Oodachee to break my duck

Charlie Swan'sSelections

2.00Catch Me is a horse I've always liked, even when he was racing on the flat. I also think it's a big pointer that Edward O'Grady has waited when he could have run him in the first race yesterday. I rode plenty of winners for him and when he fancies one, they are never far away. Aran Concerto looks a very good horse but there must be a small worry about Paul Carberry not being able to ride him. Tony McCoy is a great jockey too but they are completely different riders and having to switch on the big day is not ideal.

Maybe Noel should have asked me!

Verdict:Catch Me

2.35Denman looks a good thing. He is a serious horse who seems to have everything: he jumps, stays and has a wonderful cruising speed. He's also got Ruby (Walsh) on his back, a plus for any horse. Of the others, Dom d'Orgeval looks to have an obvious chance of running in the first three, and anyone looking for a long price might settle for Patsy Hall, who won here in November, or Gazza's Girl, who won't mind the tiring conditions.

Verdict:Denman

3.15The ground is drying out all the time and that makes me think Newmill can win again. Well Chief has always been a class horse and he was the one I thought everyone had to beat. But with the ground the way it is now, I can see Newmill getting the better of him. My worry for John Murphy's runner was that very soft ground would catch out his jumping. That shouldn't be a problem now. Like the other two, Voy Por Ustedes has course form and that is always a big thing around Cheltenham. But is he good enough to win a race like this? I doubt it.

Verdict:Newmill

4.00The way the ground is going, I give Oulart an each way chance. Dessie Hughes's horse won the Pertemps a couple of years ago and if it keeps drying, it will be good for him.

It would be great fun if Baron De Feypo won for Oliver Brady but in a very open race I rate The Spoonplayer as a good each way bet. He had a good run at Christmas where he had form with New Field and that one was one of the favourites except he didn't get into the race.

Verdict:The Spoonplayer

4.40I run Oodachee in this race and he is really, really well. I reckon he has a good each-way chance. He has run here four times and never been out of the first three. Last year he was third in the Pertemps so the distance won't be a problem. My concern was very testing ground but the more it dries out the better.

Another Irish horse with a little chance is Ponmeoath. He looks well enough in and he jumps well.

Liberthine has a good record around here and looks the one we all have to beat but I reckon I have a decent chance of a first winner here as a trainer.

Verdict:Oodachee

5.20There's no real form linking the Irish horses so we don't know if they're good or just average. Horses can look impressive on heavy ground and fool you. But I liked Aranleigh when he won and I will stick with him. Fiveforthree looks the best of Willie's and Enquiring Mind beat De Valira in a bumper. Jamie Spencer on his back will be an obvious help.

Verdict:Aranleigh