Horse Power: Fakir D'Oudairies can win the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham

FAKIR D'OUDAIRIES can show his class and win the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) at Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon.

Joseph O’Brien’s multiple Grade One-winning eight-year-old drops back into handicap company but can carry top weight to victory in the feature at Prestbury Park. Fakir D’Oudairies won back-to-back runnings of the Grade One Marsh (Melling) Chase at Aintree Racecourse at the Randox Grand National Festival in 2021 and 2022. He was last in action at Aintree in the spring when he finished second to Pic D’Orhy in his bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of successes in the 2m4f contest over the Mildmay fences. He has been campaigned almost exclusively at the top level in recent seasons and also landed Grade One honours in the Betfair Chase at Ascot in February 2022. He may have been beaten on his two previous starts at Prestbury Park but there was not disgrace in finishing second to Put The Kettle On in the Arkle Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival and also runner-up to the mighty Allaho in the Ryanair Chase the following year.

It is fascinating seeing connections bid for this prestigious handicap. Yes, he has to give lumps of weight away to his rivals, but the smaller field than usual mean he is running in a similar size line-up he’s used to. He has gone well in the past on his seasonal reappearances, winning a couple of times and being placed on the others. Fakir D’Oudairies can score – ahead of chiefly Olly Murphy’s recent Carlisle scorer Thunder Rock, the Venetia Williams-trained Frero Banbou and course and distance winner Il Ridoto, from the Paul Nicholls’ stable – before a return to Graded company.

Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten SHANAGH BOB can land another success in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (3pm). The Mahler gelding won his debut over obstacles for Henderson at Plumpton at the end of last month. He looks a decent prospect and can take the step up to Grade Two company in his stride to win again.

Champion trainer Nicholls has a number of chances of a winner at Cheltenham and MOFASA looks the best of them in the John Wyke Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (12.40pm). The seven-year-old won over hurdles at Cheltenham last October, but was always likely to make a better chaser. Mofasa was second on his chasing debut at Worcester before getting off the mark in a similar contest to this at Huntingdon last month. He can make it two wins from three starts over the big obstacles back at Prestbury Park.

Venetia Williams’ stable is in fine form and she is always to be feared in chases on soft ground at this time of year. Her FUNAMBULE SIVOLA – a Grade One performer in recent years – can get off the mark at the third attempt this season dropped back into handicap company in the Quintessentially Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.15pm).

Another horse dropping back down to handicap company, Dan Skelton’s Grade One winner Protektorat, has to give weight to his rivals in the Cheltenham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.25pm), having only been fourth in the defence of his Grade One Betfair Chase crown at Haydock Park last month. He is the class act but may have to play second fiddle to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ BROADWAY BOY, who is an improving young chaser receiving almost a stone and a half from Protektorat. The five-year-old has won two of his three starts, most recently last month over three miles at Cheltenham. Stepped up slightly in trip to 3m2f, he can land another success at Prestbury Park.

Nicholls’ KABRAL DU MATHAN can land the opener, the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (12.35pm). The three-year-old won at Clairefontaine on his hurdling debut for French trainer Arnaud Chaille-Chaille. He can score again on his first start for the Ditcheat handler.

Fergal O’Brien’s BONNTAY can land the finale, the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.35pm). The six-year-old mare has won three of her five starts over obstacles and was second in her other two runs. She returned with victory at Hereford at the start of last month and can go in again at a track she won a bumper on in November 2021.

At Doncaster Merseyside-born trainer Donald McCain’s GEROMINO may bounce back from a mishap last time to win the bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.40pm). The seven-year-old made a bad mistake at the third fence and unseated champion jockey Brian Hughes when sent off favourite at Catterick last month. He had been second three times in a row prior to that. He is back over the smaller obstacles now and off an attractive handicap mark of 126 and with Charlie Maggs taking off a further 10lbs he may be able to triumph – barring any more mishaps.

Stable-mate BARRICHELLO – who blew off the cobwebs when sixth on his seasonal return at Sedgefield in October – can build on that to win the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.25pm).

Tom Lacey’s CRUZ CONTROL can take the bet365 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.05pm). The six-year-old got off the mark at the third time of asking over fences, when scoring at Newcastle last month. He looks progressive and may go in again despite edging up the handicap.

Fergal O’Brien’s course and distance winner MANOFTHEPEOPLE can win the finale, the bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.15pm). The eight-year-old won on his first two starts over the bigger obstacles this time last year. He hasn’t quite gone on from there, but his second on his seasonal return at Exeter in October reads quite well. He unseated early on at Ascot last month and if there are no ill effects he can bounce back to triumph.

Others who can win on Town Moor are the Ben Haslam-trained OUR LAURA B in the Each Way Extra At bet365 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (12.50pm); Henderson’s KADO DE JOIE in the bet365 Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (11.40am); and course winner ONEMOREFORTHEROAD – from the Neil King stable – in the 6 Horse Challenge At bet365 Handicap Chase (12.15pm).

At Hereford Kim Bailey’s MR GREY SKY can win the Daily Racing Specials At PlanetSportBet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.13pm) and Nicholls’ LIME AVENUE can take the Read Harry Cobden’s Blog At PlanetSportBet Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)(1.35pm).

Wright Ones

CHELTENHAM

12.05pm Kabral Du Mathan
12.40pm Mofasa
1.15pm Funambule Sivola
1.50pm Fakir D’Oudairies (NAP)
2.25pm Broadway Boy
3pm Shanagh Bob
3.35pm Bonttay

DONCASTER

11.40am Kado De Joie
12.20pm Onemorefortheroad
12.55pm Our Laura B
1.30pm Barrichello
2.05pm Cruz Control
2.40pm Geromino
3.15pm Manothepeople

HEREFORD

11.55am Supasunrise
12.25pm Parade Away
1pm Heva Rose
1.35pm Lime Avenue
2.13pm Mr Grey Sky
2.48pm Norton Hill
3.22pm Dirty Den

NEWCASTLE

1.20pm Franberri
1.59pm Imperial Sovereign
2.34pm Swiss Ace
3.09pm Bielsa
3.44pm Moyola
4.15pm Nellie French
4.45pm Rory
5.15pm Ledger

WOLVERHAMPTON

5pm Alice Kitty
5.30pm Bigtime Bridget
6pm Out Of The Stars
6.30pm Brazen Idol
7pm Cloud Cover
7.30pm Steel Helmet
8pm Good Time Ahead
8.30pm Win Win Power

SUNDAY’S NAP: Christopher Wood (Carlisle 1.35pm)