At this time of year Cheltenham, less than a fortnight away, proves something of a distraction and this year the distraction is compounded by the fact this is A P McCoy's valedictory Festival.
To my mind the champ has never quite left his mark on the meeting in the way, say, as Ruby Walsh has in the past. I can still recall his anguish when Gloria Victis fell fatally two from home in the 2000 running of the Gold Cup won by Looks Like Trouble.
Along with the rest of us, McCoy will want a winner at the meeting but in recent days equine partners have proved particularly unhelpful with More Of That (World Hurdle) and Aurore D'Estruval (Mares' Hurdle) both declared out of the reckoning.
McCoy goes to Doncaster tomorrow but doesn't have a ride in the feature Grimthorpe Chase at 3.45.
Last year's winner Night In Milan tries to repeat the trick this year off a mark ten pounds higher.
With Cheltenham taking up a lot of time, I haven't done much work on the race.
Two who come to this relatively fresh are Super Duty and Samingarry. The former caught the eye in a Wetherby hurdle last month - his first racecourse appearance for over a year - while the latter ran well for a long way at Carlisle the last day; both are likely to appreciate better ground.
At the prices Samingarry (12/1) makes more appeal as an each-way wager; handler Nigel Hawke has the Scottish National as the target for his charge.
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Something of a shock in this with 25/1 chance Wayward Prince claiming the spoils; he held Drop Out Joe (9/2jf) seven lengths with Night In Milan (5/1) third.
Selection Samingarry (14/1) didn't jump particularly well - he struggled to lie up with the leaders and came home sixth.
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