International Friendlies

The poor record of winners from that Grade 1 in this race was halted by The New Lion 12 months ago and NO DRAMA THIS END can follow him in. He’s looked very good so far, Paul Nicholls has offered a favourable Denman comparison, and his strong-travelling style promises to be suited by the Irish raiders likely to serve up a strong gallop.

Henry de Bromhead’s string usually come to life here and he’s got two. His mare The Big Westerner was touted for this race from Christmas and so it’s noted that Darragh O’Keeffe instead rides KOKTAIL DIVIN. He was last spotted romping to victory at Leopardstown in December and his earlier form bodes well. There should be more to come.

FARREN GLORY wasn’t far behind re-opposing Storm Heart at Gowran Park in a Grade 3 last time over 2m and his third in last season’s Boyle Hurdle (2m6f, soft to heavy) suggests going back up in trip is wise. He’s 3lb better off with Storm Heart and sports first-time cheekpieces. He can thrive for Jack Kennedy.

PIED PIPER is an interesting Cross Country debutante for Gordon Elliott with Sam Ewing riding. Stamina shouldn’t be a forte on breeding but nobody told Tiger Roll that when he made this race his own and this eight-year-old has won over trips in excess of three-miles. He wasn’t done when falling in the Thyestes and has never been out of the first three in six Cheltenham over hurdles/regulation fences. If this quirky test lights his fire he can outrun a big price.

MAJBOROUGH put it all together to win at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and a repeat effort will make Willie Mullins’ charge difficult to beat here. Defending champion Marine Nationale is absent, which adds to his allure and if he jumps around in one piece, he should carry Mark Walsh to Champion Chase glory.

BE AWARE looks potentially well-treated off a mark of 147 for Dan and Harry Skelton. He was second in an Arkle Trial here in November and runner-up to Lulamba in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December.

Willie Mullins has won five of the last six renewals and a staggering 14 overall. The champion trainer runs five of the 22-strong field now and they’ve combined to win five bumpers this season by a combined tally of just over 48-lengths. LOVE SIGN D’AUNOU accounted for 24 of those lengths in his impressive Naas win seven weeks ago.

The poor record of winners from that Grade 1 in this race was halted by The New Lion 12 months ago and NO DRAMA THIS END can follow him in. He’s looked very good so far, Paul Nicholls has offered a favourable Denman comparison, and his strong-travelling style promises to be suited by the Irish raiders likely to serve up a strong gallop.

Henry de Bromhead’s string usually come to life here and he’s got two. His mare The Big Westerner was touted for this race from Christmas and so it’s noted that Darragh O’Keeffe instead rides KOKTAIL DIVIN. He was last spotted romping to victory at Leopardstown in December and his earlier form bodes well. There should be more to come.

MAJBOROUGH put it all together to win at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and a repeat effort will make Willie Mullins’ charge difficult to beat here. Defending champion Marine Nationale is absent, which adds to his allure and if he jumps around in one piece, he should carry Mark Walsh to Champion Chase glory.

BE AWARE looks potentially well-treated off a mark of 147 for Dan and Harry Skelton. He was second in an Arkle Trial here in November and runner-up to Lulamba in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December.

Henry de Bromhead’s string usually come to life here and he’s got two. His mare The Big Westerner was touted for this race from Christmas and so it’s noted that Darragh O’Keeffe instead rides KOKTAIL DIVIN. He was last spotted romping to victory at Leopardstown in December and his earlier form bodes well. There should be more to come.

BE AWARE looks potentially well-treated off a mark of 147 for Dan and Harry Skelton. He was second in an Arkle Trial here in November and runner-up to Lulamba in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December.

FARREN GLORY wasn’t far behind re-opposing Storm Heart at Gowran Park in a Grade 3 last time over 2m and his third in last season’s Boyle Hurdle (2m6f, soft to heavy) suggests going back up in trip is wise. He’s 3lb better off with Storm Heart and sports first-time cheekpieces. He can thrive for Jack Kennedy.

PIED PIPER is an interesting Cross Country debutante for Gordon Elliott with Sam Ewing riding. Stamina shouldn’t be a forte on breeding but nobody told Tiger Roll that when he made this race his own and this eight-year-old has won over trips in excess of three-miles. He wasn’t done when falling in the Thyestes and has never been out of the first three in six Cheltenham over hurdles/regulation fences. If this quirky test lights his fire he can outrun a big price.

FARREN GLORY wasn’t far behind re-opposing Storm Heart at Gowran Park in a Grade 3 last time over 2m and his third in last season’s Boyle Hurdle (2m6f, soft to heavy) suggests going back up in trip is wise. He’s 3lb better off with Storm Heart and sports first-time cheekpieces. He can thrive for Jack Kennedy.

PIED PIPER is an interesting Cross Country debutante for Gordon Elliott with Sam Ewing riding. Stamina shouldn’t be a forte on breeding but nobody told Tiger Roll that when he made this race his own and this eight-year-old has won over trips in excess of three-miles. He wasn’t done when falling in the Thyestes and has never been out of the first three in six Cheltenham over hurdles/regulation fences. If this quirky test lights his fire he can outrun a big price.

Both of these teams also scored on average over two goals per-game in the league phase, while Chelsea shipped nine goals across their four trips and PSG conceded six goals in their four home games. With both attacks looking sharp and both defences showing occasional signs of vulnerability, there is the potential for a high-scoring affair in Paris. PSG come into Wednesday’s game in mixed form with just three wins in normal time in their last eight games. Since Liam Rosenior has been in charge, Chelsea have only lost to Arsenal – albeit on three occasions – and the visitors may be able to get a positive result in this first leg. A 2-2 draw is the correct score pick as PSG have won just one of their last four home European games but they’ve also only lost once at home in this competition. Chelsea have three draws in their last six games.

Manchester City have won nine and drawn two of their last 11 matches in all competitions and should be able to get the better of an injury-hit Real Madrid who they already beat 2-1 at the Bernabeu earlier this season. Both teams have found the net in ten of the last 11 meetings between Real Madrid and Manchester City and considering the array of attacking options at both teams’ disposal, a repeat of that is fancied. Take a 3-1 win for the visitors.

MAJBOROUGH put it all together to win at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and a repeat effort will make Willie Mullins’ charge difficult to beat here. Defending champion Marine Nationale is absent, which adds to his allure and if he jumps around in one piece, he should carry Mark Walsh to Champion Chase glory.

Arsenal are on a 13-game scoring streak and they hit an impressive 23 goals in their eight league phase games. The Gunners should be able to score at the BayArena but a clean sheet could be beyond them. Arsenal have conceded in five of their last seven games and Leverkusen rarely draw blanks at home, having scored in 18 of their last 19 home games across all competitions.

MAJBOROUGH put it all together to win at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and a repeat effort will make Willie Mullins’ charge difficult to beat here. Defending champion Marine Nationale is absent, which adds to his allure and if he jumps around in one piece, he should carry Mark Walsh to Champion Chase glory.

CARRIGMOORNASPRUCE is a viable alternative to favourite Bambino Fever at double-figure odds for trainer Declan Queally. She was smart in bumpers, has progressed in each of three hurdles starts and was second in a Leopardstown Grade 1 against geldings over Christmas.

Fergal O’Brien’s thirst for a festival winner here could be satisfied by SIXMILEBRIDGE. He’s proving quite the talent since going chasing and remains unbeaten having landed the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown last time. He has won here over fences already and a mark of 150 is within range.

There doesn’t seem much upside in opposing WODHOOH for Gordon Elliott after Lossiemouth defected and won the Champion Hurdle instead of trying for a third win in this race.

Rapidly progressive young star KABRAL DU MATHAN won the Relkeel in good style here on New Year’s Day and could emulate Big Buck’s and Flooring Porter by winning this at age six. Indeed, he could follow their lead and win it more than once based on what he’s been doing lately.

IMPAIRE ET PASSE has got lots of class, is a Festival winner here over hurdles, has low miles on the clock over fences and looked on very good terms with himself in his comeback win at Gowran Park. He’s a very fresh horse and can mount a mighty challenge for Paul Townend.

A fiendish handicap but one in which C’EST DIFFERENT could carry on his winning spree for trainer Sam Thomas. The six-year-old won a qualifier for this at Market Rasen in November on seasonal bow, very readily, and followed up in smooth fashion at Newbury in January in a race that worked out well. He’s gone up 10lb to a mark of 131 but that might not be enough to ground him.

SANDOR CLEGANE has always presented as a dour stayer. Paul Nolan’s charge perhaps hasn’t fulfilled the early potential he showed but he was third here in the Albert Bartlett in 2023 and fourth.