Hot To Trot: Three trainers to follow at the Cheltenham Festival

Colin Tizzard

In contrast to last year, Colin Tizzard heads into next week’s Cheltenham Festival in fine form, and he has plenty of solid chances to boot, too. There’s no doubt Cue Card, who is bidding to supplement his 2013 success in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday, would be a most popular winner. He bounced back to form when a good second to Waiting Patiently in the Ascot Chase last month, and seems sure to give a good account.

A more less-exposed runner for Tizzard is Vision des Flos, who showed the benefit of a wind operation when annihilating his rivals in a listed event at Exeter last month. He faces a tough task up against the most exciting Samcro in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, but makes plenty of each-way appeal.

Slate House is another who could outrun his lengthy odds. He looked one to follow after winning his first two starts over hurdles – beating Summerville Boy on his second start – and can be forgiven two below-par efforts when the yard wasn’t firing on all cylinders. With Tizzard now back amongst the winners, it would be no surprise were Slate House to turn in a much better display.

Alan King

Alan King has won the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase in his time as a trainer, but has proved a dab hand with the juveniles in recent years, and in the shape of Redicean he has a leading hope in the Triumph Hurdle. He has taken to hurdling very well, winning all three of his starts in impressive fashion, producing a near-smart effort in the Adonis at Kempton last time; it’s safe to say we haven’t yet seen the best of him.

Lisp is another juvenile to note, and one who could make an impact in the Fred Winter. He has won two out of his four starts over hurdles, and shaped better than the result in the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock last time, seeming unsuited by the lack of pace in a small field. Lisp is from a good jumping family, and the demands of the Fred Winter could bring out the best of him.

Who Dares Wins, who finished third to Supasundae in the Coral Cup at the Festival last season, holds sound claims in the Pertemps Final. He progressed again on the Flat last summer, and arguably did well to finish as close as he did in a qualifier for this at Kempton in November, suffering an injury during the race. This has been the plan since and a big run is expected.

Seamus Mullins

An in-form trainer who might not be at the top of punters’ lists at Cheltenham next week is Seamus Mullins. Admittedly, he won’t have a host of runners, but Chesterfield is the type to run well in the County Hurdle. He won the Scottish Champion Hurdle from a 3 lb lower mark last season, and all three of his runs over hurdles this season are best ignored. He raced on the wrong side of the track in the Greatwood Hurdle here on his return, and wasn’t ideally placed in a Grade 3 handicap at Ascot after before having little chance up against Buveur d’Air in the Christmas Hurdle. However, he bounced back with a win in a jumpers’ bumper at Kempton this month, and is handicapped to run well.

Arthington is another potential runner for Mullins in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, also on Friday. It’s hard to argue with his record, never out of the first two in six starts over hurdles, and winning three times. This will be by far his toughest test to date, but there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to give a good account.