Select a Stable

PRICEWISE

Tom Segal gives his views exclusively to selectastable.co.uk

BANK ON MOSSBANK TO BAG A VICTORY

MY first banker for Cheltenham Select A Stable is Mossbank (right), in the hope that trainer Michael Hourigan runs him in the Ryanair Chase.

That race doesn't appear to be a very strong contest and Mossbank has improved all season.

He has been kept back for the festival and his form bares the closest inspection, so if the ground is good he is a strong fancy to beat Our Vic and The Listener.

Most entrants will have Kauto Star or Sizing Europe as their bankers, so it could well be wise to look elsewhere to give yourself a better chance of scooping the £20,000 first prize, and I reckon Denman's brother, Silverburn, is one to have very much on your side. He is a brilliant jumper and looked a totally different horse when allowed to stride along at Sandown last time.

Denman raced prominently when winning the SunAlliance last year and Silverburn can follow suit.

The Champion Hurdle is much more open than many would have you believe. Osana has the most improvement left in him and is in the hands of a training establishment that has made it their business to have their horses in peak condition for the big day.

He is closely matched with Sizing Europe and will have the race run to suit as he will go his own pace. Everyone said Make A Stand would merely set the race up for his rivals when he won, and I have a strong feeling Osana can make all.

I have gone for Denman just because everyone else will probably go for Kauto. I have no doubt that Kauto has the more talent, but the Gold Cup is a unique test and the demands of the race look ideal for Denman.

Others I like include Mahogany Blaze in a winnable Arkle (is Noland quick enough?), Fiveforthree in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Five Dream, who has a much better chance in the Triumph than his odds would suggest.