Nico de Boinville: “We could not have been more delighted with his Christmas Hurdle defeat of Golden Ace.”

12.05pm Cheltenham

Califet En Vol

A really good novice hurdler, who returned home very sore after his final run at Aintree in Grade 1 company, we have been satisfied with his two runs in small field novices’ chases around here. We’d like to think a mark of 137 is workable judged on his hurdling form, and his potential in this sphere, and soft ground should be fine for him. I think he has a good chance in an obviously competitive race.

3pm Cheltenham

Sir Gino

Everyone knows the story of why we came back to hurdling this season with him, and we could not have been more delighted with his Christmas Hurdle defeat of Golden Ace. It was pretty much flawless, with the exception of one minor mistake maybe, and that was after a year absence, so he was entitled to be rusty. Of course, we greatly respect The New Lion, a Cheltenham Festival winner who was still in there pitching when falling 2 out in the Fighting Fifth won by Golden Ace, but we are obviously hopeful he can maintain his unbeaten tag. He really is an exciting horse.

3.35pm Cheltenham

Impose Toi

He has stepped it up with each run this season, and he saw off Strong Leader and Honesty Policy pretty smoothy in the Long Walk Hurdle last time, a race in which recent Windsor winner Potters Charm was beaten a fair way in fourth. We know we have a big improver on our hands, we know he has Cheltenham form, and hopefully he can take another step towards the Festival here. But he does have a 6lb penalty and maybe slightly better ground would be preferable for him.

4.10pm Cheltenham

Act Of Innocence

He was very impressive in a good time on his debut for us at Newbury but things didn’t go to plan back there last time, when he was beaten at long odds-on. But the winner could be a very good juvenile and we were giving him 18lb – he runs earlier on in the card – and we were well clear of the third, and maybe that defeat showed us he will be better off over this longer trip. I certainly wouldn’t be losing faith in him just yet.