TRIALS day indeed. Sir Gino v The New Lion. And Grey Dawning v Spillane’s Tower. And Jagwar and Maestro Conti and Final Orders and J’Arrive De L’Est, and Impose Toi if you like, and any one of three or four or five in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase, always a must-view with the Cheltenham Festival in mind.

It’s a competitive race, the opening contest at Cheltenham today, on what’s sure to be a hugely informative day of National Hunt racing.

Barlovento kept on well to win the novices’ handicap chase at Kempton on King George day, but the first four finished within two lengths of each other and he is 4lb higher now, he is 4lb worse off with Secret Des Dieux, whom be beat by just a length and three quarters and his re-opposing rival is more than four times his price today.

Califet En Vol finished a close-up third behind Miami Magic and Regent’s Stroll in the novices’ chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

He looked the likely winner when he moved up towards the outside as they straightened up for home, he travelled best on the run to the second last fence, but, in the end, he couldn’t bridge the gap.

He was probably done for toe when the winner quickened from the front. He should do better today on the softer ground, and probably off a stronger pace in relative terms on the ground, and he is a player.

He is probably priced up just about right though and, at a bigger price, Kdeux Saint Fray is a more attractive betting proposition.

Flattered

Common consensus was that he may have been flattered by his victory in the two-and-a-half-mile novices’ handicap chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting. That his stable companion Jordans Cross probably would have beaten him if he hadn’t come down at the last, and that Kim Roque made a mistake at the last that could have cost him the race.

That may not be the case though. We will never know for certain but, such was the gusto with which Anthony Honeyball’s horse stayed on up the hill, there is every chance that he would have won anyway, even if his two main rivals had jumped the last well. He was coming away from Kim Roque on the run to the line.

The form of that race has been strengthened since by third-placed Jig’s Forge, who made all to beat Lucky Place in a match at Newbury next time, and by Jordans Cross, who was brave in just getting up to beat Go West at Doncaster next time off a 4lb higher mark.

The net result is that he is now 8lb higher than he was in November. Kdeux Saint Fray meets his stable companion on 3lb better terms.

Kdeux Saint Fray has run once since, he stayed on well to take second place in a two-mile-four-furlong contest at Aintree in early December behind Guard The Moon, who won again over three miles at Windsor last Sunday off a 7lb higher mark. Guard The Moon is now 11lb higher than he was then. Kdeux Saint Fray is just 2lb higher now.

He is obviously proven at Cheltenham, and the move from the Old Course to the New Course, and the extra emphasis that that will place on stamina over the intermediate trip, is probably a positive for him.

He can jump to his left, which may not be ideal, given that the best of the ground can be on the outside at Cheltenham at this time of year, but that factor is usually more pronounced on the hurdles course than it is on the chase track, and this is the first race of the day, so they will have the best of the ground.

Classic Novice Hurdle

Act Of Innocence has been put in as favourite for the last race of the day, the Grade 2 AIS Classic Novice Hurdle, but he was beaten by Minella Yoga at Newbury last time, and he may not have as much in hand of Heads Up as the betting suggests he will.

John McConnell’s horse hasn’t run since he was beaten in the Hyde Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham’s November meeting, but he can go well fresh. His best runs have been after a break.

Second in the Champion Bumper at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, he was good in winning at Listowel on his debut over hurdles. The runner-up in that race, L’Evangeliste, is two for two since, and has a rating of 130.

Heads Up stepped forward from that next time in that race in November, the Grade 2 Hyde Novices’ Hurdle, when he finished second behind No Drama This End.

Paul Nicholls’ horse has since won the Grade 2 Winter Hurdle at Sandown and the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle and Newbury, and he is the unanimous and clear favourite for the Baring Bingham Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Heads Up finished just three lengths behind him in November, and that was after going around towards the inside of the track for most of the way, probably on the worst of the ground. The only other horse who raced around the inside in the race, Imperfectlyperfect, finished sixth, beaten 47 and a half lengths.

It is significant that Danny Mullins is going to Cheltenham for just the one ride, and he was booked to go even before today’s meeting at Fairyhouse was cancelled. There are few riders in the weigh room on either side of the Irish Sea who are better than Danny Mullins at figuring out where the best of the ground is, and Heads Up could run another big race today.

Recommended

Kdeux Saint Fray 12.05 Cheltenham - 1 pt win @ 7/1 (generally)

Heads Up 4.10 Cheltenham - 1 pt win @ 7/2 (Bet365) or 100/30 (generally)