Look for North Yorkshire success in the Champion Chase (From The Northern Echo)

Look for North Yorkshire success in the Champion Chase

10:55am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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KALAHARI King can spoil the party for Master Minded by winning the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Paul Nicholls’ crack two-miler goes in pursuit of a third Champion Chase, but there is enough ammunition to pre-empt a turn up for the books.

Kalahari King was just a whisker away from winning last season’s Arkle Trophy and maybe he would have won the Grade One heat with more luck in running.

Ferdy Murphy’s North Yorkshire charge still managed to stamp himself as a novice out of the top drawer, however, when winning at Aintree next time.

His recent victory under top weight at Doncaster also suggests he has taken another step forward.

Kalahari King ticks all the right boxes in that he is a strong traveller and should have the ground to suit.

At around about 5-1, he looks the bet to at least be in the first three – with Master Minded far from bombproof.

Punchestowns has won his fitness battle, now it is time for him to step up to the plate in the RSA Chase.

Trainer Nicky Henderson revealed that Punchestowns had been suffering a problem with intermittent lameness at the start of the month but the vibes from Seven Barrows have been highly positive since.

The seven-year-old made a speedy recovery and his routine suffered the minimum of interference so he forms part of an enviable twopronged assault on the race for Henderson.

While Long Run is the favourite, Punchestowns has not put a foot wrong over fences, winning on his chasing debut in a Newbury Grade Two before making the switch to the highest level in style at Sandown.

Although he nearly dropped an almighty clanger when uprooting the seventh fence that day, he regained his composure and pegged back the five lengths he had conceded to win in clear-cut fashion.

Narrowly beaten in last year’s World Hurdle, Punchestowns has proven his mettle around Prestbury Park and while Long Run is a worthy adversary, preference is for the Barry Geraghty-ridden Punchestowns.

There may be a slight question mark over the quicker ground for Reve De Sivola but his Grade One form is there for all to see in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.

Sixth in the Triumph Hurdle last year, Nick Williams wisely decided to retain his novice status for this term and that choice paid dividends when he won the Challow Hurdle last time.

Much interest is sure to be focused on Willie Mullins’ runners as he has such a good record in the race but Reve De Sivola could be the value bet.

Abbeybraney beat leading Jewson candidate The Hollinwell last time and is the choice in the 140th Year of The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup.

Entered in the John Smith’s Grand National, this race can provide an excellent stepping stone to Aintree.

Grade One-placed when trained in Ireland and not beaten far by Barbers Shop or Weapon’s Amnesty in Britain, Abbeybraney is a class act for trainer Howard Johnson.

David Pipe holds a winning chance in the ultra-competitive Coral Cup with Mamlook, while Bothy can strike in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Brian Ellison’s charge arrives unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, most recently when making an impressive handicap bow at Taunton.

He has run in some sizeable fields both over obstacles and on the level so he should be able to handle the Cheltenham hurly burly.