Jim Aiken (Concert Promoter)

As someone who goes to the races principally to make a fool of myself, my advice may not be the most reliable but I think if …

As someone who goes to the races principally to make a fool of myself, my advice may not be the most reliable but I think if one was to go to Cheltenham, watch all 20 races and have just the one bet, it would have to be Florida Pearl in the Sun Alliance Chase.

He looks a really super horse and looks the ideal cover for punters. I've been very impressed with Florida Pearl in his two starts over fences and his opposition doesn't look the strongest I've ever seen.

I'm usually caught between betting with my heart or my head but on both counts I think Istabraq looks the one in the Champion Hurdle. When he won at Christmas I took 5 to 1 antepost which is my only ante-post bet. I'm no authority but I think Istabraq has had a great preparation.

In the Gold Cup my heart says Dorans Pride but my head says maybe not. I backed him last year and I think the world of him, but I don't think he has had the ideal preparation this time. The horse he beat at Leopardstown, Dun Belle, hasn't run too well at Haydock since but if Dorans Pride does win it will be as good a day as when Dawn Run won.

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Klairon Davis should go close again in the Queen Mother, but basically if the Irish do well this year, I'll do well.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column