Ahead of day three at the Cheltenham Festival, the Weekend Winners panel discussed their best betting angles of the day.
Kate Tracey, Sam Boswell and Declan Rix paid particular attention to the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle over three miles, which sees Robcour's previous winners Teahupoo and Bob Olinger do battle.
Honesty Policy is in the mix for JP McManus, with Kabral Du Mathan (Dan Skelton) and Ma Shantou arguably representing the best of the British contenders.
"I'm hoping Gordon [Elliott] will get revenge this year with Teahupoo, and I'm hoping we'll get a better price this year. Bob Olinger is back, Kabral Du Mathan is there with Honesty Policy - so we might get a nicer price about Teahupoo. He's just rock solid, isn't he? He's so consistent, does everything right and is straightforward.
"I was a bit sickened when it was announced Flooring Porter was out for the season because part of the reason Teahupoo was beaten last year was the race turned tactical and Bob Olinger had too many gears for him. Gowel Road I hope will go forward and put some pace in the race, which will certainly help Teahupoo. He was brilliant at Leopardstown and I'm hoping for similar here."
"Teahupoo is a beautifully consistent horse who runs a good race most of the time, I think it's fair to say. I suppose it's a deeper race here and Honesty Policy could represent a really improving horse that could serve it up to him from his own stable.
"For me, there's others I don't like here. Kabral Du Mathan - I think if the Skeltons didn't have The New Lion he'd be going to the Champion [Hurdle]. I need to see him at three miles before I can believe. Ma Shantou has made me look silly this season but I'm not quite convinced that he's Paisley Park 2.0. Ballyburn I was with a long time ago, but his head has gone.
"With Bob Olinger, I cannot get out of my head that this could be a bit of a Michael Jordan last dance for a couple of Henry's stars. The run over Christmas was perfectly acceptable and Henry [de Bromhead] is creeping back into form, as he does in the Spring. It would be an emotional winner, wouldn't it?"
"I'm going to change the habit of a lifetime! I've been trying to take on Ma Shantou all season and the one time he was beaten [at Haydock], I was with him. He bounced right back at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and produced an even better performance on Trials Day - when I tried to take him on with Impose Toi, who I don't think got the trip.
"That will be a concern for him again here, while Ma Shantou loves this course and distance - which counts for so much in this division. I think he's overpriced for a yard who certainly know how to win this race."
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