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In the first, Inglis Drever has done nothing wrong this season, a few millimetres of rain overnight would not harm its chances. The same would apply to main rival Sadlers Wings.

Everything seems perfect for Our Vic's chances in the race. THe ground appears to have gones against Royal Emperor and Rule Supreme. Mick Fitzgerald on Calling Brave does not appear to be at his best having just come back from injury. Lord Sam's form has got a boost from the win of Fork Lightning. It has to be remembered that the Alan King horse is improving. Pizzaro has not been impressive enough to suggest that it could win this without mishap to the favourite.

The Queen Mother looks a two horse race. I hope so having taken that position from the start of the season.

The Coral Cup is tight. Monkerhostin is the only horse to have come out of the strongly run Tote Gold Trophy and run well so far. Dromlease Express is improving fast so being 6lb out of the handicap may not be a problem. The extra trip should suit.

The 4m National Hunt Challenge Cup is often a tricky race. Silver Birch ran well behind a less than fluent Fork Lightning at Wincanton last month. It is improving and has excellent "amateur" Derek O'Connor on its back. Native Emperor is of similar ability to last year's winner Sudden Shock. Stable companion Drombeag has not had a hard season. The ground could be just that little bit too lively for Satco Express.

If Iznogoud gets a similar quiet ride as when beating Zaffamore and Avalanche at Kempton it will take the world of beating, the ground is ideal. Tikram with Timmy Murphy on board will almost certainly be held up.

The Bumper looks very tight. If the ground remains good it will not help matters as most form available is with give in the ground. Should be a good race to watch for the future though.

Cheltenham. Wednesday highlights

Not a bad day most of the winners were backable. Had a possible stroke of good fortune having backed Rule Supreme Antepost. Though it has to be said my other antepost bets on the event were Royal Emperor and Calling Brave.

• The Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle winner, Fundamentalist 150, travelled well throughout. It led after two out, crashed through the last but did not lose much momentum and kept on well to hold off Inglis Drever. The winner had run in two relatively slowly run races previously, the strong gallop here brough the best out of it. Its lead had been reduced at the line but this was not a case of it stopping. Will pencil in 158 for next time 3m is not a problem despite its defeat at that trip. Inglis Drever 151 met the second last wrong and lost 3 lengths on the winner at that stage. It did well to come back. It was its first battle over hurdles it can only benefit for the experience. The ground would have been lively enough. Grey Report 145 has steadily improved throughout the season. It made the running again here until headed by the winner. It kept on well for a respectable third. Always going to find it difficult to make the running against quality opposition. May be switched to fences next season, if it can jump its pace will make it hard to catch. Comply or Die outpaced when the race began in earnest downhill stayed on well again for fourth. Both Big Moment 140 and Sadlers Wings 140 kept on at one pace without threatening. Both have been rumoured to have been under a cloud recently. The latter would have preferred more give under underfoot. Tighten Your Belt 135 a horse for the future over fences ran its best race to date.
• The Royal SunAlliance Novices' Chase was a strongly run race. The first two home had put up the best times this season though on slower ground. The fact that the gallop was strong from the start made all the difference to their chances. Mossy Green 142 made most of the running until headed and falling two out. Our Vic 152 took up the running at this stage but had been raced in a close second from early on after after jumping indifferently at the first few fences. This was a contrast to the excellent ride given to the horse by Timmy Murphy at Ascot albeit against inferior horses. It's exertions took their toll and it look tired at the last when joined by Royal Emperor 156 and the staying on Rule Supreme 155. Despite Tony McCoy's urgings, Our Vic could only stay on at the one pace. Rule Supreme took an advantage on the uphill slog to the finish and stayed in front. Royal Emperor bravely kept on to no avail. Unfortunately its promising young jockey, Dominic Elsworth, had dropped his whip before the third last and had to resort to slapping its quarters to persuade it to catch the David Casey ridden winner. Of the others Pizarro 149 had been under pressure before two out. It was unfortunately brought down there by Mossy Green. No more more than four lengths of the lead at that stage it still had every chance. Have taken the view that it would have only finished a close fourth but will treat it with respect in the future. Certainly of more interest is the performance of Calling Brave 156. It was travelling better than anything when meeting four out all wrong and dumping Mick FitzGerald. Can do no other than rate it as joint best in the race. It might be better suited to flat courses. The Hennessey might be an early season target depending on the handicapper. It does have enough speed to have an excellent chance in the King George. The first two are basically out and out stayers. Willie Mullins trainer of the winner, was dismissive of its ability to jump fences and nominated the stayers' hurdles as next season's target. Unlucky runner-up Royal Emperor would have benefitted from more give, it was under pressure on the second circuit to keep up with the demanding pace. Staying handicaps Welsh National, Grand National etc are likely to be on the agenda next season. If it were to come up soft for next year's Gold Cup it could not be ruled out for a place at least.
• The Queen Mother Champion Chase was one of the biggest let downs of the season. For a start the early gallop was ordinary resulting in a low winning rating for Azertyuiop 153. The major disappointment was that Moscow Flyer met the fourth last all wrong and its jockey was rudely decanted. It had not jumped fluently prior to this. Barry Geraghty should have taken the bull by the horns and gone in front early on. When winning the 2002 Arkle it was uncatchable, the horse responds to being in a proper race. His indecision surely transmitted to the horse. With regard to determining the best horse of the two, this race would have been a travesty in terms of a decent time even if Moscow Flyer had not come down. As for the race itself Azertyuiop could do no more than win. Flagship Uberalles 136 kept on for a distant second ahead of Tiutchev. Venn Ottery travelled extremely well but weakened up the hill, had it worn a tongue tie I believe it would have finished third at least if not second. Octogenarian owner, Oliver Carter, intefered with the declarations process rather than leaving it to the competent Nicholls team. The result was that the tongue tie was not declared. In preferring Timmy Murphy to stable jockey Joe Tizzard, that was his perogative and I would not argue with the decision after watching its defeat at Market Rasen.
• The Coral Cup was its usual competitive affair. The gallop was hot the early front runners all folded. Monkerhostin 150 won it, despite having a hard season which has included a third in the strongly run Tote Gold Trophy. Demonstrating its toughness, it has managed to fit in an easy win in Kempton's Gd2 Rendlesham hurdle before contesting this event. Last away at the start. Richard Johnson gradually threaded his way through the field on the second circuit and took it up travelling well soon after the second last. It kept on well to the line followed by huge odds outsider Court Shareef 139 who had the ability on flat form but had not raced to this level over hurdles previously. Rhinestone Cowboy 165 stayed on for third. Slower ground would have help but for the weight concession. It would seem that three miles will beckon next year. Mughas 142 tapped for toe coming down the hill had its run stopped on the final turn it kept on for fourth. Emotional Moment 131 and Aine Dubh 131 ran with credit behind the placed horses. Galileo (POL) winner of the 2002 Royal & SunAlliance finished down the field but showed some promise for the future. Dromlease Express finished last. Never travelling that well one has to presume the quicker ground was to blame.
• Native Emperor 141 won the four mile National Hunt Challenge Cup having been cooly held up in the rear. Just after four out saw the Pipe trained Celestial Gold 139, who had finished over a distance behind the winner in both of its previous two races, go clear. Robert Widger on the winner, was still some way off the pace but found his move forward blocked by the struggling Mister Banjo 124 at this time. Switched to the outside then, Native Emperor made ground down the hill but was still a long way behind the runaway leader when making a mistake two out. On the final turn it was ten lengths down and reduced that to five at the last. With the bit between its teeth it charged up the hill and caught the runaway leader going away to win by nearly two lengths. Drombeag 129 kept on for third, ahead of Silver Birch 124, Abbeytown 121, Dear Deal 126, Mister Banjo 123 and Satco Express 124. The latter two almost certainly would have been happier on soft ground.
• The Mildmay of Flete was run at a furious gallop. Much to my dismay Iznogoud 141 was in the front rank from the start. Tony McCoy kicked for home at the top of the hill and it held its advantage till the flat. Tikram 142 quietly ridden by Timmy Murphy in the rear was still nine lengths off the lead when jumping two out. The strong gallop took its toll and it was able to close rapidly on the principal contenders coming to the last. Jumping the last well Tikram collared Iznogoud, who had nothing left in the tank to respond, halfway up the run-in and soon drew clear. Fondmort 162 kept on third anchored by its top weight, though a welcome good performance for Mick FitzGerald.
• The Championship Bumper was strongly run and is sure to provide many future winners next season. Total Enjoyment 136, Refinement 132 Master Albert 134 and Royal Paradise 132 were the first four home. The latter two staying on after being outpaced.