Take 8-1 about Ferny Hollow for the Arkle now – it’s excellent value

THIS is going to be the most informative weekend of the season so far for Cheltenham clues. As good as today is with a terrific Tingle Creek in store at Sandown, tomorrow is going to be even better. You will need eyes in the back of your head to get to grips with everything that is going on.

Could Nube take advantage of undercooked Chacun?

We will, however, start at Sandown. The Betfair Tingle Creek Chase

(2.25) sees Chacun Pour Soi return to action. Well, hopefully he will anyway. Willie Mullins is an incredibly patient man so to my mind there must still be a bit of a doubt whether he will run given Sandown has missed most of the rain they were hoping for.

Even if he does run, I would have my doubts about whether we will see him at his best and I won’t be backing him at evens.

A Plus Tard, a Gold Cup horse, beat him over 2m1f on his first run back two seasons ago and I wasn’t overly impressed with the way he got the job done in the Hilly Way at Cork last year either. Presumably, Patrick Mullins will try to bounce out and make all so I think the race could be teed up perfectly for a race-fit Nube Negra.

Even though Nube Negra is probably best fresh, he had an easy time of it in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last month and didn’t have to work too hard to land the spoils, so there is no reason to think that effort would have a negative impact on his Tingle Creek claims.

The Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (1.50) will boil down to whether Third Time Lucki can conserve his energy better than he has done so far over fences.

He needs to settle better, either doing so while held up or making the running, not somewhere in between the two. He is simply wasting too much energy in the middle part of his races and that will cost him on the big days, perhaps in this or the Arkle at Cheltenham.

He is an exceptional jumper, but he needs to channel his ability in the best possible way.

Earlier, I’ll be keeping a close eye on how Might I gets on in the opener (12.05). My old pal David Jennings has tipped him for the Ballymore on our Upping The Ante show so I hope he wins it for his sake.

I told you last week about Elimay’s chances of going one better in the Paddy Power Mares’ Chase in March and she should enhance those claims in the Unibet Houghton Mares’ Chase (12.20) at Aintree, a week later than originally planned at Carlisle.

White Pepper might not win a Triumph Hurdle, but hopefully she is good enough to win the Listed juvenile hurdle on the same card (1.30). The soft ground is ideal.

I’m not convinced Protektorat stays three miles so he doesn’t look an overly solid favourite in the Unibet Many Clouds Chase (2.05). He was doing all his best work late in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but we still require proof he gets this far. It is also worth keeping an eye out to see whether Tiger Roll finishes out his race looking ahead to the Cross Country at Cheltenham.

It should be all about Eric Bloodaxe at Navan

Meanwhile, closer to home at Navan, I think Eric Bloodaxe will have too many gears for Ginto in the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle (12.33).

Eric Bloodaxe is 16-1 for the Albert Bartlett and that seems fair value, while race rival Mr Fred Rogers could be one to go down the Pertemps route as he seems to be crying out for three miles.

All eyes will be on Burning Victory in the Bective Stud Handicap Hurdle (1.08), and if she jumps adequately she should win off 143. She has the engine to be a player in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, but her jumping really does need to improve.

Riviere D’Etel brings a touch of class to the Grade 3 Klairon Davis Novice Chase (1.43). She produced a pair of good speed figures in her two wins over fences, but she did jump to her right when running over hurdles at Navan and I’ll be keeping a close eye on whether she stays straight this time.

Moment of truth for Envoi and Fakir can keep him honest

Willie Mullins is responsible for seven of the ten runners in the John Durkan (2.00) at Punchestown tomorrow, yet he is still odds-on not to win it.

One thing is for sure, we will find out whether Envoi Allen is back to himself as this really is a hot running. Fakir D’Oudairies impressed me at Clonmel last time and he will keep him honest.

Allaho’s first-time-out record worries me. He’s been beaten on his return to action for the last three seasons, including in this very race last year when 34 lengths adrift of the winner. That said, even if beaten here, he remains a leading contender for the Ryanair.

Ferny Hollow makes his eagerly awaited debut over fences in the BetVictor Beginners Chase (2.35). His price ranges between 7-1 and 8-1 for the Arkle at the time of writing and that is excellent value.

He is an exceptional horse who has already beaten Appreciate It and Bob Olinger. I’m guessing as to whether he will jump well or not, but ante-post punting is all about guessing and that 8-1 for the Arkle is very generous.

Energumene can enhance Champion Chase credentials

Down in Cork, Champion Green is a fascinating jumping recruit in the opening juvenile maiden hurdle (11.40). He may not win this weekend, but is certainly a horse to keep an eye on.

Kilcruit will be a short price to oblige in the first division of the 2m maiden hurdle (12.10). I think he should be favourite for the Supreme ahead of Jonbon and, if he jumps well, that will surely be the case come tomorrow night.

Dysart Dynamo is another novice I like in the second division (12.40). A keen sort, who is wearing a tongue-tie for the first time, he has a lot of ability and is 16-1 for the Supreme and the Ballymore.

It is great to see Concertista running in the Grade 2 mares’ novice chase (1.45), but she faces a difficult assignment against Magic Daze, who will try to make all and could be very difficult to catch. The time of her course-and-distance win last month was very good, and she’s 20-1 for the Arkle.

If I had to back something for the Champion Chase ahead of this weekend’s action it would be Energumene, who returns in the Hilly Way Chase (2.20). He will be long odds-on there and should get the job done. He is 5-1 for March and that is more than fair.

He’s really exciting and should run a massive race in the Queen Mother.

Those who lost a few bob on Oscar Elite at Cheltenham’s November meeting will surely be rowing in behind him again in the longdistance novice chase (12.47) at Huntingdon, while the performance of Funambule Sivola in the Peterborough Chase (1.52) will provide us with more clarity about Shishkin’s display at Aintree last April when Venetia Williams’ sixyear-old was second. This is his first try in open company against Allmankind and Master Tommytucker. It’s a race that will take a bit of winning.

There will be lots to ponder come tomorrow night while I’m pretending to watch I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

Gavin’s punting pointer

Stick to novices in handicap chases at the Cheltenham Festival. They won all five in 2020 and three out of four in 2021. Of those eight winners, five were seven-year-olds and three were eight, and their ratings ranged from 139 to 152.

It’s understandable too as novices are still on the rise come March and their peak rating hasn’t been reached yet.

Happy punting.