Right, here it is. The greatest show on turf and the best sporting week of the year. The Cheltenham Festival is in town and nothing else matters. The Irish armada has landed and look set to sweep all before them but we have some powerful cannons to fire back, most from the imperious Nicky Henderson stable who will be looking to gain revenge for the stable sickness that curtailed his 2024 campaign. Bar the covid-stricken 2021 Festival I haven't missed a single race since I started going every day back in 2016. I love it, it's the summit of sport and let's hope for another profitable week. We start with Champion Hurdle day, the Tuesday and here's my rundown.
13:20, Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Workahead 17/2, 1pt win
Kopek Des Bordes EVS, 3pts win
The opener for the week. The Supreme. Bring on the roar. This is all about the Willie Mullins springer that is Kopek Des Bordes. This time last year nobody had heard of the favourite and by Christmas he still hadn't even jumped a hurdle in public. He was a mightily impressive bumper winner last season for sure and was sent off a warm order to get off the mark over flights on Boxing Day and he duly delivered but it was a far from convincing display in the jumping department. Straight after that race he was freely available at 12/1 for the Festival opener but it was what he did at Leopardstown during the Dublin Racing Festival last month that really made us all stand up and listen to his tune. Sent off the short priced favourite in the Grade 1 on the first day, he jumped nicely all the way round and quickly put a dozen lengths between himself and the pack turning round the home bend to win by, let's face it, a mile. The form of that race can be crabbed and this will be the fastest ground he's faced but he looked like an aeroplane that day and looks like a new Irish star in the making. He is however, not without his faults. He got quite worked up at Leopardstown and was mightily keen in the race itself. He managed to defy those issues with the minimum of fuss the last day but Cheltenham will place bigger demand on his temperament and he is up against better opposition here in what will I'm sure be a sterner run affair that could place his jumping under pressure. I wouldn't dissuade anyone from backing him but at the current odds I fancy the chances of Henry de Bromhead's 7 year old, Workahead. This big strapping lad hacked up in a 3 mile point before being sent to his current connections. He ran a fine race on hurdling debut to finish a decent third in a hot maiden hurdle but the next day he was sent into the lead and jumped like a seasoned pro. He galloped and galloped and had everything behind him in trouble turning in before staying on stoutly up the run in. Cheltenham should really suit this fella and I expect him to be to the fore here, which has been no bad thing in the past for this race. The form of that maiden hurdle win has worked out as well as a graded race with re-opposing William Munny (second that day) bolting up at Listed level last time out. Workahead is a lovely horse and I think he looks like a fair alternative should the favourite fluff his lines. William Munny is respected as he has improved with every run and did look good the last day albeit he lacks the wow factor that some of these could have. Romeo Coolio should run well and is not a bad each-way bet by any means with the form in the book and Salvator Mundi could be there or thereabouts if he jumps and settles better than when winning a strange running of the Moscow Flyer last time out. Tripoli Flyer looks the best of the poor British turnout (just a measly 2 runners) and is a strong finisher who could outrun his odds. He's not a terrible each-way bet at 25/1.
///
14:00, My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase
L'Eau Du Sud 9/2, 2pts each-way (2 places)
Let's be honest, this is a poor renewal of the Arkle. Sir Gino's shadow looms large over this race. I was at Kempton on the 27th December to witness Nicky Henderson's youngster put in one of the best chasing debuts I have ever seen and it's fair to say we have been robbed of a barn-stormer of a race due to his injury. Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery and is back here in 12 months time to line up in Wednesday's Champion Chase. Sir Gino is not here however, and in his absence Willie Mullins' 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough looks set to go off a warm order. This 5 year old has looked all class over fences, winning as he liked on both his debut at the back end of 2024 and in the Irish Arkle last month. He has a tendency to take a fence with him however, and with just 5 runners, this could turn into a sprint for home which wouldn't suit this strong finisher. It shouldn't suit Jango Baie either but it could play into the hands of last year's County Hurdle runner-up L'Eau Du Sud. Dan Skelton's star novice chaser hasn't looked back since sent chasing in the Autumn and brought up the 4 timer in the Kingmaker last month at Warwick. They got racing very far out that day and although he only beat Rubaud by a short distance, he was much the best that day and the runner-up has since won the Pendil at Kempton. But what I love about this horse is how he sprinted away from his opponents in the Arkle Trial at this course in November. He hacked round and jumped slickly before powering away up the hill to win by a hard held 11 lengths. What was impressive is how he jumped the last level with his opponents but showed a devastating turn of foot. That was also run on similar ground conditions to what he will face here. I think at 9/2, he's a sound each-way bet to return your money if he finishes second.
///
14:40, Ultima Handicap Chase
The Changing Man 7/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
Broadway Boy 15/2, 1pt win
The first 'impossible ' race of the week. The Ultima is notoriously competitive and this year looks just about as ferocious as any other year with it being 7/1 the field. Plenty here come into this with big chances and connections eyeing a big day with some improving handicappers. Katate Dori will be popular after his demolition job at Kempton last month. My worry is that Kempton is very different to Cheltenham and he has been clobbered with a 12 pound rise for winning a race that he pinched round the home turn. I quite liked Crebilly for a festival race in the build up as he is now 2 pound lower in the weights than when second in last year's Plate on the Thursday but he has been out of form for 12 months now and I'm not prepared to take a single digit price about him bouncing back. Myretown was also on my agenda as I think he's well weighed but his jumping really worries me given that he was very clumsy on chase debut and fell at Windsor in January. He did win well enough last time out but that was a 3 runner affair and as much as I think he will improve past this mark, I worry that his jumping will be put under too much pressure here. Instead I fancy the chances of The Changing Man from the west country stable of Joe Tizzard. This 8 year old hasn't done much wrong since falling at Wincanton in the Badger Beer in the Autumn. He has finished runner-up 3 times in big field handicaps before getting his head in front at Ascot last month. He knows what these races are all about and although he's been working up the handicap he looked good the last day and can perhaps morph into a graded performer next season. One who connections already think of in those terms in Broadway Boy who arrives here off a mark of 150 which is 2 pound higher than when second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury at the back end of 2024. He has a fantastic Cheltenham record having won here over fences twice already and has been kept fresh for this since a below par run on New Year's Day. He'll no doubt have been freshened up for this and that Newbury form puts him right in this.
///
15:20, Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
Lossiemouth 4/6, 3pts win
Ugh, well this isn't what we wanted. A mare of Lossiemouth's ability should be running in the Champion Hurdle. If Constitution Hill had an off-day or fell (which he nearly did last time out) then Rich Ricci's standout mare could have been bang there to pick up the pieces and fight it out for the big one but unfortunately Cheltenham allows for the big names to avoid each other so we have to take it for what it is. If we're cutting to the chase then it's fair to say that Lossiemouth only loses if something goes wrong. She miles and miles ahead of these on the figures and even her run in defeat to Constitution Hill at Kempton on Boxing Day is ahead of what her opposition her could produce. I don't want to be betting against her.
///
16:00, Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
Constitution Hill 8/13, 2.6pts win
Here we are then, 12 months on from State Man's benefit we have the undefeated Constitution Hill back and bidding to emulate the great Hurricane Fly in regaining the Champion Hurdle. Nicky Henderson's star is the most talented hurdler I have ever set eyes on and even though he hasn't quite looked as stratospheric since his return from.... let's call them 'issues', he still looked in great nick when downing Lossiemouth in the Christmas Hurdle off a big layoff (didn't look 100% in the paddock). He didn't need to come off the bridle when winning the International here in January but let's be clear about this, anyone who is backing against him is doing so on the basis that they don't think he is as good as he once was; because if he is then he will put Brighterdaysahead in her place and swan up the hill to racing immortality. That is what I think awaits the great horse. In the shape of Brighterdaysahead he faces the biggest challenge of his career. She is a brute of a mare who will be in receipt of a monster 7 pound sex allowance from Constitution Hill. Her jaw-dropping slamming of State Man at Leopardstown in December was one of the great hurdling performances of all time and in any other year she would be a hot favourite to extend the good record that her gender have in this event. This is no normal year however. Constitution Hill is no normal horse. Sit on the edge of your seat and get ready for this, it's going to be unbelievable.
///
16:40, Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Advised ante-post: Puturhandstogether 14/1, 2pts win
Puturhandstogether 7/1, 2pts each-way (6 places)
Stencil 5/1, 2pts win
Ah, the Fred Winter. Many people's most hated race of the week. 22 totally unexposed 4 year olds who have been smuggled away all winter long in soft ground, slowly run races suddenly hammering along on good ground in a fast run, big field affair. What's not to love! I can't go through every runner but J P McManus looks to have a good hand here with the front 3 in the market. French trained Stencil must have a smashing chance on the back of his runner-up effort to Triumph Hurdle favourite East India Dock on Trial's Day in January. He's been put away since and could well be a proper graded horse in a handicap. He must be respected but the one I am most interested in is his owner-mate Puturhandstogether for last year's winning trainer Joseph O'Brien. This Irish juvenile is bred to be classy flat horse given that his sire is Commonwealth Cup winner Caravaggio and he is out of a Galileo mare. He undoubtably gets his stamina from his mother's side of the family but showed plenty of boot on the level to win a 10 furlong Curragh handicap last summer. He was given a fair flat mark of 84 for that victory and looked like a stayer in the process. He was sent hurdling swiftly enough by connections however, which speaks volume in itself. He had a fine educational debut at Punchestown in November but I loved the way he despatched a 20 runner field at Cork in December from re-opposing Turn And Finish (won since in the UK). He just hacked round that day and could have won by further should Mark Walsh had wanted him to. He ran a fine race last time out when faced with very heavy ground at Fairyhouse. He was second that day but nothing about that race went to plan and if he had of won it then he'd be much higher in the weights here (it is worth noting that last year's winner hadn't won a race before). I think the key to this fella will be the ground and fast pace. He looked pacy on summer ground last year and this will be the first time he's had such conditions since sent jumping. He was at home in a 20 runner field in December and I think he'll relish this too. Mark Walsh has chosen to ride and I think he should be going very close all being well.
///
17:20, Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase
Haiti Couleurs 4/1, 3pts win
Let's not dance around this, Rebecca Curtis' 8 year old looks like he could be well ahead of his current mark of 135. I loved everything about what this horse did when winning well here in December. He's has looked a real strong stayer (won a heavy ground 3 mile hurdle at Bangor so not short on stamina) and has been kept away from fences since that day to protect his mark. The trainer knows how to win at the Festival and she looks to have trained her flagship runner to the minute for this. I hope this is one for the smaller yards and a British one at that.
No comments:
Post a Comment