Cheltenham Festival 2013 - National Hunt Chase

1.30 Cheltenham Festival (Day 2, Race 1)

John Oaksey National Hunt Chase (amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Class 2)  (5YO plus)

Winner £50,966

Advice: 2 pts win Back In Focus (9/4 general), 1 pt win Godsmejudge (7/1 general)

Back In Focus: Only the six runs under rules but showed huge engine and major potential when beating Court In Motion by 6 lengths with ease in 3m Haydock Grade 2 (heavy); Presumably not back right when he was absent for 15 months after running on fast ground in 3m Grade 1, but showed what he’s all about again when winning on chasing debut by 33 lengths; Made to work much harder for his win in Punchestown Grade 2 over Lyreen Legend but step up in trip helped him when winning Topaz in Ireland over Christmas; Quicker ground than is ideal for him but step up in trip to four miles a big help and sets a high standard based on last two runs; Hard to beat.

Buddy Bolero: Plenty to like about the way he brushed aside his rivals in 2m7f Leicester handicap (heavy, moderate mark); Hinted at inexperience and will surely get better for the longer trip today, but this a far better class of race for him to deal with today; Solid chance if not taken aback by test of pace early on.

Drawn N Drank: 3m handicap chase win at Limerick came off a mark off just 103 and that plainly not good enough for this level.

Emperors Choice: Has become very progressive after taking some time to find feet over fences, making it a hat trick when outstaying all rivals to win well contested Lingfield handicap.

Godsmejudge: Found new lease of life over fences after two moderate efforts on first two starts, winning Folkestone 3m chase in good style and then being only just run out of Classic Chase at Warwick, having nearly run rivals ragged from the front; Easier task in 3m2f race there latest and big chance today.

Hawkes Point: Lightly raced and still very promising, having won point in style of good horse before showing flashes of promise in 3m hurdles; No shame in being ran over by Harry Topper at Exeter and should stay well enough but others preferred here.

Heathyards Flyer: Only the one point win from eight attempts but only narrowly defied when trying to land odds of 100-1 in 4m1f hunter chase here last May; Off since and that a big negative in stronger race.

Highland Lodge: Always shaped as a chaser in waiting and huge impression when winning over 3m1f here in December, but not at best since, disappointing at Warwick (second bad run when fancied there) and found to be suffering with Ulcers at Exeter latest.

Our Island: Finally off the mark when winning minor Kelso novice in October and third in 4m Exeter handicap shows he stays, but 25-1 and well-beaten eighth of ten finishers in this race last year.

Present To You: Only win over fences came when n scraping home in minor 3m4f Stratford handicap in November (soft) and this so much better.

Rival D’Esturaval: Only defeats over fences came to Bold Sir Brian and Pacha Du Polder, both pretty useful types who carries more speed than this once; Very impressive at Kelso latest (nearly 2m7f, soft) and should have best bought of him by this test (staying pedigree); Laid out for this, and will go well.

Rose Of The Moon: Hinted he might be staying chaser when staying-on eighth in the 2m4f Martin Pipe over hurdles two years ago and 3m3f Sedgefield success shows he can get this trip; Interesting.

Scared Mountain: Can’t expect much of him.

Scampi Boy: Sole win came in m5f maiden hurdle three years ago and one chase run was poor.

Tofino Bay: Smart hurdler when he put his mind to it (comprehensive win at Punchestown Festival his best success) and already bettered that over fences when taking Troytown Handicap Chase on just his third start over big obstacles in desperately heavy ground; Had to show plenty of heart to do win there and subsequent efforts give him chance.

Top Smart: Needs quicker ground than this and up against it.

VERDICT: The ground might not be as testing as connections of BACK IN FOCUS has hoped, ut he is a Grade 1 winner who looks sure to relish the step up in trip to 4 miles and should take the beating. GODSMEJUDGE, only just run out of the Classic Chase at Warwick two starts ago, might be next best ahead of Tofino Bay and Buddy Bolero.