Focus those bets on super Telemoss

13 April 2012

He hasn't run for over nine months and his three career wins over fences have been gained at skinny prices against horses who weren't even household names in their own households.

Start from such an unpromising basis and you would have to be a very slick salesman to make a case out for Telemoss in a fiercely competitive Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham tomorrow

Yet dig a little deeper and this northern raider gradually becomes much more appealing.

Penrith trainer Nicky Richards had a dauntingly impressive act to follow when he took over from his late and legendary father, Gordon, back in 1999, but few who have seen him tackle the job would deny he has what it takes. And the latter comment applies every bit as well to Telemoss.

It's safe to put a line through his most recent run in the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown last February, as he trailed home a remote last of four behind Tarxien and was subsequently found to have broken a blood vessel and injured a leg.

Prior to that fruitless trip south, Telemoss had made serene progress through his novice season, notching three consecutive wins and impressing as an assured jumper with a high cruising speed and a likeably enthusiastic approach to his new career.

But, strange as it may sound, the thing that really catches the eye about Telemoss relates to the form he showed when plying his trade as a hurdler two seasons ago.

Three handicap wins during that campaign were followed by an excellent second behind Jair Du Cochet in a Grade 2 contest at Haydock. And then came an even stiffer assignment in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Telemoss faced a daunting task meeting the likes of Baracouda and Bannow Bay at level weights that day, but he travelled like a good horse for the vast majority of the three miles and looked sure to finish third until It Takes Time ran him out of a place up that unforgiving final hill.

It Takes Time will be back in opposition again for Tony McCoy tomorrow and lines up with plenty to recommend him after taking an unlucky fall two out when running a bold race in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here four weeks ago. Risk Accessor seemed to be moving very sweetly when he crumpled on landing at the same fence that day, while Redemption finally put it all together where it matters to beat a useful field hollow at Newbury two weeks ago.

Hand Inn Hand is another big danger after catching the eye over hurdles on his reappearance at Aintree, while Iris Royal is on a roll after winning at Sandown and Ascot. Ballinclay King has a good Cheltenham record and appeals as the best of the outsiders, but a few pounds each-way on Telemoss looks the percentage call.

Like so many big handicap chase winners nowadays, he's an unexposed gelding. An official handicap mark of 135 looks very tempting if he's anything like the horse he showed on his last visit to Cheltenham and, provided his jumping holds up, he can give the excellent Tony Dobbin a ride to remember.

Richard Johnson continues to graft away for every winner possible in his battle for the jockeys' title with McCoy, but tomorrow's Tote Bula Hurdle is all about quality rather than quantity as Rooster Booster makes his belated reappearance.

The galloping grey faces some fascinating rivals, notably the star Australian import Specular, but he should take care of them.

Cunningham's pick

1 Telemoss
2 Hand Inn Hand
3 Ballinclay King
4 Redemption

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