Continued...........

In this column last year at this time, I talked about the ever-present Press hunt for a "new Arkle" or "the next Desert Orchid". See More Business has now come very close to these heights while avoiding the hype. He has crept into the mantle of greatness as he's matured, steadily making progress rather than seizing premature glory as a young pretender. In fact, it seems a very long time since "See More" (sire Seymour Hicks) won his first King George in December 1997.

Nordance Prince (left) and Viking Flagship

Last year, I wrote in this column: "Unless the winner on March 18 goes on to take the race again in the years 2000 and 2001, we cannot possibly make comparison with Arkle." Well, the first Gold Cup of the new millennium now looks a formality for him and, when he's won it, the first Press comment will, inevitably, be: what on earth can topple him next season? When his West Country trainer Paul Nicholls pulled off the Champion Chase and Gold Cup double last year, his other champion being another "glass" horse, Call Equiname, he was immediately a short price to do the same again this March; and it's still on the cards. For, although Call Equiname seems to have succumbed to his old problems, Paul is perched back on the pedestal - again facing weeks of sweating it out before the Festival - with Equiname's stablemate Flagship Uberalles as hot favourite for the Champion.

Now this flagship is really a battle-cruiser! Not since going to David Elsworth's yard to see Desert Orchid close up have I been so impressed with a horse's physique and bearing. He's as tough a heavyweight as you'll find. He weighs in at 515kg (his winning weight) against 478kg for Direct Route and 471kg for Nordance Prince, two of his two-mile title rivals. But he is as nimble as a bantamweight. In short, Flagship Uberalles is the Muhammed Ali of steeplechasing.

Istabraq

Although I have had a (wallet-)loving relationship with Venetia Williams' Nordance Prince (Chandler kindly gave me 8-1 for the sponsored race he won at 13-8 favourite), it takes a vivid imagination to prefer the "Prince" for Cheltenham. Although he beat Flagship Uberalles in the Victor Chandler Chase at Kempton - won the previous year by Call Equiname - he was only a neck in front, receiving 24lb and getting the immense benefit of Tony McCoy riding off 10st after fasting to do the weight. At level weights, "Flagship", who had Direct Route eight lengths behind in receipt of a pound, must surely take the title race named after the Queen Mother.

But Istabraq.. See More Business.. Flagship Uberalles.. They can't all win, can they? Well, Nordance Prince does have extra stamina for that gruelling final hill at Cheltenham (he won the First National Gold Cup at Ascot over 19 furlongs and more). He did fight back to win when headed by Flagship Uberalles in that thrilling neck finish at Kempton. Direct Route is a better horse on good ground, and Celibate did get closer to Nordance Prince in the Victor Chandler than he had done at Wetherby and will be 8lb better off for a little over five lengths. But that's also 16lb worse off with Flagship Uberalles - with fully five lengths to make up!

CARLTON High Class Dual Purpose Sire Triple Group Winner (completely free of 'Northern Dancer') Tough consistent racehorse - the ideal replacement for his deceased sire 'Teenoso'. Fee: £800 (1st October) Standing at Cobhambury Farm Stud, Old Roman Road, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 5PN. Enquiries to Mr Chris Brockbank 01732 863280 or fax 01732 867137

What's the alternative to backing hot favourites? At this stage, Istabraq's Irish Champion Hurdle runner-up Stage Affair is a fair price to beat Far Cry in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Eddie O'Grady's Wild Arms is a big price for the Triumph Hurdle and Decoupage is a better price than he should be for the Arkle Chase after Bellator (not a Cheltenham type, in my opinion) had beaten Blowing Wind at Ascot, and Anzum may also be better odds than you'll get on the day after he failed from the front to beat mud-loving Behrajan at Haydock. Anzum is a hold-up horse. And my, what a hold-up horse he is at Cheltenham!

In the 1999 Stayers' Hurdle, they first counted their money on Lady Rebecca (led at the last) and then on Le Coudray (led on the run-in) but Anzum, suited by Cheltenham and the fast-run race, came from distant horizons in the shadow of Cleeve Hill and led in the last stride after acceleration that made those two late leaders look as though they were standing still (they almost were, of course, after three mauling miles). There's hope for the each-way punter yet. Or is it that some of us are looking at stars that really aren't there..?

TERRY CLARK, a former racing editor in Fleet Street, is editor of the MAJORDATA racing agency at
401 LANGHAM HOUSE, 302 REGENT STREET, LONDON W1R 6HH
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MajorData has completed 26 months with a profit on its selections
every month from December, 1997, to January, 2000, inclusive.