Brave Inca - can claim Champion (Getty Images).
FOLLOW INCA TRAIL TO GLORY
By Carl Llewellyn
We are into the second year of the four-day Festival at Cheltenham and a lot of people don't like change. But as far as myself and my weighing room colleagues are concerned it means more chances to ride a winner. We would much rather be going to Cheltenham for an extra day rather than a smaller meeting somewhere, so generally the jockeys like it. The main event on the first day is the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at 1515 GMT and the Irish have a strong hand again as it looks between Macs Joy, Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace. The latter has been a bit disappointing this season and it will have to be a big turnaround with the headgear back on for him to win. I would like to see him complete the hat-trick. But I think it will be between Macs Joy and Brave Inca and I will go with the latter. He is so tough and been in such great form all year. Macs Joy's trainer Jessica Harrington has been doing a lot better during the last six weeks so on all known form it look like being one of those two. It will be tough for five-year-olds Faasel and Penzance as it is a long time since a horse that age won the Champion. They are taking on the older campaigners so are likely to struggle. Arcalis represents Howard Johnson but his stable has been out of form. That is a worry at any time of year never mind coming up to Cheltenham. Al Eile won a competitive race at Haydock last time on very soft ground and this will be a big change in the going. He has a little bit to find on the book but comes to the race fresh and in good form so he could give some of the more fancied horses something to do. It is a little bit of a surprise that connections of Asian Maze have opted to run her in this rather than the World Hurdle. But she is a high-class mare although she must show a little bit more - which she is well capable of. It was brave decision to supplement Briaerius but he did put up a good performance to win at Wincanton. You can't pick holes in terms of the performance but he has got to improve quickly to figure in the finish.
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