Black Box Racing: 'LAID OUT?' Cheltenham Festival Portfolio

With NRNB in full affect I think there's been one laid well and truly out for the Coral Cup. And it will no surprise who trains it. JOYEUX MACHIN trained by Dan Skelton has, as far as I can see, been running to a programme to get him into the Coral Cup in and around his current mark of 135. At Wetherby the time before last, he caught the eye in no uncertain terms, employing the Skelton tactics when getting one ready of laying out the back and giving them too much to do. And then last time at Ascot behind Altobelli you saw Harry Skelton at his acting best, doing a good impression of an arm pump, but if you go and watch it again to me it looks like he's trying to look busy without really getting behind the horse. And there was plenty to like about his run as he travelled really well having been given - drum roll again - far too much to do again. He's giving the strong impression to me that given a strong pace and the extra couple of furlongs of the Coral Cup he could easily run to a mark near 150.

But what's got me more convinced he's going to running a huge race is that once Langer Dan was given a new mark after Aintree of around 160, I'm more than certain that the Skelton's will have hatched a plan to win the Coral Cup again and stuff it up those who cannot stop talking about Langer Dan.

IF you're going to have one bet at the Festival this year make sure you get on this boy.

2 points ew JOYEUX MACHIN, Coral Cup »> 16-1 generally NRNB