Classy Lounaos has done everything right

Charlie Swan's Selections: 2.00:My bet of the week is Lounaos. She will be a different class from these. Her performance last year in winning the Leopardstown November Handicap as a three-year-old with a big weight was exceptional.

Over hurdles, she has done everything right and looks to have had an ideal preparation. That fourth in the Irish Champion Hurdle was a great effort for a novice. The only one that might get close to her is Mountain, but he has had only one run over hurdles and experience is a big thing around here.

Verdict:Lounaos

2.35:Wichita Lineman looks a bit of a good thing too. All the form certainly suggests he will win, and however you look at it he should be very hard to beat.

Black Harry did look best of the Irish, but he was so impressive on heavy ground you would have to wonder how he will do on this better going. Leading Run looks like he will spend the race jumping to his right, which is no good around here, so maybe Hairy Molly will be the best of ours despite having only two runs over hurdles.

Verdict:Wichita Lineman

3.15:Everything looks to have come in Kauto Star's favour. The better ground certainly gives him more of a chance of getting the trip. But he will have to stay, because stamina is always important in the Gold Cup.

Exotic Dancer must have a good chance too. He seems to be improving, and if there is one to beat Kauto Star it looks like him. In fact, the favourite will probably be a very short price, so I'll go with Jonjo's horse.

Verdict:Exotic Dancer

4.00:I wouldn't like to take too short a price about Whyso Mayo either, because he does have a habit of missing one out in every race. That said, he has done nothing else wrong and will be hard to beat. Control Man hasn't run in a year, but he used to be a good horse for Martin Pipe and might be each-way value.

Verdict:Whyso Mayo

4.40:This will be Ground Ball's fourth time to run in the Grand Annual. He was fifth last year and was second to St Pirran in 2004. He's well exposed and had not really been himself this season, apart from one nice run over hurdles. He jumps fine and we're just hoping for the best.

Saintsaire is being spoken of as a handicap good thing, and I know Nicky Henderson always thought he was a good horse. But I suspect there might be a hole in there somewhere and Hasty Prince's form behind Dempsey now looks pretty good after the Champion Chase.

Verdict:Hasty Prince

5.20:Fair Along ended up running a good race in the Arkle after having a problem at the start, and it's a good sign that Philip Hobbs is allowing him run again. Pedrobob might be a better each-way option than New Field the way the weights have come out, with Desert Quest on top.

Verdict:Fair Along