Nico de Boinville: “He certainly has the ability to figure here”

Cheltenham

12:40pm

Attacca

Runner-up in what looks like a decent bumper at Warwick back in March, I was impressed by him when he won on his hurdling debut at Kempton. The second looks a fair horse, and we pulled well clear of the third.  He carries a 6lb penalty in a much better race here, so this will tell us a lot more about him.

13:15

Mister Coffey

He has missed a couple of planned engagements this season but he mixed it in some good company last season, albeit at a respectful distance behind L’Homme Presse in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles, and finished an excellent second in the Kim Muir here. On the latter run, he obviously has a very solid chance and he has gone well when fresh in the past. The rest of the field are out of the handicap too, but they are in-form, race-fit horses.

14:25

Dominateur

This looks a very strong handicap and Dominateur will need to leave his reappearance run well behind him to figure here. But Ben is having a brilliant season, especially with his chasers, and this horse was entitled to need the run after a very long absence last time. He was also dropped 4lb for it, and a mark of 123 is very attractive on his form of a few years ago. But he has it to prove here, clearly.

15:35

Dusart

He was actually in the Many Clouds at the five-day stage last week, but we have decided to start him off over hurdles. He is 5lb lower in this sphere than he is over fences and he certainly has the ability to figure here, given his progressive and attractive chasing profile, and hopefully having his wind and back done in the summer will help him improve further, too. But a solid first run back will suit us here, to be honest, and winning will be a bonus.