What a four days it was down at Cheltenham last week with some thoroughly compelling racing around Prestbury Park. A few of my personal highlights were the performances of Samcro and the mighty Altior whilst the bravery of Native River will long live in the memory.
It's a case of coming back down to earth today as the UK and Ireland have been left with dustings of snow over the weekend resulting in Kelso and Southwell being forced to abandon their meetings. My selection today comes from across the Irish Sea at Limerick where I'm fancying Gordon Elliott to keep up his fine run of form after claiming the Cheltenham Festival top trainer title.
The last race of today sees seven runners go to post in the 2m Flat race for 5-7yos and it is something of a recurring theme of last week with Mullins and Elliott once again locking horns with them both having the two short priced favourites at the top of the market. However, it's Gordon's 6yo gelding WARLIKE INTENT who has caught my attention.
He's only raced once previously under rules which came back in November at Clonmel when this son of Stowaway lined up in a bumper as the 5/6 market favourite facing six rivals. He travelled well that day and stayed on strongly to beat second-placed Allardyce by a really impressive 13 lengths. There was lots to like about the ease in which he got the job done that day and he looked as if he could be one to keep on side in the future.
The main competition today looks to be from Willie Mullins' Clinton Hill who was a winner at Thurles last month. However, I feel Gordon's inmate will have too much for his rivals today and the ease in which he won by last time out gives me confidence that he is a progressive type and can get the job done this evening.