/ Timeform / 28 January 2011 / Leave a Comment 
.."The current second favourite for the World Hurdle, Grands Crus, will test his Championship credentials in the Cleeve, where he will meet 15 others."
Timeform look ahead to the weekend's racing at Cheltenham, Doncaster and elsewhere...
The most valuable race on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday is the Grade 2 Argento (Cotswold) Chase, which tests the mettle of prospective Gold Cup horses. The withdrawal of current RSA Chase favourite Time For Rupert has robbed the race of some of its interest, and arguably the most significant of those left in is arguably Punchestowns, who is still seeking to prove he can make as good a chaser as he was a hurdler. In terms of form, the enigmatic Tidal Bay sets the standard as he bids to win on the card for the second successive year, having taken the Cleeve Hurdle in 2010. Madison du Berlais, Neptune Collonges and The Tother One complete the field.
The absence of the undisputed top staying hurdler Big Buck's makes for what looks like an extremely competitive renewal of the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle. The current second favourite for the World Hurdle, Grands Crus, will test his Championship credentials in the Cleeve, where he will meet 15 others, his most significant challengers among that number probably being the Paul Nicholls-trained Organisateur, Coral Cup winner Spirit River, and Alan King's Bensalem, who hasn't been seen since finishing runner-up in the World Series Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival last April.
The field for the Grade 2 Classic Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles looks well up to scratch, the field including any number of progressive young hurdlers. Chief among them is current Baring Bingham favourite Backspin, who will face his toughest test to date from the likes of Bobs Worth, Rock On Ruby and Champion Court.
The other Grade 2 event on that card takes place in the juvenile hurdles division, namely the Triumph Hurdle Trial (Finesse). Steve Gollings' unbeaten Local Hero sets the standard, but he will face stiff competition from the likes of once-raced Third Intention and Paul Nicholls' ex-French four-year-old Indian Daudaie (Click HERE to find out how you can win a share in him).
The remaining races on the card at Cheltenham are all ultra-competitive handicaps, the best of them being the Grade 3 Murphy Group Chase over two miles five furlongs.
Cheltenham isn't the only venue for high-quality jumping on Saturday as Doncaster also stages one of its better NH fixtures of the season. The highlight is the three-mile Sky Bet Chase, a handicap which has attracted 20 runners. Paul Nicholls looks to hold a strong hand in the race with Fistral Beach and Take The Breeze, though the likes of King Fontaine and Blazing Bailey should also have a say.
There are also a couple Grade 2 events for novices on the card at Doncaster. The chasers go in the two-mile Lightning Novices' Chase, in which Robinson Collonges sets a lofty standard, while the hurdlers get their chance in the three-mile Albert Barlett (River Don) Novices' Hurdle. The other Grade 2 on the card is the two-mile Doncaster Mares' Hurdle.
Saturday's remaining fixtures in Britain take places over jumps at Uttoxeter and on the all-weather at Lingfield, while Fairyhouse is the venue for the day's jumping in Ireland.
Ireland is also the scene of Sunday's best racing, where reigning Champion Chaser Big Zeb is set to run in the Grade 2 Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown, in which his main challengers are Arkle winner Sizing Europe and the Willie Mullins-trained Golden Silver. The other Grade 2 on the card is the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, also over two miles, in which Gagewell Flyer will be bidding to make it three from three over timber this season.
Sunday's racing in Britain takes place over jumps at Fakenham and Hereford, while Kempton is the venue for eight races on the polytrack.
Several pretenders to the World Hurdle crown of Big Buck's clash in this fascinating renewal of the Cleeve Hurdle......
Timeform look ahead to the weekend's racing at Cheltenham, Doncaster and elsewhere......
All the betting moves ahead of the evening racing at Wolverhampton...
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