Three Stars To Follow On Their Seasonal Debut At Cheltenham This Weekend

On the Friday at Cheltenham the Maiden Hurdle half way through through the card could be a very imformative race for the season and the Olly Murphy trained Champagnesuperover could be a potential star.

The five year old gelding has been seen twice in bumpers last season, bolting up at Ayr in soft ground on debut by over 16 lengths and then finishing third in a better race next time out.

His third at Newbury was behind the smart Ocean Wind, who went on to finish sixth of 23 runners in the Champion Bumper last term.

The son of Jeremy looks a nice gelding in the making and if taking to hurdles is on to keep on side for the season.

In the first race of the day on Saturday Allmankind for Dan Skelton is back and ready for a big season over hurdles and coming back to Cheltenham, where he has performed well in all his races so far in his career looks a smart starting point.

The four year old was a flat recruit who came to the Skelton yard with a couple of screws loose. He did everything wrong at Warwick and still comfortably won by a massive 37 lengths.

With the prospect of something special on their hands the yard churned him out again 8 days later in a Grade Two Triumph Hurdle Trial and once again he pulled himself to the front but his engine carried him home over two miles at Prestbury Park.

He landed his first Grade One on his next start at Chepstow, seeing off a talented field and that set him perfectly for the Triumph Hurdle at the festival where he was a tired third.

He was slightly outclassed in the race but he still holds all of his potential and should make a bold start to the season in the Matheson Hurdle.

The final runner we believe could have a decent season off the back of his debut on Saturday is Copperhead for Colin Tizzard who looks to be starting out over hurdles before going over fences.

A horse that really came from nowhere last season as Copperhead went from strength to strength when tackling fences, but when heavily punted on for the RSA Novices' Chase at the festival, was outclassed and fell.

He made his chase debut at Chepstow last October and needed the run to really get use to the bigger obstacles but since then was unbeaten on all of his three outings before the RSA.

He got off the mark at Wincanton when stepping over three miles for the first time in his career from there landed a nice contest at Newbury, but gave a career best effort at Ascot to land the Grade Two Reynoldstown Novices Chase.

Although not performing is the RSA which tuurned out to be one of the races of the festival, he is still set for a big season this term and with his trainer sending him over hurdles to start with it looks as though he needs a little confidence booster.