A change of ways can see Facile Vega roar again to profitable methods on the opening day of the Cheltenham Competition, in keeping with Sky Sports activities Racing’s Matt Chapman.

Willie Mullins’ Champion Bumper star had lengthy been a short-priced favorite for the Supreme, making a faultless begin in his first two begins over hurdles, earlier than disappointing on the Dublin Racing Competition.

That left the six-year-old at round 3/1 for the Cheltenham curtain-raiser, adopted out there by Marine Nationale and Il Etait Temps, however Chapman believes Facile Vega’s star high quality will shine via.

Talking on the At The Races Cheltenham Preview present, Chapman mentioned: “I believe he is an absolute good factor, an absolute banker.

“Willie Mullins and Paul Townend will kick themselves a bit with this horse as a result of they’re collectively answerable for the craziness of him final time.

“When he received the Champion Bumper and the Grade One at Punchestown, he was held up in midfield, however as a result of they thought he was so a lot better than the remaining they let him bowl alongside and was too free and over raced.

“I imagine they’re going to drop him proper out the again on this and I predict he’ll come there like Unsinkable Boxer [impressive winner of the 1998 Pertemps Final].”

Racing skilled Kevin Blake can also be siding with Facile Vega and is completely satisfied to place final month’s disappointment all the way down to the horse’s lameness.

“He was the very best bumper horse and I actually appreciated his first two runs over hurdles the place he confirmed a stunning fluent approach.

“You could possibly level to a few issues final time. Probably the most related factor was that he was lame for just a few days afterwards.

“On all of the proof we now have, I believe he is the very best horse within the race and due to Leopardstown you are getting a very good value.”

A number of Cheltenham Competition-winning jockey Jamie Codd was in behind Facile Vega within the Champion Bumper final yr, however is as an alternative on the lookout for each-way worth with one other Mullins inmate.

“I believe Facile Vega was doing an excessive amount of in Paul’s palms [at Leopardstown]. Paul wasn’t in management for the primary mile.

“I like Hunters Yarn at 14/1 each-way. I believe he is bettering and put in a very good efficiency at Navan final time.”

‘Gerri Colombe simply is aware of find out how to win’

Codd, who is aware of the Gordon Elliott staff inside out, is predicting an enormous week for the Cullentra handler, explicit within the novice chase division.

Elliott’s Gerri Colombe is an ideal seven from seven below guidelines and Codd absolutely expects that to develop into eight within the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

“His run round Sandown the final day was a very good take a look at of his leaping and that held up,” Codd mentioned. “He is a hell of a horse, very uncomplicated. He simply is aware of find out how to win. I believe he’ll proceed to win.”

Blake is taking over the 7/4 favorite with The Actual Whacker, who may give Patrick Neville a profession excessive having already scored twice on the observe this season.

“I do like The Actual Whacker (9/2) and he is been slightly bit underestimated,” Blake mentioned. “He was fiercely spectacular dropping again to two-and-a-half miles at Cheltenham final time.

“The extent of that kind would not be pretty much as good as what Gerri Colombe has completed however he is an excellent jumper of a fence. He’ll give Gerri a bit to consider.”

Chapman is trying to a British hopeful in Philip Hobbs’ Thyme Hill (11/2). The nine-year-old is having a somewhat belated go on the bigger obstacles however confirmed all his class to win the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton at Christmas.

“I am feeling sorry for Tom O’Brien as a result of I believe Micheal Nolan goes to win this on Thyme Hill,” Chapman mentioned.

“He is at the moment 6lb worse than he was at his peak as a hurdler and did not look a pure chaser for a very long time however class-wise I believe he is in a special realm to Gerri Colombe and The Actual Whacker.

“There have been actual indicators in his Grade One win final time [Kauto Star Novices’ Chase] that he was getting his act collectively along with his leaping and he is a Cheltenham-type horse.”

NAPS –

Kevin Blake – Shoot First (Pertemps) – 4/1

Jamie Codd – Gerri Colombe (Brown Advisory) – 2/1

Matt Chapman – Facile Vega (Supreme) – 11/4

Sean Boyce – Jonbon (Arkle) – 13/8