Cheltenham Festival 2016 news: Charmix and Many Clouds on Trials Day duty

Oliver Sherwood trained nine-year-old Many Clouds is with 6/1 Coral for a repeat success, and 33/1 for Gold Cup glory in March.

Sherwood is delighted with Many Clouds’ current well-being, and the gelding goes into the contest on the back of a cracking four length second to leading Gold Cup hope Don Poli at Aintree when attempting to give the subsequent Lexus Chase winner 5lb.

Djakadam, Coral’s current 7/2 market for the Gold Cup on the final day of the Festival on March 18th, is 2/5 to capture Saturday’s big prize for all-conquering Irish trainer Willie Mullins.

Twisty favouring JLT for Bristol De Mai

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is leaning towards a crack at the JLT Novices’ Chase for Bristol De Mai, despite giving him two other entries at the Cheltenham Festival, and Coral make the gelding their 10/1 third favourite for the 2m 4f contest on Thursday, March 17th.

The five-year-old booked his place at the four-day spectacular when landing his his third success over fences in runaway style at Haydock on Saturday.

Bristol De Mai, who is owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, also holds entries in the 2m Arkle Trophy and 3m RSA Chase.

Twiston-Davies said: “He’s got entries in all three of the novice chases. Hopefully it will be the JLT he goes for. If it’s really soft, maybe the Arkle. I know there’s Douvan, but a single horse can go wrong.”

Thistlecrack odds-on for Cleeve Hurdle

The Colin Tizzard trained eight year-old is unbeaten in two starts this season, and 11/4 for Wolrd Hurdle glory on March 17th following an easy eight length success over Reve De Sivola in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot when last seen in action.

Impressive Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle scorer Camping Ground is 7/4 for Saturday’s race on Festival Trials Day at Presbury Park, with the Paul Nichols trained classy chaser Ptit Zig next best in on 7/1 as he reverts to the smaller obstacles after falling in his last two outings over fences.

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