Quinn’s high hopes for Palawi at Cheltenham

A smart juvenile last season, he finished last of the four finishers in the race won by Kalann at Cheltenham’s last meeting and with the winner boosting the form when pushing The Real Article all the way last week, Quinn goes into the valuable contest with some hope.

The Settrington-based handler said: “He ran all right the last day at Cheltenham, he just got a little bit tired I felt. He’s in good form, he worked well this morning and I think he’ll run well. These second-season hurdlers usually run well in the Greatwood.”

Philip Hobbs has given his clearest indication yet that Wishfull Thinking will take his chance in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign last season, finishing second in the Jewson at the Festival before winning at both Aintree and Punchestown.

Hobbs has been undecided about where to start him off this season – he holds an entry in the Hennessy later this month and an entry at Cheltenham on Sunday, but the Minehead trainer looks set to give him the Paddy Power green light if the ground is suitable.

“Nothing has been decided, but if you asked me which race I’d say we were erring towards the Paddy Power. It rather depends on the weather, but were there any quickness in the ground at all he wouldn’t be running in either race (at Cheltenham),” said Hobbs said.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has a fine record in the Paddy Power having won it with Imperial Commander and Little Josh recently, and he is likely to run both Billie Magern and Swincombe Rock.

“Billie Magern and Swincombe Rock are both last season’s novices, which seems to work a treat in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. The handicapper has probably not really got a hold of them yet and both horses gallop and jump well so let’s have a go,” said Twiston-Davies.

n Champion Hurdle runner-up Peddlers Cross made a smooth transition to fences with a straightforward victory in the Golden Bear Beginners’ Chase at Bangor yesterday.

Donald McCain’s dual Grade One winner did little more than expected under Timmy Murphy in beating two rivals rated vastly inferior, but there was still plenty of encouragement to be taken from his fluent and accurate jumping.

The 1-8 favourite had his opponents cooked a long way from home in the extended two-mile-one-furlong event, and negotiated the last couple of fences in the straight immaculately to win by a ready four-and-a-half lengths.

McCain said: “I’m relieved and he’s done what we always expect of him. The only time he’s done anything wrong it was my fault, we shouldn’t have gone to Aintree (at the end of last season).

“I was kicking myself afterwards and when you saw how hard he struggled after the last to the line at Cheltenham I should never have even contemplated going. Luckily, I’ve an owner who forgives me.”

Murphy said: “I was delighted. He did everything I asked and when you needed to be a bit long he can be and when you needed to get in tight he can be, I didn’t need to make his mind up. I couldn’t ask for a better ride first time over fences. He’s had a perfect start and I’m sure Donald has left a bit that he can build on. The sky’s the limit.”