And so it begins. Just like last year, well, in fact every year since da died, the Cheltenham Festival is upon us and I feel no more ready for it than a cow does for a Bank Holiday.
Still, I am ever mindful of and grateful to those of you who follow my Racing Tips throughout the year and reckon I’ve some idea what I’m doing. So here goes.
1.30 – SUPREME NOVICES HURDLE (2M)
A case of starting as we mean to go on here. In other words, try to decipher which one of the Willie Mullins contingent is most likely to oblige. To that end, Tullyhill demands respect. Carrying the colours of Cheveley Park Stud and the mount of stable jockey Paul Townend. Though the same can be said of Gordon Elliott’s Firefox under Jack Kennedy.
Outside of Mullins, few if any have a better record in the Festival opener than Nicky Henderson, thus his Jericho Du Riponet must be considered. Ironically, however it’s the fact the McManus retainted rider, Mark Walsh, has opted for Closutton inmate MYSTICAL POWER that swings the verdict for me.
Simplistic? Maybe, but, leaving his stellar pedigree aside (Galileo ex Annie Power) that the McManus/Magnier/Ricci owned steed began its racing career in a Ballinrobe summer Bumper and his ended up on racing’s biggest stage speaks volumes.
2.10 – ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY NOVICES CHASE
Another Mullins-dominated maze, the long heralded Gaelic Warrior is undoubtedly highly talented but equally as delicate, so the reported easy going won’t do Paul Townend’s mount any harm.
Hunters Yarn is absolutely no back number, but can his jumping be trusted going full pelt around this place? Henry De Bromhead has done a remarkable job to get Quixillios back on track and being a former Triumph Hurdle winner and with Rachael aboard is likely to carry the hopes of many.
However, in such a trappy betting heat, it might pay to look for a bit of value. So, at about 6/1 a few bob EW on Willie’s IL ETAIT TEMPS will do for me.
The grey has a good record under Danny Mullins and a bit of cut underfoot will be no problem.
2.55 – ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE (3M, 1F)
Naturally, the latest Paul Byrne/JP McManus swap will have heightenend interest in Meetingofthewaters, but, while he was an impressive staying on winner of a Leopardstown heat early in the season, he may not get a race run to suit here.
In contrast, the Elliott duo of The Goffer and Gevrey seem fairly adaptable in terms of racing style and at least one of them have decent course form. And around Prestbury Park that counts for a lot.
Mind you, it must also be acknowledged that the Ultima is one of the few races the home team have held sway in over the years. It is also a fact that there are trainers who will ‘ready’ a horse for a race like this for God knows how long, and Kim Bailey is among the best of them.
His stable star, First Flow, was retired last week and, acknowledging the fact that trainers are always looking for the next one, TRELAWNE can run a big race for the former Gold Cup winning handler. With most bookies paying on the first six home, an each way investment is well in order.
3.30 – THE UNIBET CHAMPION HURDLE (2M)
For so long, the thought process was that this race was to be a coronation of Constitution Hill. Then, when it emerged that the Henderson horse was sensationally ruled out a fortnight ago, talk of a crowning turned to the Mullins-trained State Man, but at 1/3, I’d happily take him on.
Look, he’s obviously a very good class horse, but, akin to Melon who ran in the same silks, to me, he’s just a shade below really top notch.
Right, so it would be fair comment to say there’s nothing of commensurate quality to Honeysuckle or last season’s winner in the field, but, against that, anything that lines up in a Champion Hurdle tends to be there on merit.
Therefore, the Henderson/McManus decision to supplement Iberico Lord must be respected. However, to my mind, a handicapper, albeit a high class one, can’t transform into a Grade One horse at the flick of a switch.
Meaning that, thanks to circumstances, it has the look of the most open looking first day showpiece in a long time. That presents opportunities for others to step up to the plate. Don’t be surprised if Gordon Elliott’s unexposed IRISH POINT does exactly that.
4.10: – DAVID NICHOLSON MARES HURDLE (2M, 4F)
Someday somebody will eventually cop on and title this race the Quevega Mares Hurdle. That’s not meant in any disrespect to The Duke, just that, aside from the victory of White Oak, the Closutton wonder mare made it her own for as long as she was in training.
That said, in the intervening years, a plethora of Mullins-trained favourites have gone to post with only Vroom Vroom Mag obliging. That run may be about to come to an end though.
Perhaps fittingly, in the Ricci silks carried to victory here by the aforementioned, LOSSIEMOUTH can get the same connections back into the Winners Enclosure. And a Ricci winner at The Festival is always quite the occasion.
Now, the race is far from a foregone conclusion. Like most of the Championship races, some of the regulars – and past winners – like Marie’s Rock, Tellmesomethinggirl and Love Envoi line up again.
But the fact that the selection was at the very least under consideration for today’s headline race means she is definitely the one to beat here.
4.50 – FRED WINTER JUVENILE HURDLE (2M)
In a race festooned with Irish runners, it’s honestly hard to know where to start. Larkinthemornin is obviously fairly highly thought of but it has been a non runner more often than the Referenda the Irish Government tried to get passed last week.
Batman Girac was the first Juvenile Willie Mullins ran all season and h, has been seen very sparingly since, so you’d wonder has it been part of a plan. Milan Tino appears to be the pick of the JP runners, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Nara outran it’s current odds.
In the end though, one is repeatedly drawn to the resurgent form of the Paul Nicholls yard and Britain’s curent Jockey’s Championship leader Harry Cobden can tag on another with LIARI
5.30 – NATIONAL HUNT CHASE (3M, 6F)
EMBASSY GARDENS
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