Lining-up the Ducks

I've finally taken the 6/1 about Grandouet for the Champion Hurdle.

Plenty doubt his resolution in a staying test but (ever the sucker for speed) I've had him pegged for a big one ever since he came down at Aintree two years ago. He galloped all over Zarkandar that day.

Zarkandar beat him again by two lengths in this year's Bula. But Grandouet had it all to do. It was his first race after a year off, run on the heavy. And for some reason known only to the deep thinkers of the Jumps Pattern Committee he had to give up 4lbs to his rival that day.

I'm sure they won't dawdle (we're set for a very small field but Harry Fry won't allow it surely?). If so they'll do well to match Grandouet's pace. It's more a question of whether he'll truly get home in a thorough test.

Some of the stake has been placed at Paddy Power, who'll give you your money back if Hurricane Fly can do a Comedy Of Errors and reclaim his title.

In the Albert Bartlett there appears to be a lot of confidence behind Ballycasey and at a standout 5s with Coral you wouldn't say he was desperately short. But nor could you say he was value on the back of two soft wins going right-handed in the Irish sticks. In Road To Riches I can back a horse with a similar profile at 14/1, and he's already won over 3 miles and has the sort of smooth action you'd like to think would travel well on quicker ground.

Noel Meade has a shocking record at the Festival. When Fundamentalist overcame Inglis Drever to win the SunAlliance Hurdle in 2004 suddenly I was sitting on a massive double in the Coral Cup later that afternoon.  God knows what had possessed me to pick out the Meade-trained Rosaker for the double. Settled in rear at the start; unsettled in mid-division at the finish; never sighted. Still, I must be one of a small band of punters who've backed 66.66% of his lifetime Festival winners: Nicanor and Go Native. I'd love to have Sausalito Bay on board to make up the full set, but I don't. It'll be a nice story, though, if Road To Riches can push me up to 75%

probably not a road to riches...

In other news, Alfie Sherrin now seems likely to get a run in the JLT Specialty. Placed 29th in the handicap at the six day stage he needs five to drop out. Unsurprisingly, David Pipe has left The Package in.

Grandouet - 1% win at 6/1 NRNB (generally available)
Road To Riches - 1% win at 14/1 NRNB (generally available)