We’re up and running with a brilliant first day of the Open Meeting in the can at Cheltenham, with Razor Royale bagging the biggie he’s always threatened and Henry de Bromhead’s Loosen The Load staking his claim as a hurdler to follow this season (at over 18 hands he’s going to be some chaser under big weights with a penalty in his novice campaign), followed by banks specialist Garde Champetre stealing the show in the Cross Country race. All that despite the rain.

It’s brilliant being back at Cheltenham with its lively, friendly, knowledgeable crowd, and on Saturday afternoon they can profit from backing Irish raider Northern Alliance in the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup at 2.35pm.

Plenty of positives to recommend this horse with too: in good form this year in all disciplines having being at least placed on the flat, over hurdles and fences in recent times, he took the Guinness Kerry National at the Listowel Festival last time out in the hands of Ruby Walsh, beating a solid yard stick in the shape of veteran Church Island.

Paul Carberry resumes his partnership with the eight year old this time, and this sound jumper who has won three of his seven chase starts can land a major prize here.
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