Cheltenham Festival
Day 3: World Hurdle Day and Happy St Patricks Day to my Irish readers!
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Sprinter Sacre shows he is a true champion beating
Un de Sceaux in what will surely be the story of the week
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On Day 2, the festival proved that it was one for the sentimentalists.
Following Annie Power’s Champion Hurdle win on Day 1, Sprinter Sacre made, what
only 12 months ago, looked like an impossible comeback to land the Champion
Chase over odds on favourite Un De Sceaux. The bravery of De Boinville and
Henderson to push him on coming down the hill to take it up on the ascent
cannot be underestimated and he takes his rightful place now as the champion of
champions. Or to borrow a line, Steeple Chaser from the Gods.
The case was unfortunately not the same for Balthazar King,
whose return from injury in last year’s Grand National was in itself a miracle;
he stumbled on his way round the tricky cross country obstacles and dispatched
of Richard Johnson. Josie’s Orders just couldn’t quite get on terms with Any
Currency – but no one could begrudge the winner the victory after he’s just
lost out in this so many times in the past.
Up until the champion chase, the RSA looked like the race of
the meeting so far and was won impressively by Blaklion, who beat Shaneshill
into second. The race looked to be going to No More Heroes who jumped the second last
in front, but put down at the last fence where there were 4 horses in a line. More of That confirmed worries that
the horse may be fragile and difficult to keep together when finishing fourth
with a burst blood vessel.
Yanworth really should’ve won the opener and Geraghty will
be disappointed with the ride he gave him, positioned along the outside all the
way, the slow pace of the race didn’t play to the horse’s strengths –
comparatively, Yorkhill was given a perfect ride by Ruby Walsh up the inside and
just wasn’t going to be caught up the run in.
Davy Russell got his customary festival winner (11 straight
years) in the Coral Cup with a patient ride on Diamond King, who looked like he
was still well handicapped after all! Diego Du Charmil duly obliged in the Fred
Winter (to make a Paul Nicholls 1-2) before Ballyandy proved that it pays to
just follow the form when landing the bumper from Battleford – who proved to be
a strong Graham Wylie runner to watch in future!
The star of Thursday’s card was due to be Thistlecrack who
goes off evens favourite in the World Hurdle and will be hard to beat, but the
late change made by Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins means that Vautour now turns
up here in the Ryanair Chase for which he is surely a shoo-in even if up
against a formidable opponent in last year’s Gold Cup 3rd Road to
Riches – if the latter can get the favourite beaten it would represent the
first victory for owner Michael O’Leary in the race that he sponsors! Vautour
won the JLT last year when odds on but this year’s renewal looks a lot more
competitive. The card is then littered with tricky handicaps
Shrew’s Shrewdie’s
1:30 – tentatively: Bristol
De Mai 5/1 – Zabana 10/1 e/w
2:10 – Our Kaempfer 10/1, Leave at Dawn 7/1 and/or Arpege D’Alene 11/1 e.w
2:50 – Vautour 5/6 – Al
Ferof 14/1 e/w
3:30 – Thistlecrack
(Nap) 11/10 – Saphir Du Rheu 9/1 e/w
4:10 – Stiletto 10/1 e.w.–
La Vaticane 16/1 e.w (unless you think it’s all a Jonjo O’Neill plot job, in
which case John’s Spirit 6/1 – I’d advise just cursing Jonjo for cheating
rather than backing him but each to their own) UPDATE: La Vaticane a non-runner so Full Shift 12/1
4:50 – Smart Talk 6/1
e/w, Limini Evs – or forecast
5:30 – Upswing 9/1 –
Knock House 20/1 e/w (Sentimental Bet:
The Giant Bolster 10/1)
Multiple Bet: Vautour
and Thistlecrack Double.
1:30 – JLT Novice
Chase, 2m3f
This is a really competitive race this year with plenty of
tangled form lines. Last year Vautour ran out a brilliant winner by about half
a furlong but this is likely to be a lot closer with 5 horses priced between
4-8/1!
Garde Le Victoire and Bristol De Mai are currently two out
of three joint favourites at the time of writing. The former has been rerouted
here from the Arkle and looks to preserve a 3 run unbeaten record over fences (incidentally
including a win over Dr. Harper who runs in the 5:30 today so watch that form
line!). On their form over 2 miles at Uttoxeter in soft ground in October,
Garde Le Victoire has the beating of Bristol De Mai – but this is not Uttoxeter
or 2m or on soft ground. The step up to 2m4f seems to have been the making of
Bristol De Mai, most recently seen in his impressive Scilly Isles Novice Chase
victory which is the highest rated performance of any of these. Garde Le
Victoire though does hold excellent Cheltenham form despite looking less
progressive.
In the same colours as Bristol De Mai, Henderson saddles L’Ami
Serge who was hugely disappointing here last year when finishing 4th
behind Douvan in the Supreme Novice having made small mistakes on the way
round. His chasing career started well in small runner novice fields but he was
below par again when beaten as a 1/5 favourite behind Violet Dancer last time
out. He’s not out of the picture but I’d expect others to improve past him.
Completing the most attractively French named thoroughbred
contest is As De Mee, who has never won over fences but is frequently
placed behind good horses including Bristol De Mai last time out. Although he’s
well exposed, his form isn’t too far off the others and at 20/1 may be worth a
punt each way.
From across the Irish Sea, Willie Mullins saddles both Outlander
and Black Hercules. The horses Outlander has run against paint an
impressive form picture having beaten Monksland earlier in the year and only
losing by short distances to RSA 2nd Shaneshill and Champion Hurdle
3rd Nichols Canyon over hurdles. His run at last year’s festival
though looks like a massive blot in the formbook – they went a strong gallop
that day and will again today and he got outpaced by better horses. Black
Hercules is a surprise entry in this given that he was being campaigned over 3m
for much of the year. He took a novicey fall at the last last time out which
can be forgiven, especially considering how impressive he looked in the
previous race to that. Like with Outlander, his festival form doesn’t look good
finishing 7th behind Martello Tower in the Albert Bartlett – but that
was a staying contest and this is more of a speed race. It all depends on
whether he was diverted to this because Shaneshill looked good in the RSA or
vice versa? Willie only knows.
Zabana ran a shocker finished 4th behind Outlander
last time out. His third to Jezki at Punchestown and 2nd in the
Coral Cup last year makes him easily the best hurdler in this but his jumping
so far has been very poor. He was looked after on that run behind Outlander and
if any are to emerge to beat the market principles it could be him. He has the
perfect jockey in Davy Russel to pick the principles off if they go too hard in
front.
Three Musketeers has decent enough form at a price, but it’s
hard to see him landing a blow in a competitive contest.
2:10 – Pertemps
Network Handicap Hurdle, 2m7f
I love this race as it always seems obvious once you know
the winner. It’s a real mixed bag of ex-chasers and progressive hurdlers/
chasers in the making and in previous years has thrown up horses like Holywell
as well as proving a leftfield but successful prep for Grand National winners
Rough Quest and Pineau Du Re. JP McManus owns 6/24 runners here so will be
disappointed not to hit the frame with a few! Of his runners, If In
Doubt, Cup Final and Leave at Dawn seem to be the most
fancied, who all look like likely sorts with Leave at Dawn having a nice
handicap mark, a win at Cheltenham under his belt and looking the most likely
to progress. He was well looked after last time out and the suspicion is he’ll
run beyond his mark.
Our Kaempfer looks really interesting. If it weren’t for the
poor stable form I’d imagine he’d be a lot shorter but he seems laid out for
this and I like him.
Arpege D’Alene has a nice profile for this as a failed chaser
returning to hurdles. It’s not a race Paul Nicholls has a great record in and
he is a bit higher in the handicap than I’d like but not without a chance. Sadler’s
Encore comes in at a much nicer weight and could go well for Phillip
Hobbs.
All Hell Let Loose will likely pick up the ‘most likely to have
been named by a teenager’ award, but probably not much else.
2:50 – Ryanair Chase,
2m4f
I’m not sure what Al Ferof has done to deserve this –
the ultra-consistent grey, who sports the famous One Man and Neptune Colognes
colours of Jon Hales, was antepost favourite for this after a good 3rd
in the King George. A previous Cheltenham winner of what subsequently looked to
be the greatest supreme novice of all time (with Cue Card and Sprinter Sacre in
behind), this looked set up to provide him with a great chance at landing a
first Grade 1 win at the festival for trainer Dan Skelton.
However, with a week to go Ryanair owner and sponsor of this
race Michael O’Leary decided to divert Gold Cup 3rd Road
to Riches into this event. He has never won his own race before and
this look set up to be the perfect opportunity. Despite looking slightly below
par when losing out to course specialist Carlingford Lough in the Irish Gold
Cup, he probably needed the run and his preparation this year certainly seems
to be have geared towards a spring campaign – If he’s at his best he would have
to have been fancied for this.
That was of course until Rich Ricci dropped a bombshell that
(one of his many) stable stars Vautour
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Vautour blitzes his rivals in the JLT - he is expected to deliver
again today
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would not be contending the
Gold Cup on Friday and would instead be dropped back in trip to contest this –
the excuse given was that he wasn’t showing the same ‘sparkle’ as last year,
when he was an emphatic winner of the JLT in what many believed was the best
performance of the festival. Sparkle or no, he wins this. He came within a nose
of winning the King George from Cue Card and has peaked twice here at the
Cheltenham Festival in the Supreme and the JLT – barring accident he wins.
Of the others, I’ve always loved Dynaste who won this race
in 2014 but he seems to be badly on the downgrade having missing last year’s
festival through injury. Anacotty has been one of my stars of
the season winning two valuable handicaps, he probably isn’t good enough to
compete at this level but 50/1 is a great price for an in form horse despite
the concern about quicker ground. Valseur Lido has been good this
season up until the last fence, falling in the King George when in contention
for a place and unseating in the Irish Gold Cup upsides Road to Riches and
coming on the bridle. Josses Hill is another to go well
here, especially given Henderson’s stable form – his jumping is also of
concern, but his 3rd to Un De Sceaux in last year’s Arkle puts him
in good stead – I’d prefer his form to that of Vibrato Valtet who despite
running well behind good 2m horses this year seems to go better on the winter
ground.
Taquin Du Seuil is also interesting having been supplemented
for this. He was a JLT winner two years ago but was poor here last year. Jonjo
O’Neil’s form though seems to be good so he’s not without a chance of hitting
the frame.
3:30 – FEATURE RACE:
World Hurdle, 2m7f
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He has been the star staying hurdler this season - but can
Thistlecrack live with the ground and speed of a festival race
to become a champion?
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This race is all about Thistlecrack who has risen to the
top of the stayers hurdle division this year and looked absolutely exceptional quickening
from the last in the Cleeve Hurdle here in January, laughing at his opposition
with similar ease than he did when beating Reve De Sivola at Ascot. His form
stands up and he is unopposable.
Warren Greatrex has been bullish about his preparation of
last year’s winner and frontrunner Cole Harden and has insisted the
season has been all about peaking him for todays. That may well be the case, but
his form has been a tad disappointing this year. The pace he is likely to set
at the front however may mean that this is a different staying test than
Thistlecrack has previously faced. Colin Tizzard though has said that the
target next season for Thistlecrack is the Gold Cup and so we have to assume
that he is up to the job!
Saphir De Rheu has had another disrupted season – last year
when attempting novice chasing his path was diverted to this coming a good
second behind Cole Harden – his poor run in the Hennessey assured that he was
back to hurdles again this year. He didn’t run hugely well behind Thistlecrack
in January, but it is not unlike Paul Nicholl’s to race his good horses until
they find form and I wouldn’t be surprised of a good show here.
Nicholl’s also runs the exciting Aux Ptit Soins who won
last year’s Coral Cup. Given a full year of prep he may well have been going
off a short price for this, but having not been seen on a racecourse since that
victory he is hard to back.
Last years Albert Bartlett winner Martello Tower has been
disappointing this year, not improving a huge amount on last year’s form and
would need to step up to feature. The strong Irish challenge comes from Alpha
Des Obeaux and in Mouse Morris he does have a trainer who knows how to
get them right for the day. His fans will maintain he would’ve
beaten Thistlecrack last April at Aintree when making a mistake and falling at
the last. But I think Thistlecrack has been a whole different horse since then.
If the race does break up then he has a chance but otherwise I think he’s held.
Nicky Henderson’s Whisper probably didn’t have an
ideal preparation for this last year when finishing in 4th before
emphatically reversing the form with Cole Harden at Aintree. He’ll be more
ready for this this year and is decent each way value.
With My Tent Or Yours and Sprinter Sacre giving lazarus
performances this week it would be folly not to mention 2013 Gold Cup winner Bob’s
Worth who drops into this – he is well held on form by most runners,
but great to see him here at a track he loves nonetheless. It is also great to
see returning heroes At Fishers Cross and Knockara
Beau (13 years old).
4:10 – Brown Advisory
Handicap, 2m4f
I wouldn’t have a strong opinion on this race if it weren’t
for the inclusion of John’s Spirit. As referenced
previously in the week Jonjo knows how to get them right for the day and following
the good run by Holywell I can easily see a return to form for John’s Spirit
who comes into this on a good mark at a track where he does well. He is among a
couple of horses here with formerly top level form including Fingal
Bay Tenor Nivinais and Ballyganour (who won this 2 years
ago) who could well return to form here. It’s hard not to like Fingal Bay based
on his previous Pertemps win.
Astracad would look thrown in at the bottom of the weights if
it wasn’t for his poor form at the festival – he is one worth backing in the
future as whatever he does today is only likely to lengthen his price on tracks
he’s more suited to. It looks like Caroline Mould (owner of Sprinter Sacre) has
taken a similar view in deciding to use some of her Champion Chase winnings to
purchase him overnight…!
The bottom of the weights seems to be where the most
interesting ones are though. The obvious one to like is Stiletto who won well 4
weeks ago. That run puts him well clear of Fingal Bay on recent form and if he
runs to that standard again, he’s potentially thrown in. La Vaticane seems to have
been around forever so its hard to believe he’s only 7 – The Pipes know what it
takes to win this having saddled 3 winners in recent years and he is another
who could potentially be progressive. Full Shift would be interesting if
it weren’t for pulling up on his last run – I’d want a bigger price on him to
take that risk.
Venetia Williams also runs some likely looking sorts of
which I prefer Niceonefrankie
4:50 – Mares Novice
Hurdle, 2m
This is a completely new race to the festival so its hard to
know which approach to take. The market seems to have spoken though for Willie
Mullins’ Limini who will go off a hot favourite. Although Un de Sceaux’s
loss to Sprinter Sacre proved Mullins may well be mortal after all, she may be
hard for punters to oppose and falls under the bracket of being another Mullins
‘super-mare’
Limini hasn’t done much wrong but on pure form thus far she
is quite a way second in this race to Brian Ellison’s Smart Talk – who had she
held an entry in the mares hurdle on Tuesday would’ve been second rated in the
field behind Vroum Vroum Mag. She is a front runner and well set a strong
gallop – a tactic that paid dividends on the new course last year and will play
into her favour today if others meet trouble behind her. She is a lot more
battle hardened than Limini and today will show whether that’s to her advantage
or whether Limini as a less exposed horse can improve past her.
If they do go at eachother at the front and don't quite get home, then I’d fancy Tea in Transvaal or Tara
Flow to pick up the pieces.
5:30 – Kim Muir
Handicap Chase (For Amateur Riders), 3m2f
I don’t like putting up favourites in a big field handicap
at Cheltenham but…. Dr Harper really looks suited for this. He has a form line
through Garde Le Victoire who runs in the first race of the day, so we’ll see
how that goes, but he seems nicely handicapped and a really useful sort. There
is however a huge question mark over his ability to stay.
It is absolutely great to see one of my heroes The
Giant Bolster turn up here – placed in three gold
cups over the course
and distance, he has been regressive this year but as a result comes in supremely
well handicapped, a return to anywhere near his best would be exceptional and
it’s hard not to have a bet on him here.
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2nd, 3rd and 4th in three Gold Cups - How well handicapped is
The Giant Bolster in the Kim Muir?
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The important angle in this race though is the amateur
jockeys! J J Codd rides Cause of Causes a previous festival
winner in the 4m and Derek O’Connor looks to follow up on his win on Tuesday on
Upswing.
Both are well fancied J P McManus runners of which I prefer Upswing – I’m
not too bothered that he pulled up last time out and his second before that to
Saulsilito Sunrise is the best form on offer here.
Beyond that it is just a case of picking one out at a price
who looks good each way. Knock House is a horse I’ve always had time for – he has a
great Cheltenham record and an experienced jockey in Nina Carberry – I’d prefer
him at a lower weight but he should give you a decent spin round.
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