Tough Veale on menu at Cheltenham Weights lunch…

Personally, I’m struggling to find a big-race favourite I really like. Hurricane Fly looks vulnerable to younger legs, Quevega hasn’t been seen for a year and recently had a setback, while Sire De Grugy may not be ideally suited to Cheltenham. Big Buck’s too looks opposable after a below-par defeat last time and Bob’s Worth, solid as he is, makes little appeal at the current prices given the level of his form this season.

Punters should not despair, however. In what looks a particularly open Cheltenham Festival – perhaps the most open ever – I think you will see plenty of bookmakers sticking their chins out with generous prices and offers in an attempt to attract business. It may be harder to find winners this year, but there will definitely be plenty of value around for punters.

Cometh the hour, cometh the Man

One of the stories of this year’s Dubai Carnival has been just how well the Irish-trained horses have performed, with high-profile wins for the likes of Eastern Rules, Russian Soul, Elleval and He’s No Saint.

But, the British horses have enjoyed success too and the terrific Medicean Man is starting to become a bit of Dubai legend after recording his third success there yesterday. It is one thing landing a $100k handicap with an exposed eight-year-old sprinter, but to do it twice within the space of seven days is remarkable.

It is true that the Dubai handicapper gave the Jeremy Gask-trained horse a decent chance yesterday by allowing him to race off a lower mark on Tapeta, but the step up to 6f and the new surface were significant question marks, which the horse overcame with ease.

Medicean Man now heads to Dubai World Cup night where he is likely to contest the Al Quoz sprint, a Group 1 over 5f. It is probably asking a bit much for him to win at Group 1 level against the likes of Sole Power, but in his current form, there is a decent chance that Gask’s old favourite could run into the places.

Sign up to the Coral Champions Club for a special Cheltenham offer

If you aren’t already a member of our terrific FREE racing club, then now is the time to sign up. Next Tuesday (March 4th), we will be emailing all Champions Club members with a special ‘members only’ enhanced price at the Cheltenham Festival. I can’t reveal the horse at this stage, but can guarantee that it will be a top name at a very generous price. You can sign up now for free at coralchampionsclub.co.uk.

WEEKEND NAP – WHISPERING WARRIOR (5.10 Lingfield)

Whispering Warrior returns here after a break, but there are reasons to think that David Simcock’s gelding can land a sixth career victory. This son of Oasis Dream has won off a long lay-off previously and he was a highly progressive horse last season.

His record over this course and distance is two from two and although he races from a career high AW mark of 91 tomorrow, he has the services of apprentice George Buckell, who can take off 7lb.

Buckell is still relatively inexperienced, but he has got the hang of riding this track this winter and he has been seen to particularly good effect on Club House, on which he has won twice and placed three times here. If he can ride with similar confidence on Whispering Warrior, then he has a decent chance of landing his biggest winner to date.

WEEKEND NEXT BEST – GLASS OFFICE (3:55 Meydan)

With the jumping programme feeling relatively low key in advance of Cheltenham, some of the best weekend action takes place at Meydan. One horse I’m really interested in is Glass Office.

David Simcock’s colt ran an excellent fifth in the Wokingham last season and shaped like a future Group winner when fourth behind Moviesta at Goodwood. Back in handicap company tomorrow, he might just have a bit too much class for these rivals.