1.20: TURNERS NOVICE HURDLE
The New Lion has been one of the talking horses of the current jump season, and in fairness with good reason as, apart from being unbeaten in his career to date, his victory in the Challow Hurdle in Newbury was his biggest step forward to date with said contest being a noted Cheltenham trial race. Though I’m just not sure I’d be rushing to get involved at 15/8.
Identical sentiments apply to the Willie Mullins-trained Final Demand at around 11/8. The only caveat in that case being that the Closutton genius made an artform out of bringing Quevega over to win without a run at all, so the fact the aforementioned in this case has only ran (and won) twice prior to being pitched in on the biggest stage of all shouldn’t put you off.
But, at his current odds, I wouldn’t be pushed. So, for a bit of value, you ask yourself what’s in a name and, with the ground seemingly drying out at the Mecca of jump racing, THE YELLOW CLAY will do for me for an interest at around 6/1.
2.00: BROWN ADVISORY NOVICE CHASE
Incredibly, there are NO UK trained runners in this race. With only Henry De Bromhead’s Gorgeous Tom interrupting the Mullins/Elliott duopoly, and his presence therein demands the utmost respect. Especially in light of his fourth place finish in the Drinmore Novice Chase at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival. You might be thinking that fourth in a seven runner race doesn’t seem great. But before completely writing him off consider (i) the ground in Gloucester is likely to be vastly different to that at my local track last December, (ii) the step up to three miles from two and-a-half would appear to be right up his street as he was doing his best work at the end in Ratoath track and finally (iii) it’s worth noting that De Bromhead’s charge hasn’t ran since that Fairyhouse run.
The Mullins riding arrangements are interesting. Dancing City has, sources indicate, always been very highly regarded in Closutton. Also, you could hardly begrudge owners Joe and Marie Donnelly a change of luck, having seen their star novice chaser Sir Gino ruled out for the season and State Man crumbling with the Champion Hurdle seemingly at his mercy. Yet, the fact that Paul Townend has gone elsewhere for his mount in the race has to be significant.
That said, while one learnt a long time ago the folly of ruling out any Mullins participant in a race, I will say that I’m shocked Lecky Watson appears to be well down the pecking order and as big as 18/1 with the layers.
You never see a bookie on a bicycle, mind you, and, in fairness, even without the fact that Townend has picked him, BALLYBURN is undoubtedly the most progressive of the middle distance Novices of the season. Following up on his brilliant win in the equivalent hurdle race (Turners) 12 months ago.
2.40: CORAL CUP HANDICAP HURDLE
Having counted the cost of ignoring Dan Skelton runners in Cheltenham handicaps on more than one occasion, one will absolutely Be Aware not to do so again, though, ironically, despite the 6-year-old racing off what would appear to be an ideal weight, 10-12, inclination is to think his ongoing bout of seconditis leaves him one best observed at only 9/2 in a known bearpit of a race.
However, in contrast, the Closutton inmate Bunting produced a career best run when second to Beckett Rock in Clonmel after an eight month layoff surely represents hitting a bit of form just in time. The Henderson yard could certainly use a change of luck and it would be no shock to see Impose Toi provide them with just that. But I would be of the view that the fact that French bred ended up in handicap company would actually represent a downward step.
Of some at bigger prices, Sandor Clegne seems to have got a bit of his mojo back since reverting to hurdles while Colonel Mustard has been quite the flagship horse for the Lorna Fowler yard and could very easily make the frame here meeting a bit of spring ground. The same can be ascribed to Gavin Cromwell’s Al Gasparro who put a disappointing Prestbury Park run last October behind him when taking a decent Leopardstown handicap at Christmas.
Call me boring if you like, but, taking a leaf from the Henderson play book with Constitution Hill, i.e. if it aint broke don’t fix it, jump racing might only be a side hustle for Joseph O’Brien, but he’s a dab hand at it when he puts his cards on the table, and can prove so again with COMFORT ZONE
3.20: GLENFARCLAS CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
The first time I can recall in my lifetime that neither Enda Bolger or JP McManus are represented in this wonderful, unique event. In their absence, it would have to be said that Gordon Elliott has been the next to step up to the plate in the discipline which some like to turn their noses up at.
I would love nothing more than to be able to tell you Coko Beach will finally get the day the old grey I adore so deserves, but drying ground won’t help his chances.
In contrast, his redoubtable stable mate Galvin seems to come alive at this time of year. Which a lot of the time enables hlm to bely being fairly well into double figures in terms of age and might do so again.
It would appear that Gavin Cromwell’s Stumptown has been trained for the race, but, in a race that I honestly haven’t a strong view on, I’ll be just having a small each way punt on Cromwell’s other representative, VANILIER. Often overlooked, the grey never runs a bad race.
4.00: QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
As if Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle carnage wasn’t evidence enough, there are absolutely no certainties in racing, let alone at the Cheltenham Festival. Thus, while Jonbon‘s credentials are beyond question, no race in this place during this week is a penalty kick.
If anything, the biggest drawback facing the McManus steed could be a lack of a proper test prior to d-day.
Energumene could absolutely have come here under the radar. A bit of age is never a hindrance to a Mullins inmate, and ground conditions won’t be an issue either way. Jumping shouldn’t be an issue and Mullins has already taken on and taken down many Henderson hotpots.
However, if you will, for once, allow me suggest a little bit of sentiment. Poignant and heartbreaking though it may be. MARINE NATIONALE may have more than one jockey steering him home. Not to mention the thousands, maybe hundreds of them, willing it to happen. It just might.
4.40: JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL HANDICAP CHASE
Surprisingly, Nicky Henderson doesn’t have a runner in the race which honours his late father, but, it is the ultra competitive, throw-a-dart-and-see-where-it-sticks heat it always has been.
Mention was made earlier of the alacrity of the Skelton team at getting horses ready for handicaps and that is certainly the case with Unexpected Party. With the Cromwell horses in such fine form, My Mate Mozzie obviously also enters calculations.
So too Jazzy Matty, yet another poignant connection link to the late Michael O’Sullivan. The late, great young Corkman having won the Fred Winter aboard the then Gordon Elliott-trained horse.
After the Caldwell Construction dispersal, upcoming Trim-based trainer Cian Collins ended up with the Cheltenham Festival winner and since then the now 6-year-old has been a flagship horse for a fleet going places fast.
American Mike could be the forgotten horse in the race, smarter brains tham I are probably equally as bewildered as to where the precocious young talent has gone but I can’t help believing it remains somewhere under the bonnet.
That said, there’s one horse in particular which there are never any questions about. He just turns up, does his thing and seldom if ever runs a bad race. On the flat or over jumps.
Hopefully he’ll be MY MATE MOZZIE again here.
5.20: WETHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER
Traditionally my favourite race of the entire Festival, but for reasons I honestly can’t figure out myself, it’s the first year since God was a gasun I don’t have strong, standout fancy for the race.
Naturally, the horde of Mullins runners are as intriguing as they are maddening. Simply because one could chop and change between, say, five of them and still not fall on the right one.
Nonetheless, if it is assumed that Patrick Mullins has the pick of his dad’s bumper string, that surely makes Cocacabana a major player here. Moreover, the fact the trainer has elected to Edward Ware’s animal take its chance just 11 days after a winning debut at Navan could be tip enough in itself.
Strangely, though, the trainer himself was more effusive of the chances of Gameofinches when recently going through the prospects of his youngsters.
Momentarily moving of from Closutton, Kalypso’chance has obvious claims for Gordon and Gigginstown while No Drama This End and Fortune De Mar probably supply the best hopes for the home team.
However, sometimes the feeling that a greater power is at work somewhere is inescapable. And, Lord knows, the sporting people of Cork have taken an unmerciful hammering of tragedy of the past month.
The loss of Mikie O’Sullivan scarcely needs any further elaboration, this week of all weeks, but the spirit of the Rebel County has been tried to a level beyond all fairness of late.
Following the equally untimely passing of former Sarsfields and Cork hurler Ray Ryan – brother of current reds senior hurling manager Pat.
Just as the throngs stood in silence to honour Mikie at a recent National Hurling League game, so they did for Ray a week later.
Sport, and being in around it brings a healing that is nigh impossible to define. As was seen when Co Cork owner Charlie McCarthy overcame cancer surgery to be in Prestbury Park to see his Kopak Des Bordes win the Supreme Novice Hurdle.
Don’t be surprised if Jody Townend has a right go at handing them another bit of solace aboard BAMBINO FEVER
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