More To Come From Ex World Hurdle Champ

There are some fascinating entries and races this weekend both in Ireland and of course at Cheltenham and that is a trend we can look forward to now that the rain is back.

We still await the emergence of Willie Mullins’ big guns with the champion trainer due to saddle just four runners this weekend, Koshari being the most interesting of those at Naas on Saturday.

More To Come Good
The World Hurdle winner More Of That has obviously had his fair share of problems since that famous win over Annie Power two seasons ago but he was the subject of some glowing support from his trainer earlier in the week and if at his best he would have to be the handicap blot in the feature BetVictor Gold Cup at the Open Meeting.

The best priced 5/1 on offer with BoyleSports is short enough for a horse who had wind issues that prevented him from putting his best foot forward in the RSA Chase last season and Jonjo O’Neill’s horses haven’t been firing as one would like of late.

However, Annie Power has obviously gone on to show just how solid More Of That’s old form is and last season he could only do what was asked of him in his first two novice chase outings and in the RSA if his wind was an issue, he still managed to finish third behind two decent types. If that has been rectified over the summer months he could well be open to more improvement and is well in off a mark of 154.

If the 5/1 doesn’t appeal to you, maybe look at Stilletto as an alternative or sit the race out, but More Of That is the class act in the field and hopefully he’ll prove that for all concerned.

Victory for Viconte
One at a price that looks interesting at Cheltenham on Saturday is Viconte du Noyer.

Colin Tizzard will be keen to open his account for the Potts family and it would be a fitting way to do it with Alan Potts in attendance at Cheltenham this weekend and Viconte du Noyer is an intriguing runner in the 3m3f handicap chase.

This will be by far the furthest that the seven-year-old has run over in his career.

He was at his most impressive for Henry de Bromhead when running over 2m5f and the Tizzard’s are shrewd enough to have good reason for this step up in trip.

At 14/1 he is worth a small each-way investment.

Elliott to be Prince Again
Some highly rated hurdlers line up in the beginners chase at Naas with a possible fascinating clash between Acapella Bourgeois and Prince Of Scars with the latter expected to oblige.

Rated 155 when finishing third behind Thistlecrack at Aintree last season, Prince Of Scars is another exciting recruit to the larger obstacles for Gigginstown and indeed he could be one to note for the season ahead. On looking up the ante post market for the RSA Chase I was surprised to see Prince Of Scars was a 25/1 shot and that could prove value in the long term.

Current favourite for the RSA is Thistlecrack who won’t go there by the looks of things and Alpha Des Obeaux was only a few pounds higher than Prince Of Scars over hurdles so I wouldn’t expect the 25/1 to be there if Prince Of Scars makes a winning debut.

Recommended Bets:
Prince of Scars (Evens) – 1.35 Naas
Viconte du Noyer EW (25/1) – 1.50 Cheltenham
More Of That (5/1) – 2.25 Cheltenham

*Prices correct at time of publication.