Triumph Hurdle

A couple of weeks ago I’d have said East India Dock had the best form in this race and had done everything right but if the Fred Winter is anything to go by it signifies that the Irish may not have a stand alone superstar in this division but they are just better so I’m happy to take on the top two in the market. HELLO NEIGHBOUR 9/2 is the perfect two from two over hurdles having won a Grade 2 and a Grade 1 at Christmas and at the DRF both at Leopardstown. He’s got a high cruising speed and a lovely attitude. He jumps well in the main and will be ridden quietly in what will be a proper end to end gallop set by East India Dock. This could really play to his strengths and he looks one sure to land in the frame at worst. The other horse I’ll be having a punt on is SAINTE LUCIE 20/1 who was sent off a well backed favourite to beat Hello Neighbour at the DRF. She was fractious in the parade ring that day and was miles too keen during the race before fading out of things namely. She didn’t give her running that day but clearly she shows plenty at home. She may not be the choice of Paul Townend here but if she can handle the occasion the big field and strong gallop should give a great opportunity to settle her and if they can keep a lid on her she looks a huge price and I could easily see her getting involved.

Selections: Hello Neighbour 9/2 (EW), Sainte Lucie 20/1 (EW)

County Handicap Hurdle

I know the Willie Mullins stable hold an incredible hand here but I’m taking them on. Even though this is a much smaller field than you would normally expect for a County but it’s full of quality. MCLAUREY 7/1 runs in the colours of JP McManus and having started out life as an eight lengths winner of a point to point it took him a number of tries before he got off the mark inside the rails. He won his maiden hurdle on his fourth start before making a winning handicap debut in a very competitive race at the DRF. This son of Jukebox Jury runs here off 16lbs higher than his winning mark in Ireland last time but he’s a young horse who is improving rapidly and we have no idea where his ceiling lies he could be anything. With natural progression again having no doubt leaned plenty at Leopardstown again last then he should be even better than ever here if that’s the case then he has to go very close. Another I’m want to keep onside is NDAAWI 14/1 who is a high class dual purpose horse that has taken his connections to so many big days. He was third in last year’s Fred Winter and second in the Galway hurdle last summer. They are two devilishly difficult handicaps and he comes here off just a six pound higher mark than he raced off of in that Fred Winter which i think is lenient. Last seasons juveniles looked a strong bunch and the form has worked out well. I think hes overpriced and I fancy this has been the plan since that Galway Hurdle defeat and I think he will go close.

Selections: Mclaurey 7/1 (EW)(NB) Ndaawi 14/1 (EW)

Mares Chase

Dinoblue is another favourite ill be looking to take on here and I think Gavin Cromwell holds the key to this race so I will be playing two of his against the field. LIMERICK LACE 6/1 won this race last season and was heavily backed to do so. She hasn’t been at her best this season, far from it actually but vibes have been good from Gavin Cromwell recently she worked well last week and Gavin thought it wouldn’t be an easy decision for Keith which one to ride here. I don’t think she will be far away. Obviously Keith has chosen BRIDES HILL 6/1 and what she did at the end of last season in Punchestown was very good and if she can replicate that run she will have a big chance. She may lack the class of a Dinoblue or Limerick Lace on their day but she’s a good yardstick and I think she will run well.

Selections: Limerick Lace 6/1 (EW), Brides Hill 6/1 (EW)

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

THE BIG WESTERNER 9/2 has done nothing wrong in her career to date winning a point to point on debut before a pair of wins inside the rails winning a maiden hurdle and a Grade 2 at Limerick over Christmas with ease completely outclassing her rivals. The one doubt for her is the ground as this will be the fastest ground she has run on in her career to date. She’s a big bull of a mare who physically will match any of the geldings here and hopefully she can run her race. WINGMEN 8/1 has been progressing run to run this season. In his earlier career he was a real free type and was struggling to finish out his races at times. He’s been campaigned over all trips this season but now that he has learned to relax he has made up into a pretty formidable stayer. She has form with plenty good horses we’ve already seen acquit themselves well this week such as Final Demand and The Yellow Clay. He sets a really good standard with loads of experience and looks sure to be on the premises. One final horse to give a mention to is INTENSE APPROACH 16/1 who was a smart bumper horse and he comes here with loads of hurdles experience under his belt. In his early hurdles career his jumping left him down badly but he has really sorted that out now and he’s exactly the type that have traditionally gone really well in this and his trainer has had runners go really well in this in the past.

Selections: The Big Westerner 9/2 (EW), Wingmen 8/1 (EW), Intense Approach 16/1 (EW)

Gold Cup

Let’s not waste too much time on this race GALOPIN DES CHAMPS 1/2 is an incredible racehorse a credit to connections and he turns up to dance ever dance. He rarely runs a bad race and we know we know he’s put these to the sword many times before. It looks like it will take an act of God to stop him winning a third Cheltenham Gold Cup and emulate some legends of the game. If there’s one to chase him home it’s probably INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN 7/1 who has been progressing away nicely in his two seasons over fences. He’s a really strong stayer and his season has been building away slowly and I think this race will bring a career best from him and if Galopin is below par he could be the one to give him a fright.

Selection: Inothewayurthinkin 7/1 (EW)

Hunters Chase

This race is a race for point to point horses and amateur jockeys so the form often needs to be taken with a pinch of salt and the race often throws up an upset. WILLITGOAHEAD 9/2 was a recent big money purchase by Gordon Elliott and the Morans and he looks to have leading credentials in this race. He’s a young improving horse with few miles on the clock who was impressive at Thurles when winning a Hunters Chase earlier in the season and he will really appreciate the nice ground. He’s a fantastic jumper and has so much improvement in him with his lack of experience the only negative. He should run well. For the British FAIRLY FAMOUS 16/1 is a good yardstick and has really good form around this track. He’s partners by Gina Andrews who is a very accomplished amateur in Britain and if there’s one that looks too big a price its probably him.

Selections: Willitgoahead 9/2 (EW),     Fairly Famous 16/1 (EW)

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle

This race often throws up an really high class horse and WODHOOH 4/1 is a mare who is the perfect six wins from six races over hurdles since joining Gordon Elliott from Sir Michael Stoute. She won a handicap off of a mark of 130 over course and distance in December and she had two top Mares in behind her that day in the shape of Take No Chances and Joyeuse who have both won big pots since and acquitted themselves really well in the mares hurdle here on Tuesday. Her trainer Gordon Elliott has a brilliant record in this race winning three of the last eight renewals with multiple other places horses in that period. She jumps and travels well and has plenty experience to draw on here’s hoping she can do the business in what is an ultra competitive race. TAPONTHEGO 10/1 looks a big price to me having beaten Mclaurey earlier in the season with consummate ease at Tipperary in a maiden hurdle. His mark of 135 looks lenient to me and I’d say he has plenty in hand on that. He’s had a couple of lovely runs in defeat since and I’d say this race has been the plan for him for a while. He jumps well he stays and has a touch of class which are all ingredients you need to win a race like this. He should run well for the Henry De Bromhead team. Of the Willie Mullins runners i think STORMBREAKER 40/1 has really been overlooked in this race. He has one of the conditional jockeys Willie often uses on board in the shape of Sean Cleary Farrell and he ran really well two starts ago when he was a good second to a handicap blit at Punchestown in December. I’m happy to draw a line through the run over 2 miles last time that was just too sharp for him. The test he will get here should really suit him and he has a lovely racing weight. I can see him getting involved at a massive price.

Selections: Wodhooh 4/1 (EW)(NAP), Taponthego 10/1 (EW), Stormbreaker 40/1 (EW)

Mares Novices Hurdle

This is one of the rare novice races at the Festival that always seems to turn up a bit of a minefield with nothing particularly standing out from the crowd. SIXANDAHALF 3/1 is a worthy market leader. She was an impressive winner of a bumper at the Punchestown festival last season before a solid flat campaign where she reached a high enough level. She has only had one start over hurdles at Fairyhouse and she couldn’t have been more impressive on the day. She jumped and travelled all over everything before scooting clear. She sets the standard and it will be up for something to get to her level and go by her. KAROLINE BANBOU 8/1 came from France on the back of four runs over there and is now with Willie Mullins in the green and gold of JP McManus. She was a warm order when finishing second at Naas in December before making no mistake on her second start at Fairyhouse on slow ground where she won with the minimum of fuss. She’s clearly a talented mare with a touch of class and I’d say she’s improving at 8/1 she’s a fair eachway bet.

Selections: Sixandahalf 3/1,          Karoline Banbou 8/1 (EW)

Novices Handicap Chase

This is a handicap full of unexposed young chasers with plenty improvement in them. It’s interesting that FIREFOX 7/1 comes here rather than taking on the Arkle on Tuesday. He’s a classy horse on his day and turned up and ran his race at all the spring festivals last season placing at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown. A mark of 150 looks a fair mark. He’s a big brute of a horse who will have no problem lumping 11st 8lb around. This is his first ever handicap run and I suspect he will prove to have anything between ten and twelve pounds in hand in time he’s surely a 160 horse without ever turning into a real Grade 1 operator. He’s worth chancing at a very fair price. The other horse I like in here and maybe it’s a bit heart over head with this one but ANSWER TO KAYF 9/1 is a horse I’ve always liked and real old fashioned chaser. He was super impressive in a handicap at Naas last time but the handicapper gave him a fair clout and he runs here off fifteen pounds higher than the Irish mark he won off that day. He may be nine but he hasn’t that man miles on the clock and ran a stormer in last seasons Martin Pipe. It would be great to see the small Cork yard of Terence O’Brien to get a festival winner and if he runs his race he will be bang there. The main concern is lively ground. The closer to soft that it’s riding the better his chance.

Selections: Firefox 7/1 (EW),           Answer To Kayf 9/1 (EW)

Pertemps Handicap Hurdle

This is one of the handicaps that Irish horses have a very good record in and it’s two Irish horses that will carry my money here. WIN SOME LOSE SOME 7/1 certainly comes here as one who came the path less travelled with wins in a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle in May onto a Wexford handicap in July off 105 he defied ab eleven pound rise in the weights at Clonmel in October before getting his head infromt again off of a mark of 125 in Leopardstown over Christmas and amongst all that he tasted defeat once more than one occasion. He’s been freshened up since then with this race having long been the target. He runs here off a mark of 138 and I don’t think he’s stopped improving just yet. He’s still only six and no doubt has a bright future ahead of him. He’s got Mark Walsh on his back and I’d struggle to kick him out of the frame. The other of interest is the Paul Nolan mare FEET OF A DANCER 10/1 she’s a three time winner over hurdles and has acquitted herself well in a couple of Listed contests at the back end of 2024 before a good third behind Win Some Lose Some at Christmas in Leopardstown. The yard has won this race before with another mare Mrs Milner a couple of seasons ago and this mare looks to be in a similar mould. She’s got a mark of 136 which looks more than fair and she’s also been kept fresh since Christmas with this in mind. She looks sure to run well.

Selections: WinSomeLoseSome 7/1(EW)  Feet Of A Dancer 9/1 (EW)

Ryanair Chase

This race is the epitome of the young pretenders taking on the old guard with the likes of Fact To File and I’ll Est Francais  taking on Envoi Allen, Protektorat and Jungle Boogie. I’m going to punt on an upset here so I’m going to play a pair of Henry De Bromhead runners. ENVOI ALLEN 16/1 is a multiple festival winner and has won and finished second in the last two renewals of this race. He loves the track the trip really suits him and he doesn’t look like his form is tailing off despite his age. He battled hard to win the Champion Chase at Down Royal early in the season. Kempton you can draw a line through as it’s been a failed expedition in the past and he has bounced right back when it came to Cheltenham in March. Look it may be the case that one of the younger brigade might have the legs on him at this stage but I’m willing to find out. I’m surprised Daragh O’Keeffe has opted for HEART WOOD 16/1 here instead of Jungle Boogie and one would presume he had the choice. This horse was a very decent handicapper and always hinted that he may be capable of making the leap from handicaps to be a Graded performer. He travelled really well at Leopardstown over Christmas behind Galopin Des Champs before getting caught out by the trip. He’s always appeared to me as a weak stayer over three miles. This trip will suit whether he has the class to win something like this but you have to take a chance somewhere along the line and this appeals to me as the Grade 1 most open to a shock. (Not withstanding what happened in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday of course)

Selections: Envoi Allen 16/1 (EW),      Heart Wood 16/1 (EW)

Stayers Hurdle

TEAHUPOO 6/4 comes here as the reigning and defending champion of the three miles hurdling division and he will take some stopping here again this time around. He’s the model of consistency rarely runs a bad race. He goes very well fresh and is a thorough stayer at the trip but he also possesses a touch of class. He jumps well and has winning form against most of his rivals in here. He’s the standard bearer and I can’t see him beaten. Of the short prived runners this week he’s of the most reliable to my mind. I’d struggle to see him beat. If you are more inclined to an eachway bet then I wouldn’t put anyone off THE WALLPARK 7/1 who has been really progressive in handicaps so far in his career and has course form having won a Pertemps Qualifier here in October. He never travelled in Ascot last time and the race turned into more of a test of speed. He jumps and stays really strongly the harder they go the more it will suit him and he won’t mind the nice ground. He could still be improving and he looks the type to relish a race like this.

Selections: Teahupoo 6/4 (NAP),           The Wallpark 7/1 (EW)

Plate Handicap Chase

AN PEANN DEARG 16/1 was a slow burner in his early career taking 10 runs to finally get off the mark but he did the business in a Leopardstown handicap over Christmas and he hasn’t looked back since. He got 6lbs for his win that day but that wasn’t enough to stop him as he duly followed up at the DRF in good style. He gets in here off a mark of 134 and he seems to really be progressing at last. He’s a strong stayer over two miles so this step up to two and a half shouldn’t be an issue for him. He’s got a lovely racing weight, he’s fit and well and in tremendous form. He should be well capable of making the frame here at a double figure price and who knows he might scoop the lot. PATH D’OROUX 14/1 is one for Gavin Cromwell that has acquitted himself well all season in two miles handicaps in Ireland and he nearly always runs his race. He was a good third in the Grand Annual off of three pounds lower here last season and Gavin Cromwell seems particularly buoyant about his chances up in trip here he’s a strong traveller who will be smuggled into the race by Keith Donoghue and played as late as possible. His finishing effort has been questionable a few times in the past but he looks sure to make it into the frame. One for the British contingent is MASACCIO 9/1 is a real solid contender for Alan King and he was been keeping good company this season since breaking his maiden over fences he twice finished in behind The Jukebox Man before only going down by just over three lengths behind Jagwar here in January who he meets on 6lbs better terms here. He’s looks like another who is sure to run his race and I wouldn’t put anyone off him.

Selections: An Peann Dearg 16/1 (EW), Path D’oroux 14/1 (EW), Masaccio 9/1(EW)

Kim Muir Amateur Riders Handicap Chase

JOHNNYWHO 5/1 has been a real eyecatcher so far this season over fences. He’s been running some decent races in some nice novice events without ever really threatening. That said I don’t think he has been overexerting himself possibly with getting a lenient handicap mark in mind. He’s a classy horse on his day who travels really well. He’s the perfect ride in a race like this for Derek O’Connor. He can take his time and creep away and i find it hard to see how he doesnt play a major role here at the business end of the race. A mark of 140 looks fair and with a bit of luck he won’t be far away. The real fairytale story of the week could be if WALKING ON AIR 13/2 under Alan O’Sullivan (brother of Michael) who has been in flying form of late riding plenty winners in point to points including a treble at Kildorrery only a couple of weeks ago. He runs off a mark of 129 just 4lbs higher than the mark which would have seen him bolt up at Doncaster last time only for coming a cropper at the last when he fell. Alan’s claim offsets that rise and he has a lovely racing weight of 10st 8lbs. He’s a horse that was always well thought of with Nicky Henderson and his new yard seems to have him right back to his best. He’s one I think everyone in racing will be willing home this week.

Selections: Johnnywho 5/1 (EW)(NB), Walking On Air 13/2 (EW)

Turners Novices Hurdle

This looks a competitive renewal of this race certainly more competitive than we have seen in recent years. FINAL DEMAND 7/4 is a worthy favourite having won a point to point in March 2024 he made his racecourse debut at Limerick over Christmas where he ran out an impressive winner of a maiden hurdle but he blew his rivals away in a Grade 1 at the DRF. He beat a good field that day in some style and this big scopey individual will be very hard beat here if he turns up in the same form as that Leopardstown victory. He could be anything! The New Lion is a horse i don’t rate at all the form of his win at Newbury is worthless with many of his rivals underperforming. He won a sprint against stayers that day and i expect this to be a totally different test. I’m against him. THE YELLOW CLAY 13/2 is the solid one in here against the field here has loads of experience and has progressed with each start this season from a maiden hurdle to a Grade 3, Grade 2 and culminating in a Grade 1 victory at Naas. He’s shown alot of his cards at this stage we kind of know what he is whereas we can’t be sure how good Final Demand is. He’s the solid one in the field he’s sure to run his race and that’s a very decent standard his rivals have to reach. I couldn’t have him out of the frame.

Selections: Final Demand 7/4,                The Yellow Clay 13/2 (EW)

Brown Advisory Novices Chase

For all the hype and the short price about Ballyburn he’s a horse I’ve never taken to and he’s one i want to take on. He’s a buzzy character and he’s never races over the trip. His jumping is very slow and tentative and he’s not quick away from his fences. People thought that would be seen to better up to two and a half miles from two last time but he showed plenty frailties and he’s not for me. DANCING CITY 4/1 is the bet for me, he is the model of consistency. He won three Grade 1 novice hurdles last season at Leopardstown, Aintree and Punchestown. He also finished third in the Albert Bartlett at this meeting but I don’t think he was ridden to best affect that day. He’s a horse who loves to control his races. He jumps and travels well but he does tend to get a bit lonely infront so he’s never going to win by very wide margins but he is very tough and genuine and he will go out on his shield. It will take a very good 1 to get by him. I’ll be very disappointed if he doesnt go very close. He’s got everything you’d want in a good staying chaser.

Selection: Dancing City 4/1 (EW)(NAP)

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

This is a devilishly difficult handicap to predict and I’m looking to take a chance on a couple of young unexposed horses stepping up in trip with bags of potential. The first of those is BUNTING 5/1 who i know disappointed on his seasonal return at Clonmel but I’m reliably informed that he was as big as house that day like he was just pulled in out of the field and will have come on a ton for that. There’s a fair chance that this has always been the plan and running in the colours of the notorious Tony Bloom it may be fair to say that he was only checking boxes to get qualified for a festival handicap that day and he will be a totally different proposition here. He was a highly rated Juvenile hurdler last season and with plenty experience in good size fields in quality races I see no reason why he won’t cope with this sort of a test on handicap debut. The second horse on my radar for this is BEAT THE BAT 16/1.
This horse has always had a bit of a reputation around the Harry Fry yard. He was well regarded as a bumper horse and last season his novice campaign was cut short with a bit of an issue but that seems well behind him now. He started off his season with a really good run at Haydock off a mark of 132. He was entitled to get a bit tired late on after almost a year off but that may have been mistaken for a need to drop back in trip which he did on his next two starts at Windsor and at Newbury in what used to be the Betfair Hurdle. He was outpaced on both those occasions before staying on late in the day. The step back up in trip looks sure to suit him and with a bit of luck off of a mark of 133 he should run a big race at a double figure price!

Selections: Bunting 5/1 (EW),                 Beat The Bat 16/1 (EW)

Cross Country Chase

This race reverts back to being a handicap again this year and for the competitive nature of the race it looks a good move. Some of those at the top of the weights look vulnerable to me so I’m going to take a chance on a couple a bit further down. VANILLIER 7/1 is a former festival winner in the Albert Bartlett and finished second in the 2023 Aintree Grand National so he’s a classy horse on his day. He lost his way a bit in the last 18months or so but he looked back to something like his best last time at Punchestown when he absolutely bolted up in a cross country race and he looks to me to be a danger to all in here. ROI MAGE 25/1 may be 13 years of age at this stage but he’s been a brilliant servant for connections and he looks in good form with himself this season. He comprehensively beat Sweet David in a Listed race in France back in the autumn and that horse has subsequently come to Cheltenham and bolted up in a similar contest to this. He has loads of experience and stays well he might not have tons in hand but experience is always important in this race and he certainly has place claims. I can’t go without mentioning ICEO MADRIK 10/1 he’s a winner in this discipline in France where in his most recent win he had Roi Mage well behind him. He unseated when having a sighter here earlier in the season when well fancied. Unfortunately he’s only second reserve so is very unlikely to get a run but if he did off a featherweight he would take high order here and isn’t to be forgotten.

Selections: Vanillier 7/1 (EW),                Roi Mage 25/1 (EW), Iceo Madrik 10/1 (EW)

Champion Chase

I’m dead set against Jonbon here he loves to boss races getting a soft lead and quickening but you can’t let good horses do that and he certainly won’t get a soft lead here. He has never won at the Festival in any of his previous attempts and while he has course wins to his name he did so in lesser company than this and I’m happy to take him on at the prices. MARINE NATIONALE 5/1 looks a decent eachway bet to nothing in this race. He hasn’t set the world alight over fences yet in his career but his season has been slowly building to this race and he looks primed to run a big race and wouldn’t it be poignant if this former Supreme Novice hurdle with Michael O’Sullivan on board that day could come back to his best and land one of the feature races of the week. Wishful thinking maybe but certainly not out of the question. Another I’m happy to play against the field is QUILIXIOS 25/1 on his day he would be very competitive in this. Not the most consistent performer but when he’s on song he is very very good and he will race prominently he jumps very well. He’s got Festival form as a former winner of the Triumph Hurdle and don’t be surprised if he’s in contention as they swing for home in this. This race has thrown up alot of upsets in recent years and I’ll be hoping for another one this time around.

Selections: Marine Nationale 5/1 (EW), Quilixios 25/1 (EW)

Grand Annual Handicap Chase

This is another devilishly difficult handicap but JAZZY MATTY 8/1 who is a son of Doctor Dino is a former Cheltenham Festival winner under Michael O’Sullivan in the Fred Winter in 2023 when trained by Gordon Elliott. He has taken well to chasing for the Cian Collins yard winning two at Sligo and Wexford before running a very good race here behind Path D’oroux who placed in this race last season in October when he went down by a narrow margin. Since then I think his season has been completely geared around coming back here for this race. He had a lovely comeback of a break in January behind Samui at Thurles when he got an very quiet ride from Danny Gilligan. I expect him to go very well here off a lovely racing weight. Here’s hoping for a big run. The other horse that may benefit from the end to end gallop that you normally get in this race is AMERICAN MIKE 12/1 who is a classy horse on his day who was always highly regarded. He’s a former runner up in the Champion Bumper in his younger days. He may never really have lived up to his early career expectations but he’s still a very talented horse on his day. He started his season running over three miles at Navan but he was far too keen there and his last couple of runs dropped back to two miles have been really promising after initially looked a but outpaced he stayed on really well late and wasn’t beaten very far. The test of stamina that this race will bring despite the trip will be of benefit to him and there won’t be many staying on better up the hill if he can keep tabs on them until they straighten up for home.

Selections: Jazzy Matty 8/1 (EW)(NB), American Mike 12/1 (EW)

Champion Bumper

The final race on day two of the festival is the Champion Bumper and this is a very hot renewal of the race with plenty here with chances. GAMEOFINCHES 4/1 is the Willie Mullins horse that’s most of interest to me. He’s a big scopey horse who’s future no doubt lies over fences. He was a point to point winner before Christmas before winning a bumper with consummate ease in Punchestown a few weeks ago. You will rarely see and easier winner on debut it looked absolutely effortless. I know Patrick has chosen Copacobana but Paul Townend is an able deputy. IDAHO SUN 18/1 looks the best of the British contingent to me he’s two from two now and he looks a horse full of potential. He’s a big strong individual with a tremendous attitude and he overcame being plenty green on debut to score narrowly from a subsequent Listed winner and plenty other winners have come out of the race since too. He went from there to Windsor where he took up the running a furlong and a half out and settled the race in a matter of strides without doing a whole pile when he got to the front. He’s a horse with a big future and Harry Fry will be hoping he can be a flag bearer for the stable in the years to come. I STARTED A JOKE 28/1 hails from the Charles Byrnes yard. A yard not renowned for his bumper horses but this lad breaks the mould. He’s a real strong stayer and the quicker they go he will be seen to better effect. He won a nice bumper in Limerick over Christmas and he would appreciate any drop of rain they get on track tomorrow just to take the sting out of the ground. He may not be good enough to win but in an open year he’s no forlorn hope and I can see him making the frame at least.

Selections: Gameofinches 4/1 (EW)     Idaho Sun 18/1 (EW), I Started A Joke 28/1 (EW)

Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices Hurdle

Now I honestly think KOPEK DES BORDES 10/11 is the best horse in the race but he has to get plenty right on the day in the preliminaries to get the job done. He’s a hot headed individual who can be plenty fractious in the ring and the cauldron that is Cheltenham would just temper my enthusiasm for getting stuck in at a short price while at the same time I wouldn’t be against anyone playing him in a multiple. If he handles the preliminaries well then he’s sure to take alot of beating.

As regards a bet in the race I’m happy to play two eachway against the field. The first is WORKAHEAD 7/1 who ran a lovely race at Navan first time up before going to Leopardstown over Christmas where he demolished a good field from the front. He’s a very sound jumper and a relentless galloper if he gets loose on the lead he will be very hard to pass and it will take a good one to go by him. If there’s any chinks in the favourites armour then he’s sure to find them. Id struggle to see him out of the frame. The second horse I will play in this race is WILLIAM MUNNY 8/1 who was behind Workahead at Christmas in Leopardstown but has been improving with every run this season and was very impressive last time at Punchestown in winning a Listed Novice Hurdle. He’s a real strong traveller and he will appreciate the fact that this will likely be the softest ground for any race this week with the ground having been well watered over the weekend. He will be dropped in and held onto to come with 1 late run and try to use his wicked turn of foot. If they go hard it will really play to his strengths and wouldn’t it be poignant if the winner of the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme carried the same yellow and navy as Michael himself wore when he won the race in 2023!

Selections: Workahead 7/1 (EW),   William Munny 8/1 (EW)

Arkle Novices Chase

This race doesn’t need much dissecting as I can’t see a scenario where MAJBOROUGH 4/7 gets beaten. He has by far the highest ceiling of any of these not to mention he’s a previous festival winner and will be ridden prominently. Barring accident i can’t see him beaten. If someone wanted a bet without the favourite or sn interest eachway I think TOUCH ME NOT 14/1 (EW) or 9/2 Without Fav would be the play. He’s a very good jumper and gave the favourite the most to do at Leopardstown at the DRF and I think with a clear round be will reverse form with L’eau Du Sud from when they met at Sandown as he took a fence with him that day which would have really knocked the stuffing out of him and still wasn’t beaten that far. Hopefully Majborough can put in a special performance and lay out his claims as a Champion Chaser for next year.

Selection: Majborough 4/7

Ultima Handicap Chase

I know the Irish have a terrible record in this race having not won the race since 2006 when Tony Martin and Ruby Walsh teamed up with Dun Doire but I firmly believe that we have a real strong contender in the shape of SEQUESTERED 16/1. He is a horse that the Gilligans have always liked and though he may have underachieved a bit in the second half of his novice hurdle career but he’s making up for lost time over fences. He absolutely bolted up at Leopardstown over Christmas and the handicapper has hit him with a 12lb rise in the weights for that. He’s since ran a stormer back in trip at the DRF back in trip but I think stepping back up to 3m 1f here will be right up his street. I’ll be very disappointed if he doesn’t run a big race and 16/1 looks very generous to me. CREBILLY 9/1 is one with big claims for the Brits for Jonjo O’Neill and JP McManus. He was second in the Plate over two and a half miles last season off a mark of 140 and returns here off of 138. This race seems to have been the plan all season having had his seasonal return over 2 miles before stepping up to two and a half at Kempton on his next start. Up to 3 miles here at the Festival he looks a plot and you’d expect he should be involved at the business end. One more I wouldn’t discount is SEARCH FOR GLORY 22/1 who is a really thorough stayer and has been running over an inadequate trip of two and a half miles the last twice since going down by the narrowest of margins to Stellar Story at Punchestown who won the Albert Bartlett last season and runs in the Brown Advisory on Wednesday. His mark of 147 looks fine and he’s one who will surely be staying on strong late. I could easily see him getting in the frame under Sam Ewing.

Selections: Sequestered 16/1 (EW)(NB), Crebilly 9/1 (EW), Search For Glory 22/1 (EW)

Mares Hurdle

Now there is plenty uproar about LOSSIEMOUTH 4/6 coming here instead of having a tilt at the Champion Hurdle but I can see the logic behind it. She was below her best at Christmas and while she showed much more signs of life last time at the DRF she took a very heavy fall. On the back of that if there is any inclination in her to be a little safe in her jumping then she would be forfeiting ground she can’t afford to be losing in a Champion Hurdle and would cost herself any chance she actually had. She’s much the best in this race and going a fraction slower her jumping won’t be under as much pressure as she would have been in the Champion Hurdle she cam pop away and it will come as a nice confidence booster for her. If it’s an eachway bet you want in the race KALA CONTI 16/1 makes plenty of appeal having been a good 2nd behind July Flower who also runs here at Leopardstown over Christmas. They went a mad gallop that day and Kala Conti was up on the pace the whole way where July Flower sat miles off it and came with a late run to nab her. I’d expect in decent ground Kala Conti will reverse that form as July Flower appears to me as more of a stayer. Kala Conti has every chance of getting in the frame here at a nice price.

Selections: Lossiemouth 4/6, Kala Conti 16/1 (EW)

Champion Hurdle

This race arguably has the potential to be the race of the festival. BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD 9/4 has gone from strength to strength all season and has left a disappointing run at this meeting last year well behind her. That is the only time she has ever been beaten when she got outsprinted up the hill. She’s a two time open Grade 1 winner at this trip getting the better of State Man twice in the Morgiana at Punchestown and at Leopardstown over Christmas when she put in a frightening performance. The only slight doubt I’d have in my mind is the possibility she could bounce after such a big run at Christmas but if she turns up in the same form as she was in at Christmas I can’t see her beat and she looks like she is still improving! They have found the wat to ride her now forcefully and given a lead by her stablemate King Of Kingsfield they will put their rivals to the pin of their collars. She stays and jumps well and she has such a great attitude. It will take a serious performer to get by her up the hill. As for the fav Constitution Hill I don’t believe for a second that he is as good as ever and if there is ever a race and a horse to test his metal it will be Brighterdaysahead here. I can see Nico if he’s still hanging onto her at the top of the hill wanting to take it off of her and go for home. The further out he gets the mare racing and even if he takes the lead coming down the hill he will have a long way home against the most formidable rival he’s ever faced. I’ve every confidence that the mare can put him to the sword.

Selction: Brighterdaysahead 9/4 (NAP)

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

In this race WENDROCK 20/1 may have to carry top weight here but I don’t think that will stop him being very competitive. He was third on his hurdles debut at Navan behind two horses well fancied in this in the shape of Total Look and Beyond Your Dreams. He then went to Leopardstown over Christmas where he was well supported and he got the better of Galileo Dame who has since finished 2nd to Hello Neighbour at a Grade 1 at the DRF and though Wendrock himself disappointed that day alot of the Gordon Elliott horses were running flat at the time. I expect a much improved run out of him here and I firmly believe he’s a Graded performer in a handicap and he looks sure to run well! Another that would interest me is PUTURHANDSTOGETHER 7/1 who was a good winner of a maiden hurdle at Cork before being beaten at Fairyhouse last time on heavy ground in what was a race in my opinion he would have won had he been asked for effort before the last by Mark Walsh or if Walsh had drawn his stick rather than sticking to hands and heels up the run in. It looked like a proper stopping job to me and he will certainly appreciate this nicer ground. He’s definitely one to take seriously. One for a smaller yard now is LUKER’S TIPPLE 25/1 for the Andrew Kinirons yard. He was still in contention and dare I say it coming with a winning run at Musselburgh last time when he fell at the last in a Listed race. He had two very decent runs previous to that behind Sainte Lucie and Pure Steel and 123 certainly doesn’t look like an excessive mark. He’s a strong traveller with a good attitude and I can see him drifting in the market because of his unfashionable connections but at a price he’s certainly a horse who is can see running very well.

Selections: Wendrock 16/1 (EW), Puturhandstogether 7/1 (EW), Luker’s Tipple 25/1 (EW)

National Hunt Handicap Chase

This is the first year in recent times that this race will be run as a handicap and it looks a very competitive renewal. I think the market very much has this right and I’m happy to play two against the field here. The first if those is TRANSMISSION 5/1 who has some cracking runs over fences to his name this season at the track. He was second to Hyland in October before winning a handicap here under today’s rider Patrick Mullins back here in November. He found plenty trouble that day from before the turn in but he was so well handicapped it wasn’t enough to stop him. Next time then he finished a staying on second in behind Haiti Couleurs who also runs here but he was dropped in miles off the pace and never looked likely to threaten but stayed on really strongly late on. He’d a nice spin in a Grade 2 here over hurdles since just to put him spot on for this. That same route was used by his trainer with The Druids Nephew on his way to winning the Ultima years ago and this looks like a case of its worked before we will go back to the tried and tested route. He will really appreciate the step up in trip as he’s a really strong stayer and nothing will be finishing better. He has a massive chance. The other runner I want to keep onside is NOW IS THE HOUR 5/1 for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue. This horse was a Grade 2 winner over hurdles before he turned his attention to chasing. He’s been given a number of quiet rides in beginners chase at home in Ireland and now taking his first tilt at a handicap he looks sure to make his presence felt. He’s a sound jumper who will really appreciate the step up in trip. He may well have been better suited by softer ground but it will still be plenty soft enough here for him to do himself justice. I’d be staggered if he doesn’t turn out to be a fair ways better than a mark of 139 in the fullness of time. Id be confident between those two runners we won’t go far wrong.

Selections: Transmission 5/1 (EW),     Now Is The Hour 5/1 (EW)

That concluded my thoughts on Day 1. I’ll be back in due course with more opinions for the other three days of the festival.