CHELTENHAM HORSES TO PUT A LINE THROUGH, Mr. BRADLEY OF GOOLE & Mr. DILLON OF LIMERICK.

The aspect of tipping horses for Cheltenham 10-days before the off is that the ground on the Tuesday might be heavy, soft, good-to-soft or even, given Cheltenham's top-of-the-range drainage system, good, with irrigation on Wednesday evening. I have given thought to the races on Tuesday's card and have decided to jinx the following. Some of my tips are fancies, while others are expectations. I fear both Mighty Park and Old Park Star in the Supreme and will be embarrassed if either of them win with their head in their chast. But I was very taken by Sober Glory at Newbury last time out. In atrocious ground, he made all, fending off  a likely rival with the nonchalance of an aristocrat plucking a blonde hair off the sleeve of his dinner jacket and sauntered to victory with the resemblance of a high-class hero. The race doubtless will prove extremely poor for a Newbury novice but those who support Mighty Park will not be rubbishing the race of a similar standard that he won at Thurles. So it is Sober Glory for the Supreme.

My instincts told me at Warwick that Steel Ally would win the Arkle and despite all your mocking laughter I remain unfazed.

I watched Saratoga debut over hurdles and thought when he brushed-up his jumping technique he would win a good race and I fancy him for the Fred Winter.

The Ultima has me baffled. If the ground becomes good I think Hyland is a solid each-way bet. If Handstands is sent here rather than the Gold Cup or Ryanair, his class may prevail, otherwise I like Resplendent Grey if he runs here rather than the Gold Cup

I remain wedded to Golden Ace in a Champion Hurdle that may lack class but is highly competitive, with six or seven in with a legitimate chance of becoming a champion.

I like Slade Steel in the Plate, even though he as disappointing a horse thus far as any horse you or I could name. He has class; he has proved his class and is trained by Henry de Bromhead. And I like Grand Geste in the revitalised National Hunt Chase. So that is 5 - 2 to Britain after day one.

Mr. Bradley of Goole in a letter published in today's Racing Post (my letter on my concern about the British-style hurdle is also published - it does not mention the horses killed at Kempton recently, which prompted my letter) believes the B.H.A. should be proactive in encouraging breeders to breed for stamina rather than speed. Wanting the B.H.A. to be proactive is as wishful as Presidents of America not invading the sanctity of another country. I like Trump but killing innocent people for political ends is beyond the pale.

Mr.Bradley is correct, though, in his prescription for change. Prize-money should be siphoned away from sprints and mile Group races to plump-up prize-money for 12-furlong races. Horses bred for stamina have a better long-term  future away from the racecourse than those bred for speed. This is as much a welfare matter as it is concern for the survival of the flat's most historic races.

Mr. Dillon of Limerick, on the other hand, again in a letter published in today's Racing Post, is critical of the hype surrounding Constitution Hill's transfer to the flat. I agree with him; expectations must be reined-in. He is 9, an age considered veteran for flat horses. The decision to excuse the great horse from hurdling duties is sound and must be respected but the hyperbole from both journalists and the public begs for a humiltating fall. I disagree with Mr.Dillon when he suggests any Champion Hurdle winner might have won the race at Southwell as such a comments dismiss the ease at which Constitution Hill won, though I do agree with him when he says that Constitution Hill fails as one of the sport's great horses due to a lack of longevity. Anyone who witnessed Protektorat at Kelso yesterday, 11 and still winging his fences with the aplomb of a young gazelle, was made aware of what longevity looks like. I suppose in taking the decision they have, they have possibly denied Constitution Hill the opportunity of proving Mr. Dillon, and others, wrong in writing him off as a great horse who was as good at the end of his career as he was at the beginning.