Racing Cheltenham previewBarry Geraghty is a man to have on your side for the big occasion, and he certainly enjoyed a fine time of things last weekend courtesy of the brilliant duo Moscow Flyer and Kicking King.
The man from Meath will be aboard a big-priced runner when he partners Mossy Green for Willie Mullins in today's bonusprint.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
There is, however, every reason to believe the 10-year-old will give Geraghty another major prize, as he has plenty of form to his name to suggest he has been overpriced by some bookmakers.
He was one of the best staying novices around last season, and was in the process of running a huge race in the Royal and SunAlliance Chase at the Festival when he came down with two to jump.
Whether he would have won is a matter for conjecture, but he would almost certainly have been in the frame - a cracking effort when one considers that Our Vic, hot favourite for today's race, was third.
The pair ran off level weights that day, whereas Mossy Green is in receipt of 9lb this time.
Another fine effort was his head second to Pizarro in Grade One company at Leopardstown, while he wasn't far behind Kicking King over an inadequate trip at the same track.
Another fall followed his Cheltenham effort, but he got his confidence back when chasing home Murphy's Cardinal at Down Royal, and enjoyed a nice prep for this when making all over hurdles at Fairyhouse a couple of weeks ago.
He has precious few miles on the clock for a horse of his age and sneaks in today as something of a forgotten horse. But Mossy Green has a top man on board and the likely furious pace should make this particular two miles five furlongs ideal.
Back In Front can can score a great victory in the totesport Bula Hurdle for Edward O'Grady.
His seven-year-old was a breathtaking winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle here in 2003 when he cruised home by fully 10 lengths from Kicking King.
Time is probably going to tell that he faced an impossible task in trying to give Harchibald 5lb at Punchestown last month.
He did well in the circumstances to get within a length and a half of the Champion Hurdle favourite - an imperious winner since - and is expected to advertise that form further with victory on a track Back In Front will have fond memories of.
Monet's Garden has a major chance for the Cumbrian yard of Nicky Richards in the Relkeel Hurdle over an extended two miles five furlongs.
The six-year-old son of Roselier is going to make a chaser before too long, but he stuck to hurdles on his seasonal debut and beat the useful Monkerhostin by four lengths in a Grade Two event at Windsor last month.
Carte Diamond had trainer Brian Ellison purring after winning on his jumps debut at Newcastle last month and the three-year-old looks a banker in the Grade Two Summit Junior Hurdle at Lingfield Park.
