Nico de Boinville: “After his return, we are hugely looking forward to this”

Cheltenham

1.55pm

Mengli Khan

He was a very good horse on his day when with Gordon Elliott, finishing third in a Supreme and a JLT here, and he has shaped well when runner-up in a couple of jumpers’ bumpers for us of late. I think the handicapper has actually given us a fair chance with a mark of 142, and decent ground is probably a plus, too. I can see him going well with the cheekpieces back on. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.

3.05pm

Champ

After his return to action over 2m in the Game Spirit at Newbury, we are hugely looking forward to this. We are under no illusions about how hard a task he faces – Al Boum Photo is going for an unbelievable third straight win in the race, for starters – but we have every reason to go into the race full of hope, if not confidence. I was thrilled and delighted in equal measure, and maybe a touch surprised, by just how well he travelled against specialist two-milers at Newbury, and of course last year’s RSA win pointed to a horse who would be suited by the Gold Cup trip. I am happy with the ground for him, so let’s see what he can do on the big stage. His stablemate Santini loves it around here, and was just beaten a neck in this race last year. He hasn’t run up to his best this season but we know Cheltenham brings out the best in him and Aidan could have a very good spin on him around here if the first-time visor does the trick. Unibet's 15 To Go Offer is running on all Cheltenham Festival races.

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