Bob Olinger

1.20 Wednesday Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

This time last year Bob Olinger first set foot on a racecourse and his hugely impressive 10-length victory in a traditionally smart point-to-point bumper at Gowran Park suggested that he could be a leading Cheltenham fancy by the time 2021 rolled around.

Light campaign

That is indeed the case with Henry de Bromhead’s charge, lining up off a relatively light yet highly impressive campaign.

A fine second to Ferny Hollow on his jumping debut was followed by a smooth maiden win at Navan and last time out he posted a lovely effort to win at Grade 1 level at Naas.

Solid form

The runner-up from Naas, Blue Lord, has since run well in defeat in another Grade 1, which gives the form a solid look, and one also gets the feeling that we have yet to ascertain where the summit of Bob Olinger’s abilities lie.

He will have to take things to another level on Wednesday with the likes of Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame lying in wait but he does look equal to the task.

Hook Up

4.15 Thursday Parnell Properties Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

Willie Mullins has won all five editions of this race so far and he might continue that streak this time around with this five-year-old who will be making her second visit to this meeting after an unplaced effort in last season’s Triumph.

Impressive

On her first outing since the Triumph, Hook Up was an impressive winner of a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in late November when she thrashed the subsequent maiden scorer Gars De Sceaux by a dozen lengths. She returned to Fairyhouse next time when beaten five lengths by Royal Kahala in a hot-looking mares’ conditions event and that represented a good effort in a quality affair.

However, Hook Up gets the vote based on her last effort where she was pitched into Grade 1 level against the geldings and she was beaten seven and a half lengths into fourth by Appreciate It. There aren’t many of her opponents next week who would have been able to fare so well and she must have every chance now that she takes what could be considered a notable drop in class.

Fakiera

2.30 Friday Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

This year’s edition of the Albert Bartlett doesn’t appear to contain a particularly outstanding candidate but there has been much to like about the manner in which Denise Foster’s charge has progressed throughout the season.

After starting off with a maiden win at Fairyhouse, he then pounced late to land the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan in November and the form of that race has been working out nicely.

Best work

Fakiera has been beaten on both his runs since then but he has enhanced his reputation each time.

On his return to Navan in December he was putting in his best work in the closing stages to finish second to Ashdale Bob in a Grade 2.

Last time out he was stepped up to the highest level and he was once again noted to be putting in some good late work when beaten just over seven lengths by Gaillard Du Mesnil at Leopardstown last month.

That race was over two and three-quarter miles but the greater stamina test of the Albert Barltett looks tailor made for this gelding, so expect him to be coming home strongly when others have cried enough.

Champ

3.05 Friday WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)

It took quite some time for him to get to the track this season but when he finally appeared at Newbury last month Champ produced a display that boded especially well for his prospects in the staying championship.

Rare indeed is the case where a defeat offers positives across the board but that is just what transpired with Champ’s two-length second to Sceau Royal in the Game Spirit Chase.

On his first run for almost a year and over a trip literally, a mile short of his best, Champ shaped up really well to take second.

A particularly pleasing aspect of his performance was the manner in which he jumped and, in short, this was a display full of promise.

The Game Spirit is about as far removed from the Gold Cup as you can get but on Friday Champ will be tackling a test that looks tailor made for him judged on how he somehow pulled victory out of the fire in the RSA Chase last year.

He looks the foremost obstacle to Al Boum Photo’s bid for a third Gold Cup success and he might just prove to be an insurmountable one.

Gabynako

4.50 Friday Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

The finale at this year’s meeting contains the usual myriad of potentially well-treated types and one novice with the potential to land a major handicap prize such as this is Gavin Cromwell’s charge.

He comes here off an unplaced run behind Drop The Anchor at Leopardstown but is easily forgiven that run on two counts.

The two-mile trip would have been short of his best and his chances were dealt a notable blow when he made a bad early mistake.

Under the circumstances he probably did run quite respectably and the far great stamina test posed by this race will suit him much better.

Leading roll

Narrow maiden hurdle defeats behind the likes of Fakiera and Eskylane which were followed by placings at graded level in races won by Ashdale Bob and Bob Olinger read very well in the context of this race and point to his ability to play a leading role.

His profile isn’t all that different to several other previous winners of this race who competed in decent company as novices before switching their attentions to this handicap.