Preview Rest of today's cardIt's four years since Arthur Moore and David Casey teamed up to win the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual with Fadoudal Du Cochet but they look to have an excellent chance of striking again in the race with Tiger Cry this afternoon.
Despite an 11lb hike in the weights, last year's Galway Hurdle runner-up is still under the 11st mark and any horse that can come up the Ballybrit hill on fast ground should have no problem with the conditions here.
Tiger Cry also has form over the track when running a fine second to Bold Bishop here in November and a long way back in sixth on that occasion was the Paul Nicholls hope Andreas who has to concede 10lb today.
A more potent threat could come from Nicky Henderson who has very personal reasons to want to win so much. The race is named after his father and it's no surprise to see the Lambourn trainer pitch a team of four into the action including the topweight Tysou.
Tiger Cry, however, looks one to have been pointed specifically at this by his shrewd trainer and he had a nice warm up behind Public Reaction on his last start. Green Tango and the race fixture Ground Ball are others to consider but Tiger Cry looks a real contender.
Unlike the Gold Cup, the JCB Triumph Hurdle has a relatively paltry field of 17 lining up, a direct consequence it seems of the juvenile handicap run on the first day of the festival.
That should favour the quality horses and on what we have seen so far nothing boasts more quality than the unbeaten Mister Hight. Jumping concerns on the back of his Leopardstown victory last time might be overplayed but Mister Hight's supporters do have to factor in some rather under-whelming performances by the Willie Mullins team earlier in the week.
In the circumstances a viable alternative could be the Henderson hope Afsoun who represents the Million In Mind Partnership. Henderson has a fine record in the race and Afsoun looks to tick most of the right boxes having beaten Turko over the course and distance here in December.
The dangers of backing short priced favourites were illustrated by Sweet Wake on Tuesday and especially by Denman on Wednesday. But even with those memories still fresh it's hard to escape from Black Jack Ketchum as the most likely winner of the Brit Insurances Novice Hurdle.
Jonjo O'Neill's horse is unbeaten and although the trainer suspects Black Jack Ketchum may be better over slightly shorter than this three mile trip he still boasts a course and distance success from earlier in the season.
Softer ground would surely be better for the Irish pair of Toofarback and Travino but conditions look to be ideal for another Tony McCoy favourite to go in.
It may turn out to be a very good day for the O'Neill team as Drombeag can complete his return from injury with a third victory in a row this season in the Foxhunters.
John Thomas McNamara's mount was third in the four mile race at the festival two years ago but was then absent until scoring at both Huntingdon and Sedgefield. The latter performance wasn't especially impressive but it was on very testing conditions and quicker ground will suit.
A pair of Gold Cup placing's mean Harbour Pilot is the obvious class of the race but even in his pomp he thrived on very soft going. He's unlikely to get that today.
Grande Jete returned from a long absence to run a blinder in last year's Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, throwing away what looked a real winning chance with a bad mistake at the last.
He presents a remarkably similar profile this time, not having run in 11 months, but no mistakes this time could see rich compensation.
Brian O'Connor's Forecasts
2.00 - Afsoun
2.35 - Black Jack Ketchum
4.00 - Drombeag
4.40 - Tiger Cry (Nap)
5.20 - Grande Jete
Nap and Double
Tiger Cry and Afsoun
