Cheltenham© Photo Healy Racing
Balder Succes and Ma Filleule renew rivalry in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon.
Alan King's Balder Succes had the Nicky Henderson-trained mare three and a quarter lengths back in second in last month's Ascot Chase.
King said: "He did it very well. He probably got in front a bit too soon as he was not doing a lot from the last, but we were thrilled with him and he's in good form and a good place."
Big-race jockey Wayne Hutchinson feels a step up in distance has been key to Balder Succes' improvement.
"He's done it nicely the last twice and I was very taken with Ascot. He exceeded what I expected in the manner he did it," Hutchinson told Racing UK.
"The step up in trip has helped him find his comfort zone and he's a slick jumper, which is what you need round Cheltenham - a horse that travels and jumps.
"I feel over two and a half he's got that gear that he didn't have over two miles as he's in top gear all the time.
"All ground comes the same to him. He's got form on everything."
Ma Filleule was runner-up to Gold Cup contender Holywell at last year's Festival before a scintillating victory over the National fences at Aintree.
This season has not been plain sailing for the grey, but Henderson was encouraged by her Ascot effort and believes she can reverse the form with King's ace.
"She won the Topham last year, she only just got beat by Holywell at Cheltenham and that was a very good performance," said Henderson.
"Two and a half is a good trip for her, she ran a very good race at Ascot the other day and we were pretty sure she'd need that as she was wrong at Christmas but she's coming to herself now.
"You'd have to hope she'd be closely matched with Balder and we've good reason to think we'd be on a par with him.
"She's very realistic."
Ma Filleule's jockey Barry Geraghty said: "Ma Filleule needed the run in the Ascot Chase having been off since early December. She and Balder Succes pulled a long way clear of the third horse, Ballycasey who is very smart.
"Turning in I thought I might get to the winner, but she's a big mare who needs a lot of work and that lack of race-fitness told in the end. There's more to come this spring and the run should have put her spot on for the Ryanair." Johns Spirit has already won three times over fences at Cheltenham, but those victories were in handicap company and trainer Jonjo O'Neill admits his charge faces a far tougher task.
He said: "Johns Spirit has improved this year but he needs to up his game on the day. If he does that he will run a big race in the Ryanair." Wonderful Charm is an outsider for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, but the master of Ditcheat feels he could outrun his odds.
He said: "He has got a lot of talent. He won well at Newton Abbot first time out when he beat some good horses and then finished second behind Don Cossack at Down Royal when the ground was far too soft for him.
"We have purposely kept him fresh for this. Last spring we had a foot problem with him. He could run a decent race at a big price."
