Horse Racing: Albuhera on Course to Be the Victor

A week on from his record-breaking six winners at Wincanton, Paul Nicholls is without his number one jockey, Ruby Walsh, at Cheltenham today - the latter faces a month on the sidelines after aggravating an old injury in a fall at Gowran Park on Thursday. But the in-form trainer could hardly have come up with a better substitute for Albuhera in the Victor Chandler Chase than Barry Geraghty.

A horse who travels strongly in his races and is suited by decent ground, Albuhera (2.10) looks the perfect vehicle for Geraghty, whose sympathetic riding style mirrors that of the unlucky Walsh. Off a handy weight and from a stable setting a scorching pace to its rivals, Albuhera has plenty going for him.

The Victor Chandler Chase has favoured lightly raced sorts - five of the last seven winners had run no more than six times over fences previously. In just five chase starts, Albuhera has attained a high level of form and it was a fine effort to finish runner-up to Mister McGoldrick on the latter's favourite course in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby.

The top-weight, now 11lbs worse off with Albuhera, has not looked the same horse in two runs at Cheltenham. And it remains to be seen if the undulations of Prestbury Park suit Dempsey, who has done all his winning on right-hand racecourses.

Southwell 2.25: The handicapper has given a chance to Jakari, who is now 9lbs lower in the ratings than when fifth to Kelami at the Cheltenham Festival last season. His latest run at Sandown was most encouraging.

Cheltenham 2.45: The progressive Attorney General strode up the hill in tremendous style when defying 11st 12lbs in a handicap here last time and gets weight from his main rivals today, of whom Mighty Man looks the pick.

Cheltenham 3.20: Class is required to win this recognised Gold Cup trial. The last 10 winners have been rated at least 160, and on that basis it should pay to concentrate on Celestial Gold and Royal Auclair. The latter is held by Take The Stand on last season's Gold Cup running, but overall Royal Auclair is the more reliable jumper and he can give the Nicholls stable another big-race victory. Celestial Gold disappointed in the Gold Cup, but had looked a potential top-notcher when beating Ollie Magern and Royal Auclair (now 8lbs better for under 3l) in last season's Hennessy.

Southwell 3.35: Unlucky at Taunton, where he came down at the last fence when 6l clear, Direct Flight looks set to make amends on this return to hurdling.

Cheltenham 3.55: Sooner or later the handicapper will get the measure of Fondmort, but Nicky Henderson's course specialist looks capable of defying a 5lbs hike for his latest course-and-distance victory.