, in today's context, Pieux has a history of getting it right when it counts as a career total of almost 2,000 winners indicates.
"He has always been exceptional physically. But his real strength is mental. He is afraid of nothing and has tremendous competitive drive," said the French trainer Arnaud Chaille-Chaille.
Pieux may be relatively unknown outside of France, but that is by design as the prize money levels there are so much better than anywhere else.
"If I ride in other countries it is for fun," he once said. "In France it is for the money." There's €281,000 up for grabs in today's festival centrepiece which is no spare change in any language and on the face of it Kasbah Bliss holds outstanding claims.
Fifth to Inglis Drever in 2007, he closed the gap to the great triple-winner last year when runner-up, after exhibiting a turn of foot from the last that would have decimated most other stayers.
That pace was also on show in his warm up at Haydock last month as he shot clear of Hills Of Aran. Kasbah Bliss looks to be peaking at just the right time which is hardy a surprise considering François Doumen's record in this race.
Nicky Henderson has timed his own Cheltenham challenge to perfection as usual and with Punjabi's Champion Hurdle already in the bag, Punchestowns looks an obvious danger to the French star.
A turn of foot in the closing stages appears to be his most potent weapon too, judged on a Long Walk victory at Ascot in December that saw him shoot clear of his stable companion Duc De Regniere.
Barry Geraghty has talked up his chance over the last few weeks and is inclined to disregard his subsequent defeat here by Big Buck's. Punchestowns will be 8lbs better off today and considerably sharper.
Three Irish runners are due to take their chance with the Willie Mullins team represented by Shakervilz. Along with Whatuthink and Powerstation, he is a decent performer at home, but this championship race looks a very different level again. It's a level that Kasbah Bliss is proven at already and at seven years of age he looks to be at a career peak right now. And those betting on him being let down by his French jockey could have to swallow their words after an extraterrestrial performance.
World Hurdle: Brian O'Connor's tips
1. Kasbah Bliss7, 11-10
C Pieux (1)
2. Punchestowns6, 11-10
B J Geraghty (7/2)
3. Fair Along 7, 11-10
R Johnson (12/1)
