IT is a real pity that Laurina did not travel. It would have been great to see her take on the lads in the Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham today. You can understand connections’ reticence though. We’ll just have to be patient. Wait for the rain. Again.

As a consolation prize, the absence of Willie Mullins’ mare probably makes today’s race more attractive as a betting medium than it would have been. Summerville Boy is the obvious favourite. Tom George’s horse put up a high-class performance to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, after being hampered at the penultimate flight and after making a mistake at the final flight.

Kalashnikov and Mengli Khan finished second and third in that Supreme Novices’, and they are now favourite and second favourite for the Arkle.

Two slight concerns about Summerville Boy. Firstly, all his good form last year was on soft ground. His Supreme Novices’ Hurdle win, his Tolworth Hurdle win. Even his good runs at the November and December meetings at Cheltenham last season. His chance will probably be enhanced if the rain that is forecast for this afternoon materialises.

SHARPER

The other worry is that he did not impress on his seasonal return in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. So he was taking on Buveur D’Air and Samcro there, and he was weak in the market, and he probably didn’t appreciate the moderate early pace, and he should come on for the run. But he was beaten by Vision Des Flos for third place, and that race was only two weeks ago. He is going to have to be sharper today.

Silver Streak could be the value of the race. Evan Williams’ horse has been competing in handicap company, and this is obviously a step up in grade, into a Grade 2, but he has been on an upward trajectory for a while now, and he could step forward again today.

Winner of the Swinton Hurdle off a mark of 132 in May, he was impressive in winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on his debut this season off a mark of 139, and he ran a cracker in the Greatwood Hurdle last time off a mark of 145.

He did well to get as close as he did that day. He made a fairly bad mistake at the first flight, after they had run around the first few by-passed obstacles, and he raced in rear early on in a race that was not run at an overly strong pace.

He has 7lb to find with Summerville Boy on official ratings, but he is in top form, he is race-fit, he is progressive, and we know that he can go well at the track. He goes well on good and good to soft ground, and Barry Geraghty is an eye-catching booking. He could run a big race.

HOBBS’ HORSE

War Sound could also run a big race in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup 70 minutes earlier. Philip Hobbs’ horse was really impressive in winning a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Aintree on his debut this season, and there is every chance that he can go on from that.

The handicapper has raised him by 10lb for that win to a mark of 146, but it is difficult to argue that he didn’t win with at least that much in hand. He travelled like the most likely winner from a long way out, he went clear of King’s Odyssey between the final two fences, and he stayed on well all the way to the line.

Also, that race is working out well. Fourth-placed Warriors Tale came out and won the Grand Sefton at Aintree last Saturday, while eighth-placed Captain Chaos finished second in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle two weeks ago.

Two and a half miles is a good trip for War Sound, he is versatile in terms of ground conditions, and he ran well for a long way in a good handicap chase at Cheltenham last January on his only run to date at the track. He was just a little too keen in front that day, but he travelled and jumped well until he got to the home straight, when he faded to finish fourth behind subsequent Close Brothers Chase winner Mister Whitaker, Theatre Territory and the Ladbrokes Trophy winner Sizing Tennessee.

It is not surprising to see the BetVictor Gold Cup horses towards the top of the market. You can understand why Rather Be is favourite, he was travelling well when he was unluckily brought down in the November race, and he gets to compete today off his BetVictor Gold Cup mark of 149.

VALUE

And it would not be surprising to see any or all of the first three home that day, Baron Alco, Frodon (the 2016 winner of this race) and Guitar Pete (the 2017 winner), run well again. But they have all been well found in the market, and the value may lie with War Sound.

RECOMMENDED

SILVER STREAK, 1 point win, 6/1 (generally)

WAR SOUND, 1 point win, 11/1 (generally)