To opine that each day of the Cheltenham Festival has its own individual highlights is of course tantamount to observing the Pope is a catholic. Be that as it may, no apologies will be made for declaring that the highlight of the entire National Hunt year for yours truly takes place on Cheltenham Wednesday – the Champion Bumper.
Yes, it started purely as a Nina Carberry (now Walsh, MEP) thing. The local wags would have it that if the great lady got up on a heifer I’d back it. They may not have been far wrong either. How ironic is it, then, that, if memory serves me rightly, she never did win the top race at the Festival for amateur riders.
Going closest in what I think was 2009 aboard Corskeagh Royale for Noel (Meade), where they were just undone to the tune of about half a length by the enigmatic Cousin Vinny. A brilliant steed, no doubt, but did he ever reach the heights thought possible?
Even with that setback, though, it has been a lucky race for me. From the sadly ill-fated Fayonagh to A Dream To Share and Envoi Allen and Ferny Hollow and Bambino Fever last season all adding to the loot in the coffers in this seat. There’s a cracking day’s racing to be got through before getting to my Festival highlight, so here goes!
1.20 – Turner’s Novice Hurdle (2M/5F, 22 Runners, 4 places)
The obvious place to start here is with the winning connections of the opening race of the first stanza – Gordon and Sue Hall, Nico De Boinville and Nicky Henderson. I have no problem admitting to have underestimated the class of OLD PARK STAR so one had better not make the same error twice. Thus, ACT OF INNOCENCE has to enter calculations. Not least because the gelding by My Dream Boat has been among the most consistent performers in the middle distance division.
Willie Mullins is unsurprisingly mob handed here with KING RASCO GREY – Paul Townend’s pick, and SAINT BACO, LAURET’S DESTRUVAL and FREE SPIRIT all trading at very un-Closutton-like odds. Then, sometimes, in jump racing particularly. a horse makes an impression on you that you can’t or don’t want to shake off.
That draws in BALLYFAD, SORTUDO and, in particular, SOBER. But, if you want to talk about making a good impression, to hear Paul Nicholls mention NO DRAMA THIS END in the same sentence as The Tank that was DENMAN surely tells you all you need to know.
2.00 – Brown Advisory Handicap Chase (3M/1F, 16 Runners, 4 Places)
While wisdom wants to say there’s no such thing as a certainty in racing, here’s the nearest you will get to one – there will be an Irish winner of this race. If not I will eat the bolts holding the wheelchair together. So, of the plethora of tricolour representatives therein, probably best to begin with FINAL DEMAND who appears to be the Mullins top lot.
The son of the former Closutton inmate race mare Zouzska has never gone off as big as even 2/1 in a race, but, while there can be no doubting the class of the 7-year-old in an overall sense, I’m just not sure third of five behind stablemate KAID D’AUTHIE is strong enough form to win a race at this venue this week.
Then again, if you take it that the first-named of Willie’s may eventually reach the potential so many believe him to have, then the McManus-owned latter named might represent very good value indeed.
To look at the quality of participants therein, one could be forgiven for forgetting that some of the field are taking a jump up in class to this contest. But, on the other hand, It wouldn’t take much of a step to imagine KOKTAIL DIVIN or THE BIG WESTERNER or even KITZBUHEL lining up in the Arkle on Tuesday.
However, one steed whom it absolutely was a shock not to see in the showpiece for young chasers is ROMEO COOLIO.
Gordon Elliott’s team hit the crossbar on a couple of occasions in Act I, but, while the idea of a ‘banker’ in Prestbury Park can be a fallacy, for this writer, Romeo has been the most impressive novice chaser seen either side of the Irish Sea this season and I expect him to prove as such.
2.40 – Bet MGM Handicap Hurdle (2M/5F, 24 Runners, 6 Places)
Formerly the Coral Cup, the name change won’t make it any easier of a puzzle to solve. As with any handicap, the first point of calculation has to be horses who have been teed up for the occasion.
Willie Mullins undoubtedly will have further Graded gains in mind to add to those already annexed. That said, valuable handicaps are not to be sniffed at, especially when you have one in the green and gold hoops.
KOPECK DE MEE looks exactly like one which has been readied for the occasion and money coming for the French bred would only endorse such inclinations.
Money has come for IBERICO LORD on plenty of occasions and while he has often flattered to deceive, a Henderson horse at the Festival cannot be discounted. Therefore, very similar comments could also be appended to fellow Seven Barrows resident JINGKO BLUE.
Dan Skelton’s alacrity at laying one out for a big handicap hardly needs any further elaboration, especially after the swashbuckling destruction job by MADARS yesterday. So it would be no surprise to see KATEIRA on the premisis rounding the bend for home.
THE YELLOW CLAY could be a cut above these if putting best hoof forward. Another McManus team member, PUTURHANDSTOGETHER has been a progressive sort all season and is expected to outrun its odds.
For once though, I am going to break my late father’s golden rule and allow a smidgeon of sentiment into calculations. You see, a few months ago, the Irish actor, writer and television personality Pat Ingoldsby passed away.
To my generation and probably a few before, Pat will be best remembered as FORTY COATS. So, with that in mind, and in memory of owner Chris Jones’s fellow Dunsany sporting personality Brendan Cummins (RIP) a few bob each way at around 9/1 will do me.
3.20 – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (3M/5F, 14 Runners, 4 places)
The first thing to note about this grand old race is that firstly the Enda Bolger-JP angle only have one bullet to fire at it this term and secondly that the horse in question, FAKIR DOUDAIRIES is currently available at an astonishing 22/1.
Remember, this is a race the two Limerick men have nearly monopolised over the years with beloved golden oldies like GARDE CHAMPETRE, BUAILTAS AND FADAS, HEADSOnTheGROUND and the grandfather of them all, dear old SPOTTHEDIFFERENCE.
It must be acknowledged, though, that the sphere has become a lot more competitive as the likes of Gordon and Gavin Cromwell are now among those giving the contest the respect and backing it deserves.
The former has the current favourite in FAVORI CHAMPDOU and, while the Gigginstown inmate is a worthy market leader, his stable mate THE GOFFER seldom runs a bad race and can be expected to be at the business end here too.
Now, given the manner in which the two yards are intrinsically linked, perhaps it’s not that surprising that Gavin has now became as adept at getting one ready for the specialised course.
As seen by the victory of FINAL ORDERS over same earlier in the season and that one is bound to be bang there again but connections of STUMPTOWN are seemingly quite bullish about their prospects and I would concur.
4.00 – Queen Mother Champion Chase, (2M, 10 Runners, 3 Places)
Blink and you’ll miss it. The type of race where certain contenders turn up every year and run the races of their season. The De Bromhead duo QUIXILLIOS and Captain Guinness definitely tick that box. The former definitely comes alive around Cleave Hill.
The same could absolutely be said regarding IL ET TE TEMPS for Willie, but, for the Closutton operation all the gab seems to revolve around MAJBOROUGH.
Now, Mark Walsh’s mount may well come out here and hose up. And, if it materialises as such I will be first to doff my cap.
Mind you, it’s not very often you get each way value in a race with only nine runners but LEU DU SUD is definitely that.
4.40 – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (2M, 20 Runners, 5 Places)
The first thing to note about what was once the curtain closer is that the man in who’s father’s honour the race is run doesn’t have a runner therein. The upshot of which is that the majority of the ‘home’ team’s ambitions are likely to rest with the Skelton’s BE AWARE. However, it seems certain that Cian Collins will have prepped last year’s winner JAZZY MATTIE with pursuit of a Festival hat-trick in mind and, while adopting a horses-for-courses approach could be construed as somewhat simplistic, the 7-year-old never runs a bad race in the Cottswolds.
Then again, the same comments can absolutely be attributed to anything sent out be either the Cromwell or Elliott yards. Thus, while RELIEVED OF DUTIES, TOUCH ME NOT and ADDREGOOLE are all fancied to run well, slight preference is for the progressive and stamina laden BALLYSAX HANK to come rattling home and be in the money at the very least.
5.20 – Wetherby’s Champion Bumper (2M, 22 Runners, 4 Places)
NOTED: THE MOURNE RAMBLER, QUIRYN, LOVE SIGN D’ANOU
SELECTION: KEEP HIM COMPANY
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