Newbury Preview: Truckers Tavern got his act together in no uncertain terms last time and can book his ticket to the Cheltenham festival by following up at Newbury today.
He has long been perceived as a star in the making when asked to tackle trips of three miles plus and he put up his best performance so far when making the most of a handy weight allowance to get the better of Hussard Collonges in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock last month.
He put in a perfectly adequate round of jumping over the stiff fences of the Merseyside track, showing the benefit of some intensive schooling from jumping guru Yogi Breisner, to whom he was sent after a first-fence mishap at Ascot.
Ferdy Murphy feels the Phardante gelding has improved again and a clear round will make him hard to beat in the AON Chase, a recognised trial for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, which will be the next stop for Truckers Tavern if all goes according to plan.
Benbyas should give each-way backers a big run for their money in the Tote Gold Trophy. He is a tough little horse and, though he generally finds one or two too good, his form in big handicaps is hard to fault, as witnessed by his third to Copeland and Rooster Booster in this valuable race 12 months ago.
He is in good heart and did little wrong when second in a 15-runner Cheltenham handicap under a big weight on his latest start. He is sure to be up there making it and it will be no surprise if he goes a place or two better than last year.
Cenkos is a leading contender for for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival and he can take the Sodexho Prestige Game Spirit Chase on the way. Paul Nicholls's nine year old was far too good for a Tingle Creek Trophy field which included Edredon Bleu and Flagship Uberalles last time.
Hugo De Grez, conqueror of Truckers Tavern on his reappearance at Kelso, would be better served over longer than the 2½ miles of the Ben Nevis Handicap Chase at Ayr but he is still the pick at the Scottish track. He is on a roll after notching two successive victories and the ground will certainly put stamina at a premium.
