Horse Racing News Etc.

[dennisg]

Nicky Henderson can warm up for Cheltenham with a big Sandown winner according to our gossip column. Check out the full details.

TWEED SKIRT – 3.00 Sandown
18
Horse silk
Tweed Skirt60
Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Nico de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: -
5/1
Form: 1
Live betting powered by
Tweed Skirt can give Nicky Henderson a pre-Cheltenham boost with victory in the listed British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race at Sandown on Saturday.

The champion trainer has endured a somewhat difficult winter with his powerful string but there are real signs of a revival with the arrival of more balmy weather and hopes are high that this lightly-weighted daughter of Martalane can underline the point.

A half-sister to the runner up in this race four years ago Petticoat Tails, she was strongly fancied on her debut at Wetherby and, unlike several of her highly rated stablemates from the younger generations, she delivered.

Although the form does not look anything too hot, she has positively thrived in recent weeks and has been working particularly well.

RIGGS – 1.50 Sandown
11
Horse silk
Riggs17
Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| D
14/1
Form: 42-6132
Live betting powered by
Riggs can see off old rival Patroclus in the European Breeders' Fund Paddy Power 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final .

Dan Skelton has a very strong team of young horses for this division and they have contributed to his fine run of form during the winter months.

Riggs has been brought along more quietly than some of them but did show what he could do with a win at Uttoxeter in December and his three-quarter length second to the Henderson-trained Patroclus at Doncaster last month.

His jumping was a little ring-rusty on Town Moor but he has had plenty of practice since and hurdled fluently when schooled under Harry Skelton on Thursday morning. Although he has been upped 4lb for his latest effort, he is a pound better off with his old rival and connections are more than hopeful they can turn the form around.

LANGER DAN – 2.25 Sandown
12
Horse silk
Langer Dan20
Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D
7/2
Form: 226-954
Live betting powered by
Skelton should also go close with the relatively unexposed Langer Dan in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup. It was just under a year ago that this five-year-old suggested a good quality handicap could be within his range this season with a very creditable sixth to Aramax in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival. However not all has gone to plan since.

He had to undergo surgery on his breathing after below par efforts on his first two outings of this campaign and his only subsequent performance at Market Rasen last month was very much a confidence booster.

His eye-catching sixth to highly-rated Ajero was a much improved effort and suggested and he could well be a leading player in what does not look a vintage renewal of this famous race.

FARINET – 3.35 Sandown
10
Horse silk
Farinet21
Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 125
10/1
Form: 3P4-323
Live betting powered by
Farinet merits serious consideration on his second outing for Venetia Williams in the Paddy's Rewards Club Novices Handicap Chase.

There was much to like about this French import's debut performance for new connections when fourth to Galahad Quest at Haydock three weeks ago and he should be sharper for what was his first venture since finishing second in a chase at Dieppe in mid-July.

WELL PLANTED – 8.20 Chelmsford
9
10
Horse silk
Well Planted21
Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: J J Quinn| OR: 58
SP
Form: 865-2
Live betting powered by
John Quinn is always a man to note when he heads to Chelmsford and should go close to hitting the mark with Well Planted in the tote.co.uk Now Never Beaten By SP Handicap .

The son of Planteur produced his best effort so far when chasing home Lopes Dancer at Newcastle on his return from a near six month absence and with just four outings recorded, is entitled to progress further. The step up from a mile-and-a-half to 14 furlongs is also a plus.

BELLISSIME – 1.30 Wolverhampton
8
11
Horse silk
Bellissime191
Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Spencer| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85| BF
SP
Form: 62-
Live betting powered by
Kevin Ryan is starting to wind things up with a numerically very strong team for 2021 and Bellissime should go well on her comeback in the Bombardier "March To Your Own Drum" Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.

The trainer raised a few eyebrows when he chose the Group Two Sky Bet Lowther Stakes for her debut at the York Ebor Meeting but she was far from disgraced and there was not much wrong with her only other attempt at Newcastle, even though she was beaten at short odds.

The form of the race looks solid enough and she has done enough in her prelims this spring to suggest she can give promising Fjordland plenty to think about.

REPARTEE – 3.15 Wolverhampton
3
8
Horse silk
Reparteep1225
Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Kevin Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 101| D
6/1
Form: 432/105-
Live betting powered by
Repartee, a stablemate of Bellissime, won on his debut at York as a juvenile and landed a listed event on his reappearance last season. He is fancied to complete the hat-trick in the Betway Handicap.

This will certainly prove no cakewalk, but connections are hopeful he will return to his best form after a gelding operation was performed last august to relieve a rather painful problem. He has been moving well in his preparatory work and looks worth an each-way wager in an interesting.

[dennisg]

Views from connections
David Pipe is double-handed in a bid to extend his family’s excellent record in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown.

His father Martin saddled six winners of the traditional feature on the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival, while David himself has struck gold on three occasions since.

Sponsors Paddy Power are this year offering a £50,000 bonus if the winner can follow up in any race at Cheltenham next week, a double which has been achieved on just three occasions since the incentive has been up for grabs – and all by horses trained at the Pipes’ Pond House yard.

Pipe senior saddled Olympian to win the Imperial Cup-Coral Cup double in 1993, while five years later Blowing Wind followed up success at Sandown with victory in the County Hurdle.

Gaspara landed the bonus pot for David Pipe in 2007 by winning what is now the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham.

This year he fires a twin assault, with Leoncavallo of particular interest on what is his first competitive appearance since finishing sixth in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October.

“Leoncavallo has done very well on the Flat for us, and has had a break since the Cesarewitch,” said Pipe.

“He’s in good form and won’t mind the (good to soft) ground. Hopefully he’s got a decent each-way chance.

“He’s got some good form in two-mile handicaps, and it looks an open contest on Saturday. He’ll be left in at Cheltenham, and we’ll see what happens this weekend.”

The nine-year-old is joined by stablemate Eamon An Cnoic, who won over the course and distance last month before filling the runner-up spot at Chepstow a week later.

Pipe added: “He’s 10 years old and is not getting any younger. He’s got decent form round Sandown. He would probably prefer softer ground, but takes his chance.”

The likely favourite for the £50,000 contest is Natural History, but trainer Gary Moore is far from confident about his chances.

The Nathaniel gelding claimed the notable scalp of Moore’s Champion Hurdle hope Goshen on the Flat in October, when trained by Andrew Balding and owned by the Queen, before changing hands for 105,000 guineas later that month.

He was beaten on his first two hurdling starts, but bolted up on his handicap debut at Plumpton recently – and is 16lb higher in the weights as a result.

When told his charge was the clear favourite for the Imperial Cup, Moore said: “I think it’s total madness.

“He’s gone up 16lb for a winning a small race at Plumpton. He probably went into it well handicapped, but he’s come out of it badly handicapped as far as I’m concerned.

“I think it will be a tough ask for him on only his fourth run over hurdles. I hope I’m wrong, but I wouldn’t be backing him at 3/1 anyway.”

Langer Dan is well fancied for the formidable combination of Dan and Harry Skelton.

Dan Skelton said: “Langer Dan ran well at Market Rasen the last day and is probably one of those horses that as a second-season hurdler, going from juveniles and novices, has just taken a while to find his feet.

“I think Sandown will really suit him, because he wants a stiff finish and he didn’t have that at Market Rasen. I’m not saying he is going to win, but he goes there in good health and should run well.”

Paul Nicholls saddles top-weight Miranda, as well as Diego Du Charmil and Malaya, winner of the race two years ago.

He told Betfair: “Miranda looked very good when winning a Grade Two mares’ hurdle at Doncaster at the end of January but keeps going up in the weights, so the 7lb claim of Angus Cheleda will certainly help. I expect her to run another solid race.

“Diego Du Charmil is talented and versatile, and did a lovely piece of work at Wincanton last week. He goes well fresh and is in good order.

“I have to admit Malaya was a bit disappointing last time at Ascot, where I felt the step up in trip would be in her favour. But after watching her that day, I am not convinced that is the case.

“While Malaya can be a bit in and out, she won this race two years ago, so we know the track suits her well – and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her bounce back to form.

[dennisg]

Donn McClean highlights five horses who might have slipped under the radar at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Jason The Militant (Henry de Bromhead)
If you are talking about Henry de Bromhead and the Champion Hurdle, you are probably talking about Honeysuckle, and if you are not talking about Honeysuckle, you are probably talking about Aspire Tower. You have to go well down the Champion Hurdle list to get to Jason The Militant, but the Sans Frontieres gelding could run much better than the market is predicting at present.

Jason The Militant was a progressive novice last season, he beat Beacon Edge by a nose in a Grade 2 contest at Naas on his final run of the season, and he has continued that progression this term. Third behind his afore-mentioned stable companion Aspire Tower and Abacadabras in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal in October, he was only beaten a neck and a short-head by the same Abacadabras and Saint Roi in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November.

Given a nice break after that, Peter Michael’s horse returned at Fairyhouse two weeks ago, when he put up an impressive performance in making all to win the re-scheduled Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle. He gave 9lb to the 155-rated Petit Mouchoir that day, and he beat his former stable companion by seven and a half lengths. He will have to step forward again if he is going to be competitive in a Champion Hurdle, but he has run just seven times over hurdles, and he has the potential to progress again.


Fakir D’Oudairies (Joseph O’Brien)
Fakir D’Oudairies ran a big race in the Arkle last year to finish second to Put The Kettle On. His jumping was very good and he was just moving up to challenge the leader when he made a fairly significant mistake at the second last fence, but for which he probably would have got closer. Even so, he finished 18 lengths clear of third-placed Rouge Vif.

He hasn’t won in three attempts this season, but there is mitigation. He was pulled up in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas, but that was his first attempt at three miles, and it appears that he reached the limit of his stamina range. He travelled well through his race, he made his ground with the ultimate winner A Plus Tard down the back straight, but his stamina started to ebb as they raced to the third last fence, and Mark Walsh wisely pulled him up after he jumped the second last.

Dropped back to two miles and one and a half furlongs for the Dublin Chase back at Leopardstown last month, JP McManus’ horse ran a big race to finish second behind Chacun Pour Soi. It never really looked like he would repel the winner that day, but he kept on all the way to the line over a distance that was probably shorter than ideal, and he finished seven lengths clear of Notebook in third.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding holds entries in the Champion Chase and in the Ryanair Chase, and his target hasn’t been confirmed yet, but his trainer seems to be leaning towards the Ryanair Chase, and it may be that the intermediate distance of that race is his optimum trip.


Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day Two Preview
Shattered Love (Denise Foster)
It was understandable that Elimay’s position at the top of the market for the Mares’ Chase strengthened on the back of her victory in the Listed Opera Hat Mares’ Chase at Naas last month, but the performance that Shattered Love put up in chasing her home may have gone a little under the radar.

The two-mile distance of that contest should have been too sharp for Shattered Love and, sure enough, she came under pressure on the run to the second last fence and dropped to third. Moved towards the far side by Jack Kennedy on the run to the last, she stayed on well up the run-in to take the runner-up spot from Yukon Lil.

Shattered Love is 10 now, but she remains in tremendous form. She was really impressive in winning the listed mares’ chase at Clonmel in November that she won last year, beating Cabaret Queen by 10 lengths. Her run in the Opera Hat Chase was her first run since she ran over hurdles at Navan in early December, and it should bring her forward nicely. The new Mares’ Chase has surely been her target since it was introduced to the Cheltenham programme.

The Gigginstown House mare has run in an Irish Grand National and she has run in a Cheltenham Gold Cup, but the two-and-a-half-mile trip of the new Mares’ Chase is probably her optimum trip. And we know that she goes well at Cheltenham and under Cheltenham Festival conditions. She won the JLT Chase over the Mares’ Chase course and distance three years ago.

Jack Kennedy celebrates on Shattered Love
Jack Kennedy celebrates on Shattered Love
Minella Indo (Henry de Bromhead)
You never would have thought, at the start of the season, that you would be able to shoehorn Minella Indo into a ‘Dark Horses’ category for Cheltenham, but he just about qualifies now.

Second in last year’s RSA Chase, just caught by Champ on the run-in, he started off this season with an impressive performance in beating Milan Native by 25 lengths at Wexford, and he followed up by easily landing a Grade 2 chase at Navan.

Sent off as favourite for the Savills Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival on the back of those wins, it was obviously disappointing that he came down at the fence on the run away from the stands. He had never fallen before in his life. He had never looked like falling. It was as surprising as it was uncharacteristic.

He only finished fourth behind Kemboy in the Irish Gold Cup on his next run, which was disappointing on the face of it, but it is probable that connections’ primary objective there was a clear round. As a confidence-booster, that run served its purpose.

Barry Maloney’s horse is going to have to do better if he is going to be competitive in a Cheltenham Gold Cup, but there is every chance that he will do better. We know that he goes well at Cheltenham. He sprang a 50/1 shock in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle in 2019 after running with the choke out for most of the way, and he ran a big race in the RSA Chase last year. He has been written off by many as a Gold Cup candidate on the back of his two most recent runs, but he could be an under-rated horse now.

Minella Indo toughs it out under Rachael Blackmore
Minella Indo toughs it out under Rachael Blackmore
Blue Lord (Willie Mullins)
Blue Lord has options. He holds entries in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and in the Ballymore Hurdle, as well as in the County Hurdle, and he will be of interest wherever he goes.

Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, he was green on his first run for Willie Mullins at Punchestown in November, but he kept on well in the end to beat Julies Stowaway by a half a length. From the family of Grand National runner-up Mely Moss, and with plenty of stamina in his pedigree, it made sense to step him up to two and a half miles next time for the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Hurdle, and he did well there to keep on as well as he did to finish second behind Bob Olinger, after running keenly early on.

Dropped back down to two miles last time for the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, he kept on well to finish third behind his stable companion Appreciate It and Ballyadam, again leaving the impression that he would do better with a greater stamina test.

He would be of interest in the Ballymore Hurdle if he could settle a little better through the early part of his race, but it looks like one of the two-mile races is more likely. The stiff track and a strong pace over the minimum distance could bring his stamina into play.

[dennisg]

Watch all of our You In Two challenges with the big names of the racetrack and see who tops our leaderboard.

We're challenging the biggest names in racing to take part in the Sporting Life 'You In Two' challenge.

Quite simply, each jockey gets two minutes to answer as many questions about their own careers to earn a spot on the overall leaderboard.

LATEST: Kim Bailey
Kim Bailey has trained over 1300 winners and is lucky enough to have achieved the magical 'big three' - the Grand National (Mr Frisk), Cheltenham Gold Cup (Master Oats) and Champion Hurdle (Alderbrook). But how well does he know his own career? Let's find out!


You in Two | Racing Edition - Kim Bailey
Let Kim know what you thought of his performance on Twitter! He's @kimbaileyracing, include #SLYouInTwo in your tweet.

Click here to add Kim to your My Stable
Up next...Paul Nicholls!

Tom Scudamore
Tom Scudamore is a third-generation British flat and steeplechase jockey with a career spanning three decades...but how well does he know his own career? Let's find out!


You in Two | Racing Edition - Tom Scudamore
Let Tom know what you thought of his performance on Twitter! He's @tommyscu, include #SLYouInTwo in your tweet.

Click here to add Tom to your My Stable
Harry Cobden
For the third episode of the series Harry Cobden steps up to face the questions. The jockey, 22, has had a meteoric rise to the top and is stable jockey to Paul Nicholls. But how well does he know his own career? Let's find out!


You in Two | Jockey Edition - Harry Cobden
Let Harry know what you thought of his performance on Twitter! He's @cobdenharry, include #SLYouInTwo in your tweet.

Click here to add Harry to your My Stable
Joe Tizzard
In the second episode of the series we quizzed Sporting Life Arkle winner now assistant trainer to dad, Colin, Joe Tizzard - how well does he know his own career?


You in Two | Jockey Edition - Joe Tizzard
Let Joe know what you thought of his performance on Twitter! He's @joetizzard, include #SLYouInTwo in your tweet.

Click here to add the Tizzard's to your My Stable

Daryl Jacob
In the first episode of the series we grabbed Grand National-winning National Hunt jockey Daryl Jacob...how will he do?

He's got two minutes.


You in Two | Jockey Edition - Daryl Jacob
Let Daryl know what you thought of his performance on Twitter! He's @dazjacob10, include #SLYouInTwo in your tweet.

[dennisg]

Nicky Henderson can warm up for Cheltenham with a big Sandown winner according to our gossip column. Check out the full details.

TWEED SKIRT – 3.00 Sandown
18
Horse silk
Tweed Skirt60
Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Nico de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: -
6/1
Form: 1
Live betting powered by
Tweed Skirt can give Nicky Henderson a pre-Cheltenham boost with victory in the listed British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race at Sandown on Saturday.

The champion trainer has endured a somewhat difficult winter with his powerful string but there are real signs of a revival with the arrival of more balmy weather and hopes are high that this lightly-weighted daughter of Martalane can underline the point.

A half-sister to the runner up in this race four years ago Petticoat Tails, she was strongly fancied on her debut at Wetherby and, unlike several of her highly rated stablemates from the younger generations, she delivered.

Although the form does not look anything too hot, she has positively thrived in recent weeks and has been working particularly well.

RIGGS – 1.50 Sandown
11
Horse silk
Riggs17
Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| D
18/1
Form: 42-6132
Live betting powered by
Riggs can see off old rival Patroclus in the European Breeders' Fund Paddy Power 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final .

Dan Skelton has a very strong team of young horses for this division and they have contributed to his fine run of form during the winter months.

Riggs has been brought along more quietly than some of them but did show what he could do with a win at Uttoxeter in December and his three-quarter length second to the Henderson-trained Patroclus at Doncaster last month.

His jumping was a little ring-rusty on Town Moor but he has had plenty of practice since and hurdled fluently when schooled under Harry Skelton on Thursday morning. Although he has been upped 4lb for his latest effort, he is a pound better off with his old rival and connections are more than hopeful they can turn the form around.

LANGER DAN – 2.25 Sandown
12
Horse silk
Langer Dan20
Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D
9/2
Form: 226-954
Live betting powered by
Skelton should also go close with the relatively unexposed Langer Dan in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup. It was just under a year ago that this five-year-old suggested a good quality handicap could be within his range this season with a very creditable sixth to Aramax in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival. However not all has gone to plan since.

He had to undergo surgery on his breathing after below par efforts on his first two outings of this campaign and his only subsequent performance at Market Rasen last month was very much a confidence booster.

His eye-catching sixth to highly-rated Ajero was a much improved effort and suggested and he could well be a leading player in what does not look a vintage renewal of this famous race.

FARINET – 3.35 Sandown
10
Horse silk
Farinet21
Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 125
13/2
Form: 3P4-323
Live betting powered by
Farinet merits serious consideration on his second outing for Venetia Williams in the Paddy's Rewards Club Novices Handicap Chase.

There was much to like about this French import's debut performance for new connections when fourth to Galahad Quest at Haydock three weeks ago and he should be sharper for what was his first venture since finishing second in a chase at Dieppe in mid-July.

WELL PLANTED – 8.20 Chelmsford
9
10
Horse silk
Well Planted21
Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: J J Quinn| OR: 58
7/1
Form: 865-2
Live betting powered by
John Quinn is always a man to note when he heads to Chelmsford and should go close to hitting the mark with Well Planted in the tote.co.uk Now Never Beaten By SP Handicap .

The son of Planteur produced his best effort so far when chasing home Lopes Dancer at Newcastle on his return from a near six month absence and with just four outings recorded, is entitled to progress further. The step up from a mile-and-a-half to 14 furlongs is also a plus.

BELLISSIME – 1.30 Wolverhampton
8
11
Horse silk
Bellissime191
Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Non Runner| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85| BF
SP
Form: 62-
Live betting powered by
Kevin Ryan is starting to wind things up with a numerically very strong team for 2021 and Bellissime should go well on her comeback in the Bombardier "March To Your Own Drum" Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.

The trainer raised a few eyebrows when he chose the Group Two Sky Bet Lowther Stakes for her debut at the York Ebor Meeting but she was far from disgraced and there was not much wrong with her only other attempt at Newcastle, even though she was beaten at short odds.

The form of the race looks solid enough and she has done enough in her prelims this spring to suggest she can give promising Fjordland plenty to think about.

REPARTEE – 3.15 Wolverhampton
3
8
Horse silk
Reparteep1225
Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Kevin Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 101| D
6/1
Form: 432/105-
Live betting powered by
Repartee, a stablemate of Bellissime, won on his debut at York as a juvenile and landed a Listed event on his reappearance last season. He is fancied to complete the hat-trick in the Betway Handicap.

This will certainly prove no cakewalk, but connections are hopeful he will return to his best form after a gelding operation was performed last august to relieve a rather painful problem. He has been moving well in his preparatory work and looks worth an each-way wager in an interesting.

[dennisg]

Envoi Allen has settled into his new surroundings well, according to trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Already a dual Cheltenham Festival winner, Envoi Allen will head back to the big meeting as the banker of the week for many in the Marsh Novices’ Chase on Thursday.

Owners Cheveley Park Stud switched Envoi Allen to De Bromhead’s care last week, days before Gordon Elliott was suspended for six months after a picture of him sitting on a dead horse was posted on social media.

“He’s settled in really well. Obviously it’s not ideal – it’s not how you want to get horses – but we feel very fortunate that Cheveley Park sent him and the others to us,” said De Bromhead.

“We’re trying to keep his routine as similar as possible. The horses arrived looking fantastic.

“Gordon was very helpful and filled us in on what he’d been doing, and he seems really good. He marches around the place – I saw him this morning and was delighted. He schooled really well for Jack Kennedy yesterday.

“Touch wood, he’s settled in as well as he could, considering it’s two weeks before the race.”

Should Envoi Allen meet with a first defeat, the finger could well be pointed at the change in scenery, but that is not something which concerns De Bromhead.

“There’s pressure with all of them – my main objective is to get them there as well as I can. As much as you love to maintain unbeaten records – Honeysuckle is in the same position – I know how hard it is to win at Cheltenham,” De Bromhead told talkSPORT2.

Rachael Blackmore gives Honeysuckle a pat down the neck
Rachael Blackmore gives Honeysuckle a pat down the neck
Honeysuckle was a winner at the Festival last year and is set for one of the big clashes of the week with fellow mare Epatante in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

“She seems to be progressing all the time. Last year she was six, it was her first time going to Cheltenham – and we felt two and a half (miles) was more her trip at the time,” said De Bromhead.

“We were trying to look for the most winnable option – although coming up against Benie Des Dieux, so it wasn’t necessarily that. It (Mares’ Hurdle) just seemed the safer option. I was delighted to get a first winner for (owner) Kenny Alexander there as well.

“Now we’ve ticked that box. We said if things went well in the Irish Champion Hurdle, we’d like to have a go at the Champion Hurdle. She made that decision for us.”

De Bromhead later revealed Honeysuckle will not be joined in the Champion Hurdle by stablemate Jason The Militant, adding: “He needs soft ground over two miles and is the type of fella that I wouldn’t want to jar up if it was much better than that.

“We will aim him at Aintree over two-and-a-half on a flat track. We would run him on good to soft there.

“Cheltenham comes a bit soon after the Red Mills, so it was a combination of things really.”


Cheltenham Festival: Day Three Preview
De Bromhead also has two live chances in the Gold Cup, with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard.

“Minella Indo had a great start to the season, then fell when favourite in the Savills. It wasn’t a plan to go to the Irish Gold Cup, but we had to go get a clear round somewhere,” he said.

“He was probably a little disappointing immediately after the race, but he seems great now and he always comes alive at Cheltenham. We’re hoping for a big run – he was only just chinned by Champ last year, so shouldn’t be far away from him.

“A Plus Tard looked good winning the Savills Chase – showing he stayed, having already won a Grade One over two miles. I’m looking forward to both of them.

“There has to be a doubt about the trip with any horse until they’ve done it, but he’s shown a liking for the track and was staying on again in the Ryanair last year. In the Savills, it looked like he needed every inch of three miles.”

[dennisg]

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls has three runners in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup. Check out his guide to his full Saturday team.

For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content visit betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/
13:50 - Jeremy Pass

He couldn’t handle deep ground at Ascot in January but was much better last time at Doncaster when finishing a close third in a decent novice event which qualified him for this race. He would just have needed that run a bit and wouldn’t want any more rain at Sandown. If it stays dry he would have a little each way chance in a highly competitive final.

14:25 - Diego Du Charmil

Talented and versatile he did a lovely piece of work at Wincanton last week. He ran tidily in his first two starts over hurdles this season but like a few of mine at the time wasn’t at his best in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton over Christmas. Diego also didn’t appreciate the cheek pieces we put on that day so I think you can put a line through that run. Given that he is on a mark of 145 over hurdles and 8lbs higher over fences it makes sense to have a crack at the Imperial Cup. He goes well fresh and is in good order.

14:25 - Malaya

I have to admit she was a bit disappointing last time at Ascot where I felt the step up in trip would be in her favour. But after watching her that day I am not convinced that is the case. While Malaya can be a bit in and out she won this race two years ago, so we know the track suits her well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her bounce back to form.

Listen to the Racing Only Bettor Podcast
Listen to the Racing Only Bettor Podcast
14:25 - Miranda

She looked very good when winning a Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster at the end of January but keeps going up in the weights, so the 7lbs claim of Angus Cheleda will certainly help. I expect her to run another solid race.

15:00 - Rainyday Woman

She has done nothing but please since she joined us in the summer, winning stylishly at Stratford in November before following up in a Listed mares’ bumper at Huntingdon just before Christmas. Rainyday Woman has a 4 lbs penalty in a hot looking race and any further rain at Sandown would be in her favour.

15:35 - Stratagem

A decent recruit from France, he made a highly promising debut over fences when just touched off by Phoenix Way at Warwick and then put a blip at Plumpton behind him with a fluent success at Doncaster two months ago. It’s encouraging that the horse he beat there hacked up by eighteen lengths in Wednesday. Although Stratagem is on a stiff enough handicap mark and has top weight in this he’s a useful sort and should run very well.

[dennisg]

Runners across three meetings for Betfair ambassador Joseph O'Brien this weekend. Check out his thoughts.

For more exclusive content from Joseph visit betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/joseph-obrien/
Saturday:
Navan 17:40 – Golfe Clair
Golfe Clair is a big, scopey horse that came to us from France. He has shown some promise in his work at home, but he won’t have any great pressure on him in this. We’ll just be looking for a solid run from him that shows promise for the future.

Sunday
Limerick 13:45 – Scholastic
Scholastic has been a lovely filly for us, winning four times in the last year. She came up a bit short of what was required in Grade 3 juvenile hurdle company last time and this class of race will give her a much better winning chance. She looks likely to be competitive at these weights and can hopefully run a big race.

Listen to the Racing Only Bettor Podcast
Listen to the Racing Only Bettor Podcast
Limerick 14:15 – Global Equity
Global Equity had the option of potentially waiting for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but we’ve decided to stay at home and run in this over the longer trip. Global Equity has been progressing nicely in recent starts and it was great to get her some more black type at Navan last time. That form entitles her to be in the mix again in this.

Limerick 14:45 – Scarlet And Dove
It has been great to see Scarlet And Dove start to fulfil her potential this season. She won a Grade 3 mares’ novice chase at Navan in good style last weekend and with her having come out of the race really well, we’ve decided to declare her for this. The longer trip is an unknown, but we think she’ll be fine over it. She is unlikely to ever get a chance at a more winnable Grade 2 than this, so hopefully she’ll run her race and go very close.

Naas 14:30 – Smoking Gun and Speak Easy
Smoking Gun has been a frustrating horse, as we’ve long thought he’d be up to winning a good pot over fences, but he has largely been a frustration. We are trying him in blinkers in hope rather than confidence. Hopefully they will spark him up and get him back on track.

Speak Easy is another that has failed to spark in good handicaps in recent starts. The ability is in there, he just hasn’t been firing in recent starts. It would be hard to be confident that he’ll bounce back in this, but we’ll hope for the best.

[dennisg]

Weekend racing tips for Sandown & Wolverhampton: Value Bet Saturday March 13
By Matt Brocklebank
17:28 · FRI March 12, 2021

Racing betting tips: Saturday, March 13
1pt e.w. Dorking Lad in 1.50 Sandown at 25/1 (BetVictor 1/5 1,2,3,4,5)

1pt e.w. Fransham in 2.25 Sandown at 25/1 (BoyleSports, BetVictor 1/5 1,2,3,4)

1pt win Zarzyni in 3.15 Wolverhampton at 11/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair)

1pt win Stratagem in 3.35 Sandown at 8/1 (General)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

Take 25/1 shot in Imperial Cup
The sweet-travelling FRANSHAM has already had a productive season but could have another major payday in him and is fancied to run a huge race in Saturday’s Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown.

Last season Fransham’s form tailed off slightly after winning first time out in November 2019, but he’s seemingly going from strength to strength as a seven-year-old this time around, despite a couple of defeats since landing a Wetherby double before the turn of the year.

He was bumped up 10lb to a new mark of 140 after the second of those decisive successes in West Yorkshire, but has since been a good third at Kempton and arguably produced the form of his life when second at Newcastle late last month.

3
Horse silk
Fransham14
Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 142| D
18/1
Form: 5-51132
Live betting powered by
The replay is well worth a revisit as he looked all over the winner after moving through the race like much the best horse and taking up the running on the long run towards the last flight.

In the end he evidently got there too soon as he didn’t do a tap in front and was gunned down by fast-finishing Hooligan just before the line, but it was another performance that strongly hinted he was still on a competitive mark.

Raised just another 1lb since, he comes into this tougher event completely overlooked in the betting but, crucially, he should get a really strongly-run race with the likes of One True King and Eamon An Cnoic taking them along at a good clip.

On recent evidence I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Fransham is last off the bridle and if Kielan Woods can keep a bit in reserve for the final climb to the line then he’ll be on the scene when it matters.

There are a range of extra place offers available but I consider the win part of the bet a real player so will take the biggest price on the market for the sake of fifth or sixth registering as a place.

Sky Bet's first race special at the Cheltenham Festival
Sky Bet's first race special at the Cheltenham Festival
Moore charge a winner in waiting
Gary Moore is responsible for the Imperial Cup favourite in Natural History but I’d much rather back his DORKING LAD each-way in the EBF Paddy Power ‘National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final.

He’s yet to pick up a victory in his career but has only had the four complete outings over jumps as the Plumpton maiden hurdle - for which he was 8/13 favourite - was voided three hurdles from the finish.

He was in front at the time and had raced quite freely again but his jumping looked to have sharpened up a bit which is going to be key here in this more competitive field.

18
Horse silk
Dorking Lad12
Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J E Moore| T: G L Moore| OR: 117
12/1
Form: 33222V
Live betting powered by
That’s not the first time he’s shown a lot of promise either. He was third to the high-class Adrimel first time out over timber here in November and then bumped into another above-average rival when second (despite losing a shoe) in his EBF qualifier behind Annual Invictus at Plumpton on January 3.

The winner has since finished fourth off a mark of 135 in the Betfair Hurdle, so while Dorking Lad was getting 10lb from that one at Plumpton, leaving Moore’s horse on a mark of 117 seems quite generous.

That gets him in under bottom weight this weekend and stepping back to two and a half miles doesn’t look an issue at all, nor is the prospect of quite testing ground which his half-brother Lecale’s Article handled well enough before a bad blunder two-out cost him when third on the same track on Friday afternoon.

All the details ahead of the 2021 Festival
All the details ahead of the 2021 Festival
Nicholls' grey getting his act together
The Paul Nicholls-trained STRATAGEM looks to have a favourite’s chance despite top weight in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Novices’ Handicap Chase so definitely merits a bet at the prices.

He had some eyecatching form over hurdles including a three-length win over now-stablemate Solo in France and while it’s not all been plain sailing for him since switching to fences this term, the move up to two and a half miles looks to have been the making of him.

He really impressed with the way he went about his business over this trip at Doncaster when last seen and a subsequent 5lb rise looks more than merited.

1
Horse silk
Stratagemt61
Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145
14/1
Form: 31-62F1
Live betting powered by
It was only a three-runner affair and he was able to dominate from the off but the second, Ballymoy, has been third – beaten a length – in a good race at Newbury and then won by 18 lengths at Catterick subsequently (now rated 141).

Stratagem took care of him easily and appears to have really mastered his jumping technique, something that will be essential in this deeper race especially as there are others who are highly likely to try and take him on up front.

But I like horses with a class edge in novices' handicap chases at this time of year and nothing has quite the same potential in terms of the level at which Stratagem could end up operating.

Check out Sky Bet's Money Back as Cash offer
Check out Sky Bet's Money Back as Cash offer
Don't miss Barron recruit at Wolves
I was all for giving the three ITV4 races from Wolverhampton a pass and last year’s second Documenting looks one of the more solid chances in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes, but I can’t let ZARZYNI go unbacked at double-figure odds in the Betway Handicap over six furlongs.

To suggest he’s got something to prove would be a bit of an understatement as he was last of 13 at Listowel when last seen in public (September 22), but he wouldn’t be the first sprinter to find life tough as a three-year-old, and looks exactly the type of horse David Barron can rekindle as an older handicapper.

7
6
Horse silk
Zarzyni172
Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Barron| OR: 90
17/2
Form: 939770-
Live betting powered by
Barron went to €62,000 to acquire the son of Siyouni for principal owner Laurence O’Kane at Goffs in the autumn and it wouldn’t be the greatest shock to see the horse immediately start repaying some of that outlay as he looks to have a seriously good BHA mark from which to start the rebuilding process.

It’s not like he couldn’t raise a leg last season – he finished third to Art Power at Naas in July and ran another relatively encouraging race when seventh of 18, beaten just two and a half lengths, in a premier handicap at Leopardstown in mid-September – but it’s his juvenile form which raises most interest.

After winning a Gowran maiden first time out for Mick Halford, he was third to Armory in the Tyros Stakes before finishing fourth, beaten just two lengths this time, behind Lope Y Fernandez in the Round Tower at the Curragh.

On that latter effort, and some of his peak performances from 2020 to be fair to him, he’d have a massive chance from a mark of just 90 now, and having gone in on debut we can presume he’s possibly not the hardest to get straight at home.

His new trainer Barron has sent out two sprint handicap winners since the start of the month, including Bert Kibbler who won at 9/1 on his seasonal debut having been off since October, so it’s reassuring to know the string is in good heart generally.

At the prices it’s worth rolling the dice and backing the choicely-bred, ex-Aga Khan Zarzyni to come out fit and firing in a race lacking anything wildly obvious that’ll be particularly hard to beat.

Published at 1630 GMT on 12/03/21

Saturday ITV Racing schedule
Sandown:

1.50
2.25
3.00
3.35
Wolverhampton:

2.05
2.40
3.15

[dennisg]

Our man answers some key questions ahead of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, revealing his best bets, a favourite to lay, handicap fancies and more.

Who is the bet of the week?
There has been a lot of talk about Bob Olinger on the preview Zooms and he’s 2/1 favourite for the Ballymore now, but that’s short, and I don’t think the market has got this one right.

Bob Olinger has looked promising this season and he was too good for the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle field last time out, but he sprinted away from them off a slow gallop on heavy ground and as a piece of form it’s not the strongest in this race.

BRAVEMANSGAME has the best form, for me he has the best chance, and given he’s third best in the betting at a generous 7/2 he's the bet of the meeting.

The only horse to have beaten him this season is Soaring Glory - over two miles on good ground at Chepstow - and he went on to win the Betfair Hurdle, so there was no shame in that defeat and since stepping up in trip he has looked imperious.


Paul Nicholls 2021 Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour
He races efficiently, as he’s already a polished professional who relaxes and travels, while he jumps very well and does everything with a touch of class. He looked a Grade 1 winner in-waiting when he won at Newbury at the end of November and proved it in sensational style in the Challow.

That’s the best form in this race. He crushed a previously unbeaten Grade 2 winner in Star Gate by 10 lengths, by lengthening clear without too much persuasion from Harry Cobden, firmly giving the impression there was still plenty more to come.

We’re getting to the stage now where we can think about the ground and if it’s drying to Good to Soft on Wednesday, which is looking likely, then that plays to his strengths, too, as they’re just the sort of conditions he was running on before the turn of the year.

Challow winners have a terrible recent win strike-rate at the Festival and trainer Paul Nicholls has never won the Ballymore, either, but Bravemansgame looks just the horse to set both of those records straight.

He might well be a top-class steeplechaser in the making, but he’s got all the tools to win a Ballymore first and I’m backing him to see off the Irish raiders and land the day two opener in style.

Bravemansgame goes for the Ballymore on Wednesday
Bravemansgame goes for the Ballymore on Wednesday
Of all the short-priced favourites, which horse is the one you want to lay the most?
HONEYSUCKLE in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

The dangers of taking on an unbeaten mare are obvious but I think I’ll have plenty running for me the way this might pan out.

With the ground looking like being better than she’s used to it’s possible she’ll have to run faster than she’s ever gone before and the last time she was faced with a similar test of speed she wasn’t too impressive when scrambling home in the 2020 Irish Champion Hurdle on yielding ground.

This year, in the same race, she was admittedly superb, but she killed them in the middle part of the contest and I just can’t see her doing that in this Champion Hurdle considering the likely pace pressure from Goshen and Silver Streak – and possibly others.

With loads of pace on things look perfectly set up for Epatante, while Abacadabras and Sharjah are likely to have things in their favour, as well.

Rather than back anything against Honeysuckle I think I’d just rather lay the favourite in the win market and I’m half tempted to have a go at her for a place (she’s around 4/5 or less on the exchanges) just in case she bombs out completely.

That might be asking a lot, but I do think she’s vulnerable from a win perspective despite her impressive winning sequence.

Honeysuckle is away and clear at Leopardstown
Honeysuckle: Could her unbeaten run come to an end?
It looks like a golden batch of novice chasers – do Shishkin, Envoi Allen and Monkfish all win?
I must admit, laying any of the big three is less appealing.

Shishkin looked all set to have a right fight on his hands in the Sporting Life Arkle until main rival Energumene was ruled out through injury and it’s difficult to see Allmankind, or any other horse in the field, giving him a race. He looks a class apart.

Envoi Allen has had a new trainer and new environment to deal with in the fortnight building up to the Marsh Novices’ Chase, which gives punters trying to get him beat an unexpected angle, but he’s in the weakest of the three main novice chases and defeat would be a surprise.

Monkfish will be vulnerable if he pulls as hard as he did on the first circuit in last year’s Albert Bartlett, but fences look to have made a man of him and he’s been simply brilliant since going chasing – especially last time out in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Having three novice chasers rated over 160 already is highly unusual, but of course the great shame is that none of them are racing each other.

We might have to wait until next year’s Festival to see two or more of these bang heads, but there’s no getting away from how exciting they already look, with Shishkin looking every inch a future Champion Chase contender, while the other pair could develop into 2022 Gold Cup horses.

I’ll probably sit these out and just watch and enjoy, but if you want to get involved perhaps it’s a case of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’.

The treble pays just over 3/1, while Monkfish and Envoi Allen are already first and second favourites at 7/1 and 9/1, respectively, for the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup!


Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day Two Preview
What’s your strongest fancy in the handicaps?
IMPERIAL ALCAZAR looks very solid in the Pertemps Final and he fits the strongest fancy mould even if we’re just about there when it comes to squeezing juice out of his price.

Generally 5/1, he might even drift a bit come raceday as pundits and punters look for value alternatives, but there is no doubt in my mind he deserves to be a strong favourite.

He went up 8lb for winning the qualifier at Warwick – a race that has found a few winners of the Final in recent years thanks to Holywell and Sire Du Berlais – but even that hike is conservative when it comes to putting a figure on his dominance and potential.

Entered in the Stayers’ Hurdle (as a precaution, according to trainer Fergal O’Brien, just in case the Irish couldn’t come over or something), the regard in which he is held is no secret and he could well be being talked of in Brown Advisory terms this time next year.

The Pertemps has been a good route for would-be top-level novice chasers in recent years – think Delta Work and Presenting Percy – and Imperial Alcazar is another type who looks very well treated at this stage of his career considering what he could become.

A head second to Protektorat (considered a 154-rated chaser earlier this season) on his only previous visit to Cheltenham, a patient ride from Paddy Brennan looks the required tactics once again and a career-best – and a first Festival success for his trainer – could well be forthcoming.

Imperial Alcazar - Ben Linfoot banker
Check out all of our Festival bankers here
What about one at a bigger price in the handicaps?
I’m really warming to the claims of SAGE ADVICE in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on Tuesday at around 20/1.

Dr Richard Newland’s horse was really impressive on his debut at Kempton, where he accounted for Olly Murphy’s Tinnahalla by six lengths in the style of a highly-promising juvenile.

That could be an important form line, as Tinnahilla has subsequently beaten Homme Public – a horse who had previously lost to Houx Gris by a neck at Auteuil – with all of these horses in the Fred Winter reckoning.

So is Cabot Cliffs for the Skeltons, a horse that beat Sage Advice by one and a half lengths at Warwick, but after the winner boosted that form with a subsequent large-margin win at the same track Newland’s charge is better off to the tune of 10lb.

It makes you wonder why Sage Advice is 20s, as he should be much shorter considering all the above, and the answer is simply his latest run.

He was last of three in heavy ground at Fontwell, but they went no pace whatsoever and that wouldn’t have suited him, while Newland had to run him for the third time in five weeks to get him qualified for this.

I reckon he’s loads better than that and this strong traveller, that can be a bit keen, should be suited perfectly by the big field and strong pace in a Boodles.

If you ignore that qualifying run – and I’m more than happy to – he’s a right bet at 20s.

All of our top Cheltenham Stable Tours are available as podcasts now
All of our top Cheltenham Stable Tours are available as podcasts now
Pound for pound, is there a smaller trainer that can punch above their weight?
Judging by the last handful of Cheltenham Festivals NICK WILLIAMS’ handicappers are well worth close scrutiny.

There aren’t many more competitive spheres in racing than a Festival handicap and some good trainers have appalling strike-rates, but Williams has been priming his best chances from his small Devon yard ever since Maljimar was demoted to a supporting role in the 2009 William Hill Trophy by a possessed AP McCoy on Wichita Lineman.

After more near misses after that he broke his duck with Flying Tiger in the 2017 Fred Winter, before he finally atoned for Maljimar with Coo Star Sivola in the same race (now the Ultima) in 2018. Now flying in Festival handicaps, his Siruh Du Lac landed the Plate in 2019.

Williams has a typically small team for this year’s Festival but his two entries, both in handicaps, demand monocle-like inspection.

ONE FOR THE TEAM runs in the Ultima and he’s not dissimilar in profile to Coo Star Sivola being a novice chaser that has racked up the experience in his first campaign over fences.

He’s run up behind some good horses in Next Destination, Shan Blue and The Big Breakaway, although he was a slightly disappointing fifth in a hot renewal of the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster last time.

Better ground could help him, and on the balance of his form he has a chance off a mark of 140 – but it has to be said he is one of a strong group of novice representation in the race and others have more convincing claims.

With that in mind it’s stablemate MOONLIGHTER that might be of most interest in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual on Wednesday.

He’s a second-season chaser who looks at his best when racing from the front, tactics that served him well at Sandown last time despite sprawling on landing at the first.

David Bass did very well to keep the partnership intact and by the time they passed the finishing post for the first time he nudged his mount up into the lead. He was brave to see off all challengers up the hill, jumping superbly under pressure, and he was strong in the final furlong – giving hope the Grand Annual is the perfect race.

He only went up 3lb and it’s hard to think of a more perfect jockey for a swashbuckling front-runner in the Grand Annual than Bass, so it’s interesting he’s been booked for the job, and he might well have a willing partner, from a stable well used to Festival handicap success, in Moonlighter.


Cheltenham Festival: Day One Preview
Can first-time headgear inspire either Altior or Santini?
It’s been a while since Nicky Henderson reached for a first-time visor in a Grade 1.

The last time was on Boxing Day 2013 when he applied the headgear to Long Run in the King George, after four runs in cheekpieces had failed to fire the-then eight-year-old on his previous four runs.

Quickly regressing at the time, no headgear switch that Henderson tried was ever likely to revive Long Run’s glory days – which included winning the Gold Cup as a six-year-old - and so it proved as he drifted away into retirement.

The V1 for SANTINI in Friday’s Wellchild Gold Cup could be the beginning of the end for him, as well, as he seems to have soured a little in the cheekpieces – which he has sported on his last four starts – the more the season has gone on.

You can absolutely see why Henderson is trying the headgear switch, though. Santini ran very well in last year’s slowly-run Gold Cup in first-time cheekpieces and he’s raced lazily this campaign, as if he’s crying out for fresh help in the accoutrement department.

Whether the new equipment can help him win a Gold Cup, I have my doubts, but if the visor does inspire his best form at least he’ll have a chance.

As for ALTIOR, he gets headgear help for the first time in his life, which is no surprise given the four-time Cheltenham Festival winner didn’t need any extra encouragement as he put together a sublime sequence of 19 successive victories.

Things are different now. He’s been seen only four times since he last won the Champion Chase two years ago and he won two just two of those, while he didn’t look himself when last seen at Kempton over Christmas.

The cheekpieces will be applied in a bid to help him travel, particularly early on where he could get rushed off his feet if he’s as lacklustre as he was at Kempton, and the feeling is he’ll need all the help Henderson can give him if he’s to keep tabs on the likes of Chacun Pour Soi.

I’m going to mention Long Run again, as he was the last horse from Seven Barrows that sported first-time cheekpieces in a championship race at Cheltenham – when he was third in the 2013 Gold Cup – but Henderson does have a Grade 1 Festival winner to his name thanks to the P1.

That was Zaynar in the 2009 Triumph Hurdle, a horse famous for getting beaten at 1/14 in the Morebattle at Kelso, and he was obviously at the other end of the age spectrum to Altior during his one and only Festival win.

Having the legs to see off the younger brigade at the age of 11 remains the big question for Altior and, while it would be the highlight of the week to see him triumph again, I fear no amount of sheepskin encouragement will make it happen.


Nicky Henderson Sporting Like Arkle Special: Shishkin
What’s the best bet in the Championship races?
I think it’s A PLUS TARD at 5/1 in the Wellchild Cheltenham Gold Cup.

There’s no doubt that Al Boum Photo could deliver the three-peat, as he’s won the last two in very different circumstances and that versatility, as well as his freshness, could be a vital attribute.

When it comes down to splashing the cash, though, he just looks short enough at 5/2 considering he’s not that far ahead of his contemporaries – and in A Plus Tard he faces a young and improving rival with plenty in his favour.

I love that A Plus Tard had the raw speed to beat Chacun Pour Soi over 2m1f at Leopardstown in his second season over fences. That reminds me a little of Sizing John stepping out of the shadows of Douvan when he stepped up in trip a few years ago.

I love that he danced to victory by 16 lengths in the now defunct novice handicap chase at the Festival before last. He was simply brilliant that day.

And I love that he showed stamina in abundance when staying on to win the Grade 1 Savills Chase at a stiff track like Leopardstown over three miles at Christmas. The form of that race was boosted somewhat when the second home, Kemboy, went onto win the Irish Gold Cup.

He won’t be inconvenienced by the drying ground, either. In fact, there are very few flaws with him, if, like me, you’ll believe he’ll stay. I can see him tanking through this under Rachael Blackmore, conserving his energy for the finishing climb, where hopefully he can see off all challengers up the famous hill.

It would be story of the week. I think it will happen. Have a great Festival everyone.

[dennisg]

The final declarations have been made for day one at the Cheltenham Festival and we have all the racecards, video form and latest odds.

1.20pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
Click here for racecard and FREE video form
Click here for Sky Bet's live odds & offers
Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory features among eight runners for Tuesday's Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Newbury winner joins big home hope Metier who represents Harry Fry and comes here fresh having skipped the Betfair after claiming Grade One glory in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.

Willie Mullins runs two with hot favourite Appreciate It joined in the final field by Blue Lord, while Ballyadam runs for Denis 'Sneezy' Foster. Irascible represents Henry De Bromhead, while For Pleasure and the prolific Grumpy Charley complete the line-up.

Appreciate It
Ballyadam
Blue Lord
For Pleasure
Grumpy Charley
Irascible
Metier
Soaring Glory
Money Back as Cash with Sky Bet
Money Back as Cash with Sky Bet
1.55pm Sporting Life Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
Click here for racecard and FREE video form
Click here for Sky Bet's live odds & offers

Nicky Henderson Sporting Like Arkle Special: Shishkin
Shishkin tops a final field of six for the Sporting Life Arkle at Cheltenham.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, Shishkin was a narrow winner from Abacadabras in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle last March and returns to Prestbury Park with an unblemished 3-3 record over fences this season.

Captain Guinness was brought down in last year's Supreme and faces Shishkin again on the back of a rollercoaster novice chase campaign to date, but the main danger according to the betting is Dan Skelton's Allmankind, who put the finishing touches to his Festival prep with victory over Sky Pirate in the Kingmaker at Warwick.

Eldorado Allen runs for Colin Tizzard while Willie Mullins - who had to rule out the popular Energumene owing to a setback - relies on Franco De Port. Numitor completes the list of declared runners.

Allmankind
Captain Guinness
Eldorado Allen
Franco De Port
Numitor
Shishkin
2.30pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
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Click here for Sky Bet's live odds & offers
Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week on A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week on A Plus Tard
Ok Corral makes his belated seasonal comeback in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Tuesday. Nicky Henderson's horse hasn't raced in public since winning the 2020 Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster 416 days ago and will be looking to tee up a tilt at the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree next month.

Aye Right, representing Scottish handler Harrier Graham, has been mixing in good company without success all season and was arguably an unfortunate loser when second in last month's Sky Bet Chase. He was second in the Ladbrokes Trophy earlier in the season behind impressive subsequent winner Cloth Cap.

Henderson has also declared Pym, while last year's Kim Muir winner Milan Native - now officially in the care of Denis Foster - returns to the Festival after a break aiming to bounce back from from low-key efforts before Christmas.

Happygolucky has been very popular in the antepost markets and goes for Kim Bailey, while Alnadam and One For The Team are other British-based novices with interesting credentials heading into the three mile, one furlong contest.

The weights are topped by the Venetia Williams-trained Cepage, who was seventh behind The Conditional in last year's renewal.

Cepage
Aye Right
Pym
Ok Corral
Milan Native
Happygolucky
Alnadam
Delire d'Estruval
Vintage Clouds
Discordantly
Admiral's Secret
One For The Team
The Wolf
Nietzsche
Soupy Soups
Fingerontheswitch
3.05pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
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Last year's winner Epatante and the unbeaten Honeysuckle are the star names among 10 runners in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson's reigning title-holder has to bounce back from a disappointing second behind Silver Streak - who reopposes - in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, while the Henry De Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle, who won the Mares' Hurdle on the same card last year, looks to follow up her devastating victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Leopardstown runner-up Abacadabras returns to the scene of his near-miss in last year's Sky Bet Supreme, while Willie Mullins has declared Sharjah, Saldier and the fascinating French recruit James Du Berlais.

Goshen's last-flight mishap in the 2020 Triumph Hurdle was a lasting memory of the previous Festival and he's out to atone following a wide-margin win in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, while Not So Sleepy and Honeysuckle's five-year-old stablemate Aspire Tower are also set to feature in the day-one feature.

Abacadabras
Aspire Tower
Goshen
James Du Berlais
Not So Sleepy
Saldier
Sharjah
Silver Streak
Epatante
Honeysuckle
3.40pm Close Brothers David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
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Will appear here...

Black Tears
Concertista
Dame de Compagnie
Dolcita
Floressa
Great White Shark
Indefatigable
Minella Melody
My Sister Sarah
Roksana
Whitehotchillifili
4.15pm Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle (Handicap Hurdle) 2m 87y)
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Nassalam
Youmdor
Saint Sam
Cabot Cliffs
Druid's Altar
Busselton
Riviere d'Etel
Balko Saint
Longclaw
Hell Red
Glorious Zoff
Zoffanien
Houx Gris
Soldier On Parade
Coltor
Her Indoors
Sage Advice
Tinnahalla
Burgundy Man
Homme Public
Jeff Kidder
Elham Valley
Curious Bride (R)
Can't Stop Now (R)
Pyramid Place (E)
Mr Shady (E)
4.50pm Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Chase (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y
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Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day One Preview
Galvin tops the betting following the final declarations for Tuesday's Sam Vestey National Hunt Chase.

He's won four times on the bounce since finding only Imperial Aura too good in last year's novices' handicap chase at the Festival, the most recent win coming over the extended three miles at Cheltenham on October 23.

He now starts out for new trainer Ian Ferguson following the high-profile switch from Gordon Elliott, while Escaria Ten is another former Elliott runner who has been declared for this by Denise Foster and owners the McNeill family.

Paul Nicholls is responsible for Next Destination in the silks of Malcolm Denmark while the Ditcheat trainer also has Soldier Of Love in the field.

David Pipe's Remastered and the Willie Mullins-trained Lord Royal are other major players along with Charlie Longsdon's grey mare Snow Leopardess.

Eden du Houx
Escaria Ten
Galvin
Lithic
Lord Royal
Machiloney
Nestor Park
Next Destination
Ofalltheginjoints
Remastered
Soldier of Love
The Mighty Don Snow
Leopardess

[dennisg]

A CHELTENHAM LIKE NO OTHER
We have become rather used to racing without crowds over the past nine months or so.

Certainly, commentating to an empty racecourse can be a surreal experience, although at a quiet midweek all-weather card, it’s not much different to the norm, to be honest.

Of all the meetings that will suffer most because of a lack of a crowd, the Cheltenham Festival would be top of the list – and by a long way. Without a soul there, the meeting will lose a large chunk of its own soul.

Football broadcasters have become experts at piping in recorded crowd noise. I suppose it is clever but, personally, I prefer to hear the 'clean' sound and hear the ball being kicked alongside the players shouting and screaming and the managers bellowing instructions.

I wonder what ITV or even RTV might do, given that sound coverage is usually ramped up for meetings like this. The noise of jumping an obstacle, some fruity vocal encouragement and, perhaps most concerning right now, the crack of the whip could all be more emphasized with no crowd. We shall see.

Will there be a 'virtual roar' as the tapes go up?


Racing Greats | Brough Scott on his memories of Arkle
MULLINS TO PUSH THE BAR EVEN HIGHER
Out on the course, Willie Mullins will probably dominate and set new records. How ironic that the one horse of his that I had backed ante-post, Energumene, has not made it. Typical.

Still, it is nothing compared to my mate Jeff Randall, the former Sky New business editor.

Jeff is 'retired' now but remains busy, is a director at Sandown and also a shrewd judge of form. He has compiled an impressive ante-post portfolio, which had included Energumene at 20/1 for the Arkle and Thyme Hill at 14s for the Stayers. Ouch!

Henry De Bromhead already had an exceptionally strong team, before being topped up by free signing Envoi Allen, and he will be disappointed if he doesn’t feature highly. It will also be fascinating to see what sort of reaction a winner from Cullentra House will receive.

'Sneezy' Foster will surely give Gordon a mention in post-race dispatches, no? Ultimately, though, if you’ve backed a winner, who cares who trains it? We have to move on.


Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day Two Preview
COME ON THE BRITS!
The home team will be led by the usual suspects – Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and the very much in-form Dan Skelton.

Roksana obviously has Concertista to beat in the Mares’ Hurdle but could do it and I think that Spiritofthegames has a right chance too in the Pertemps Final on Thursday. If ever a horse deserved to win one at the Festival, it is he.

He was fifth in the 2018 County Hurdle and third in the 2019 Stable Plate and a decent sixth in that same race last year. He has never won at Cheltenham but has been second three times (including in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last November) and third twice.

These days, Spiritofthegames may be needing more of a trip – as shown eye-catchingly at Chepstow last time - and is nicely handicapped over hurdles.

I do like Aye Right for Harriet Graham in the Ultima on the opening day and think that Chris Gordon’s On The Slopes is capable of running well at a decent price in the Grand Annual on Wednesday, although I do fear Embittered.

Hold The Note looks ready to go close for Mick Channon in Thursday’s Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir on his second run back after a wind operation.

Let’s hope that this is the only crowd-free Festival of our lifetime but, most of all, that all runners and riders return safely.

Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week on A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week on A Plus Tard
RED FACES - BUT FOR BHA OR MURPHY?
It seems extraordinary that the champion jockey, Brian Hughes, will not be at Cheltenham this week.

He has booked rides at Sedgefield on Tuesday, Huntingdon on Wednesday, Doncaster on Thursday and Fakenham on Friday. It might end up being a shrewd move to be operating in calmer ponds as the two Harrys, Skelton and Cobden, are dipping into the raging white waters at Cheltenham.

And what of our other champion jockey, Oisin Murphy?

He was due to return to the saddle after a six-month ban this weekend but, according to the BHA, had apparently not followed testing protocol and was prevented from doing so – but only at the last minute.

Clearly he thought he had done what was needed or why else would he have booked himself to ride at Lingfield on Friday and Chelmsford on Saturday?

Perhaps there was confusion as the suspension had been given in France? Even so, the BHA should have made sure that everything was clear to him, guided him through his return, and made sure he was ready. He is an important figure in the game.

Perhaps Oisin shouldered some blame too but he doesn’t run the sport!

It was an embarrassing mess and surely so easily avoidable.


Kim Bailey: Cheltenham Festival Memories
BULLET TRAIN – FROM WARREN PLACE TO COUNTY WATERFORD
The death this week of the extraordinary broodmare, Kind, the dam of Frankel, meant the end of a golden era at Juddmonte Farms.

Kind, who apparently lived up to her name in character, sadly died from complications after foaling a colt by Kingman. She was quite simply equine royalty and although obviously best known as the mother of Frankel, four of her other sons are also serving as stallions and scattered all across the globe.

While Frankel does his thing at Banstead Manor in Newmarket (at £175,000 a hit), his full brother Noble Mission is based at Lanes End Farm in Kentucky for a fee of $20,000, while Morpheus (by Oasis Dream) is smack bang in the middle of France at the Haras de Toury and stands for €2,800.

The other two are now over in Ireland, both the eldest and the youngest siblings - Bullet Train (by Sadler’s Wells and a three quarter brother to Frankel) and the little known Proconsul, Frankel’s full-brother, who raced just twice but without success for Andre Fabre.

Proconsul, who started off at Mickley Stud in Shropshire, transferred to Annshoon Stud in County Kilkenny two years ago and is available at just €1,000.

Travel around 50 miles south west to County Waterford and you’ll now find big brother, Bullet Train, who has been based at Woodfield Farm Stud since 2018 after a spell in Kentucky where he stood at a fee of $7500. During that time he was also shuttled down to Australia.

It is Bullet Train who I have the soft spot for. A highly talented colt himself and capable of winning the Group 3 Lingfield Derby Trial, his own career was later sacrificed to serve as pacemaker to his extraordinary younger brother.

Bullet Train was hand picked by Henry Cecil to set the fractions in six successive Group 1 races, the first four over a mile in the Queen Elizabeth II, Lockinge, Queen Anne and Sussex and the last two around a mile and quarter in the Juddmonte and the Champion Stakes.

Bullet Train did his job impeccably and still showed smart form when the one-dimensional tactics were hardly playing to his own strengths.

Gary Norris, owner and manager of Woodfield Farm, told me: “Bullet Train has a bombproof temperament and it is lovely to see it passing onto his stock.

“He is very much in demand and his first Irish crop will be three-year-olds in 2022. Before lockdown, he had visitors nearly every day to see him. They came from as far away as Australia and the USA to get their photo with him. He clearly has a lot of fans around the world.

“Lockdown has been hard on everyone and no-one really knows how the year will progress. We have had about 100 enquiries already for this covering season. His fee is private and is only disclosed to breeders that are sending a mare to him.”

Bullet Train has sired 145 individual winners and one of his sons, Chapada, won the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield last October and was third in last week’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington.

Bullet Train was more than just Frankel’s pacemaker. He is a Group-winning son of Sadler’s Wells and one of the youngest Sadler’s Wells stallions around.

Even if his fee is private, you get an idea from the figures quoted above that he remains an affordable and exciting option to breeders, both on the Flat and over jumps.

[dennisg]

It's that time of year again - the Cheltenham Festival bankers. Our racing team and the Timeform journalists provide theirs.

Jake Pearson - Chacun Pour Soi (Champion Chase)
Click here to back the selection with Sky Bet (NRNB)
There appear to be a host of unassailable short-priced favourites at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, including Shishkin in the Arkle, Monkfish in the Brown Advisory and, of course, Envoi Allen in the Marsh, but the banker of the meeting for me is Chacun Pour Soi in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Chacun Pour Soi is 7 lb higher than his nearest contender on Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings, highlighting his class edge. He was withdrawn from last year’s Champion Chase at the eleventh-hour, but has come back as good as ever this season, winning the Hilly Way Chase, the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase and Dublin Chase, showing that he is an outstanding chaser.

He is a two-miler in the truest sense and remains Timeform’s highest rated chaser in training. There is a strong argument that Altior is past his best, while the likes of Politologue and Nube Negra need to raise their game, and this is surely the year Chacun Pour Soi gains the Champion Chase that his consistency and lofty rating deserves.

Chacun Poir Soi leads over the last
Chacun Poir Soi leads over the last
David Ord - Bravemansgame (Ballymore Novices' Hurdle)
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He's the poster boy for the British novice hurdlers at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and Bravemansgame can live up to the billing by landing the Ballymore.

He's on a steep upward curve heading to Prestbury Park, taking the step up to Grade One company in his stride when routing his field in the Challow. His only defeat over timber came when collared close home by subsequent Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory at Chepstow on his debut.

As you'd expect there's a strong Irish challenge in here headed by Bob Olinger and Gaillard Du Mesnil but neither has achieved more than the selection yet but trade shorter in the betting.

Clearly it's all about potential at this stage but Bravemansgame is full of it. He's been likened to Denman by Paul Nicholls can can take a small step towards meriting such a comparison by leading them home on Wednesday.

Bravemansgame clears the last in the Challow
Bravemansgame clears the last in the Challow
John Ingles – Monkfish (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
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Among a vintage crop of novice chasers, Shishkin, Envoi Allen and Monkfish all return to Cheltenham 12 months after winning the Festival’s three novice hurdles.

Impressive though they’ve been this season, Shishkin and Envoi Allen have done no more than live up to what were already towering reputations.

Monkfish, on the other hand, has gone from strength to strength in his novice chase campaign, so much so that jockey Paul Townend suggested he wouldn’t have been out of place in the Irish Gold Cup instead after a top-class effort at Leopardstown last time.

He’ll take all the beating in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Paul Townend celebrates on Monkfish
Paul Townend celebrates on Monkfish
Adam Houghton – Paisley Park (Stayers’ Hurdle)
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Paisley Park may have lost his aura of invincibility over the last 12 months, but there is no doubt in my mind that he remains the best staying hurdler in training, buoyed by the remarkable performance he put up to win the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time.

Everything about that display was trademark Paisley Park, who was shuffled back on the home turn – hitting a high of 64/1 in-running – before producing an irresistible late surge to mug Thyme Hill in the final strides.

I’ve heard and read several different interpretations of the Long Walk, but my personal view is that Thyme Hill essentially enjoyed the run of the race and that Paisley Park’s superiority was undersold given the seemingly impossible position he had to come from.

Paisley Park can regain the crown he won so memorably back in 2019.

Aidan Coleman after winning on Paisley Park
Aidan Coleman after winning on Paisley Park
Andrew Asquith – Appreciate It (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle)
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Most people are looking to oppose Appreciate It in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but I’m not convinced of Metier, Soaring Glory isn’t a guaranteed runner, and there is no reason why Ballyadam should reverse the form.

It therefore looks a weak renewal, and Appreciate It has done nothing but impress over hurdles this season.

Yes, he is bred to stay further, but he hasn’t looked short of speed so far, and you do need to stay well to win Supreme. Anything odds against looks a good bet in my eyes.

Sky Bet's first race special at the Cheltenham Festival
Sky Bet's first race special at the Cheltenham Festival
Matt Brocklebank - Adrimel (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle)
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The Cheltenham Festival isn’t the be-all and end-all but it can really help forge a career and certain trainers look destined to taste success here at some stage in their careers. One such handler is Tom Lacey who sends Adrimel into battle with a huge chance in Friday’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

His sole defeat – under Rules and point-to-points – came when down the field in last year’s Champion Bumper but you can excuse any young horse with little experience one run around Prestbury Park and the improvement he’s made since last March has been striking.

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After giving Grumpy Charley – winner of three races subsequently – 5lb and a beating at Haydock he went to Warwick for the Leamington Novices’ Hurdle and was sent off a well-backed 7/2 favourite in the hands of Richard Johnson.

He duly got the job done, in spite of having to make his own running, and while runner-up Mint Condition ran no sort of race at Haydock subsequently, the fourth and fifth have done their bit for the form. Adrimel looks crying out for three miles now and heads to Cheltenham on a steep upward curve with the prospect of so much more to come now granted a proper test of stamina.

Adrimel in control at Sandown
Adrimel in control at Sandown
Ben Linfoot - Imperial Alcazar (Pertemps Final)
Click here to back the selection with Sky Bet (NRNB)
IMPERIAL ALCAZAR looks very solid in the Pertemps Final and he fits the banker mould nicely.

Generally 5/1, he might even drift a bit come raceday as pundits and punters look for value alternatives, but there is no doubt in my mind he deserves to be a strong favourite.

He went up 8lb to 147 for winning the qualifier at Warwick – a race that has found a few winners of the Final in recent years thanks to Holywell and Sire Du Berlais – but even that hike is conservative when it comes to putting a figure on his dominance and potential.

The Pertemps has been a good route for would-be top-level novice chasers in recent years – think Delta Work and Presenting Percy – and Imperial Alcazar looks another type who looks very well treated at this stage of his career considering what he could become.

A head second to Protektorat (considered a 154-rated chaser earlier this season) on his only previous visit to Cheltenham, a patient ride from Paddy Brennan looks the required tactics once again and a career-best – and a first Festival success for his trainer – could well be forthcoming.

Imperial Alcazar leads over the last
Imperial Alcazar leads over the last
Tony McFadden - Royal Kahala (Mares' Novices' Hurdle)
Click here to back the selection with Sky Bet (NRNB)
There are a lot of races at this year's Cheltenham Festival in which the favourite is seemingly presented with a penalty kick – and for the outcome think Matt le Tissier rather than Chris Waddle!

But, looking beyond the odds-on shots, the horse I'm banking on is Royal Kahala in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle. Willie Mullins has won all five runnings since the race's inception in 2016 but Royal Kahala has already beaten Hook Up, his leading light this year, and she did so in authoritative style. That five-length victory at Fairyhouse completed a hat-trick for Royal Kahala and a key feature of those victories was the turn of foot she displayed.

Royal Kahala didn't travel with her usual zest when runner-up to Roseys Hollow in the Solerina last time – a key pointer for this race – but I'm of the view that she simply wasn't firing on all cylinders, rather than it being a case of her lacking pace. The style of her previous performances suggests to me that she is a class act and has the pace to cope with this drop in trip.

More from Sporting Life

[dennisg]

Progressive novice Royale Pagaille will run in Friday's WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Festival.

Speaking on Racing TV's Luck on Sunday programme, Joe Chambers, racing manager for the horse's owners Susannah & Rich Ricci, confirmed the day-four feature would be the impressive Peter Marsh hero's target, rather than take on fellow novices' over a longer distance in Tuesday's National Hunt Chase.

Royale Pagaille is trained by Venetia Williams who will be seeking a first victory in the Festival highlight. Due to be partnered by Charlie Deutsch at Cheltenham, the seven-year-old will be bidding to become the first novice to win the Gold Cup since Coneygree in 2015.

Speaking on Sunday Chambers said: "He's set for the Gold Cup. We spoke last night and Venetia was happy to go for the Gold Cup and collectively that's what we agreed, assuming everything remains okay with Monkfish.

"Once the horse was okay this morning we said we'd let people know before declarations for the National Hunt Chase.

"He's rated 166, whether he merits it or not time will tell, but we might as well find out in the Gold Cup than elsewhere and wonder whether we should have. He's been the surprise of the season and it's something to look forward to."

[dennisg]

A CHELTENHAM LIKE NO OTHER
We have become rather used to racing without crowds over the past nine months or so.

Certainly, commentating to an empty racecourse can be a surreal experience, although at a quiet midweek all-weather card, it’s not much different to the norm, to be honest.

Of all the meetings that will suffer most because of a lack of a crowd, the Cheltenham Festival would be top of the list – and by a long way. Without a soul there, the meeting will lose a large chunk of its own soul.

Football broadcasters have become experts at piping in recorded crowd noise. I suppose it is clever but, personally, I prefer to hear the 'clean' sound and hear the ball being kicked alongside the players shouting and screaming and the managers bellowing instructions.

I wonder what ITV or even RTV might do, given that sound coverage is usually ramped up for meetings like this. The noise of jumping an obstacle, some fruity vocal encouragement and, perhaps most concerning right now, the crack of the whip could all be more emphasized with no crowd. We shall see.

Will there be a 'virtual roar' as the tapes go up?


Racing Greats | Brough Scott on his memories of Arkle
MULLINS TO PUSH THE BAR EVEN HIGHER
Out on the course, Willie Mullins will probably dominate and set new records. How ironic that the one horse of his that I had backed ante-post, Energumene, has not made it. Typical.

Still, it is nothing compared to my mate Jeff Randall, the former Sky New business editor.

Jeff is 'retired' now but remains busy, is a director at Sandown and also a shrewd judge of form. He has compiled an impressive ante-post portfolio, which had included Energumene at 20/1 for the Arkle and Thyme Hill at 14s for the Stayers. Ouch!

Henry De Bromhead already had an exceptionally strong team, before being topped up by free signing Envoi Allen, and he will be disappointed if he doesn’t feature highly. It will also be fascinating to see what sort of reaction a winner from Cullentra House will receive.

'Sneezy' Foster will surely give Gordon a mention in post-race dispatches, no? Ultimately, though, if you’ve backed a winner, who cares who trains it? We have to move on.


Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day Two Preview
COME ON THE BRITS!
The home team will be led by the usual suspects – Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and the very much in-form Dan Skelton.

Roksana obviously has Concertista to beat in the Mares’ Hurdle but could do it and I think that Spiritofthegames has a right chance too in the Pertemps Final on Thursday. If ever a horse deserved to win one at the Festival, it is he.

He was fifth in the 2018 County Hurdle and third in the 2019 Stable Plate and a decent sixth in that same race last year. He has never won at Cheltenham but has been second three times (including in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last November) and third twice.

These days, Spiritofthegames may be needing more of a trip – as shown eye-catchingly at Chepstow last time - and is nicely handicapped over hurdles.

I do like Aye Right for Harriet Graham in the Ultima on the opening day and think that Chris Gordon’s On The Slopes is capable of running well at a decent price in the Grand Annual on Wednesday, although I do fear Embittered.

Hold The Note looks ready to go close for Mick Channon in Thursday’s Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir on his second run back after a wind operation.

Let’s hope that this is the only crowd-free Festival of our lifetime but, most of all, that all runners and riders return safely.

Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week on A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week on A Plus Tard
RED FACES - BUT FOR BHA OR MURPHY?
It seems extraordinary that the champion jockey, Brian Hughes, will not be at Cheltenham this week.

He has booked rides at Sedgefield on Tuesday, Huntingdon on Wednesday, Doncaster on Thursday and Fakenham on Friday. It might end up being a shrewd move to be operating in calmer ponds as the two Harrys, Skelton and Cobden, are dipping into the raging white waters at Cheltenham.

And what of our other champion jockey, Oisin Murphy?

He was due to return to the saddle after a six-month ban this weekend but, according to the BHA, had apparently not followed testing protocol and was prevented from doing so – but only at the last minute.

Clearly he thought he had done what was needed or why else would he have booked himself to ride at Lingfield on Friday and Chelmsford on Saturday?

Perhaps there was confusion as the suspension had been given in France? Even so, the BHA should have made sure that everything was clear to him, guided him through his return, and made sure he was ready. He is an important figure in the game.

Perhaps Oisin shouldered some blame too but he doesn’t run the sport!

It was an embarrassing mess and surely so easily avoidable.


Kim Bailey: Cheltenham Festival Memories
BULLET TRAIN – FROM WARREN PLACE TO COUNTY WATERFORD
The death this week of the extraordinary broodmare, Kind, the dam of Frankel, meant the end of a golden era at Juddmonte Farms.

Kind, who apparently lived up to her name in character, sadly died from complications after foaling a colt by Kingman. She was quite simply equine royalty and although obviously best known as the mother of Frankel, four of her other sons are also serving as stallions and scattered all across the globe.

While Frankel does his thing at Banstead Manor in Newmarket (at £175,000 a hit), his full brother Noble Mission is based at Lanes End Farm in Kentucky for a fee of $20,000, while Morpheus (by Oasis Dream) is smack bang in the middle of France at the Haras de Toury and stands for €2,800.

The other two are now over in Ireland, both the eldest and the youngest siblings - Bullet Train (by Sadler’s Wells and a three quarter brother to Frankel) and the little known Proconsul, Frankel’s full-brother, who raced just twice but without success for Andre Fabre.

Proconsul, who started off at Mickley Stud in Shropshire, transferred to Annshoon Stud in County Kilkenny two years ago and is available at just €1,000.

Travel around 50 miles south west to County Waterford and you’ll now find big brother, Bullet Train, who has been based at Woodfield Farm Stud since 2018 after a spell in Kentucky where he stood at a fee of $7500. During that time he was also shuttled down to Australia.

It is Bullet Train who I have the soft spot for. A highly talented colt himself and capable of winning the Group 3 Lingfield Derby Trial, his own career was later sacrificed to serve as pacemaker to his extraordinary younger brother.

Bullet Train was hand picked by Henry Cecil to set the fractions in six successive Group 1 races, the first four over a mile in the Queen Elizabeth II, Lockinge, Queen Anne and Sussex and the last two around a mile and quarter in the Juddmonte and the Champion Stakes.

Bullet Train did his job impeccably and still showed smart form when the one-dimensional tactics were hardly playing to his own strengths.

Gary Norris, owner and manager of Woodfield Farm, told me: “Bullet Train has a bombproof temperament and it is lovely to see it passing onto his stock.

“He is very much in demand and his first Irish crop will be three-year-olds in 2022. Before lockdown, he had visitors nearly every day to see him. They came from as far away as Australia and the USA to get their photo with him. He clearly has a lot of fans around the world.

“Lockdown has been hard on everyone and no-one really knows how the year will progress. We have had about 100 enquiries already for this covering season. His fee is private and is only disclosed to breeders that are sending a mare to him.”

Bullet Train has sired 145 individual winners and one of his sons, Chapada, won the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield last October and was third in last week’s Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington.

Bullet Train was more than just Frankel’s pacemaker. He is a Group-winning son of Sadler’s Wells and one of the youngest Sadler’s Wells stallions around.

Even if his fee is private, you get an idea from the figures quoted above that he remains an affordable and exciting option to breeders, both on the Flat and over jumps.

[dennisg]

Here it is. The clash we have been anticipating all season long. Unbeaten Honeysuckle versus last year’s reigning Champion Epatante. Not to mention the rest.

This time last year, this column waxed lyrical about Epatante and all the legitimate claims she had to victory. This year nothing has changed for her, except the competition.

It seems important to note that no British-bred horse has won the Champion Hurdle in the last 11 years. There were two British-hailing victors in the decade before that. But, otherwise, they have all of course been either French or Irish bred (6-5 to Ireland).

Obviously, this is not a categorical disadvantage to any runner, but it is clear that 19 times out of the last 21, the British have not been good enough. This is possibly the only notional ‘negative’ we can conjure towards Honeysuckle, who along with Not So Sleepy, are the only British born contenders this year.

And a second brief note is that five of the last 10 Champion Hurdle heroes have stemmed directly from the Sadler’s Wells paternal line, while the most recent three came from French blood.

Alas, no more fluff. We know what is at stake here so straight into the good stuff. Who are this year’s Unibet Champion Hurdle contenders and what are they made of?

HONEYSUCKLE (GB) – Henry De Bromhead
Honeysuckle warming up for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
Honeysuckle warming up for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
Unbeaten in 11 starts which includes six Grade Ones, back-to-back Irish Champion Hurdles and the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham last year. Where the ceiling of her limitations may lie is unknown.

SIRE: Sulamani - A high-class flat performer who won six Group One races over 10 and 12 furlongs including the French Derby, Dubai Sheema Classic, and the Juddmonte International at York. A half-brother to dual Derby winner Dream Well (sire of Klassical Dream), Sulamani died prematurely in 2017 and Honeysuckle is the flagbearer of his jumping-bred crops from Yorton Farm so far. But he has also been represented by 2011 Grade One Novice Hurdle winner Cash And Co, as well as 2016 Aintree Grand National winner Rule The World.

FEMALE FAMILY: Honeysuckle’s dam First Royal is by Lando and she placed in two Listed Hurdle races in Germany. She is the only foal out of her own unraced dam who in turn is a daughter of German Listed winner First Smile. Bar Honeysuckle and First Royal, it is a German flat family.

EPATANTE (FR) – Nicky Henderson
Aidan Coleman winning on Epatante at Newbury
Aidan Coleman winning on Epatante at Newbury
Epatante has also had 11 starts, winning eight of them, four at Grade One level including this race last year. She is bidding to emulate Buveur d’Air with successive Champion Hurdle wins for Nicky Henderson and JP McManus, and it would also be a fifth successive win in the race for her owner.

SIRE: No Risk At All - A dual Group Three winner himself on the flat in France, No Risk At All has risen from a low fee of €2,500 back in 2013 to now being the fourth most expensive National Hunt sire in France at €10,000. His oldest progeny turn seven this year and Epatante hails from that first crop of 87 foals along with Cheveley Park Stud’s multiple Grade One placed Allaho, Grade One Henry VIII Novice Chase winner Esprit Du Large and Grade One placed Gumball. Just to reiterate, these are all from No Risk At All’s first, very inexpensively-bred crop; not to mention the younger Grade One performers coming through such as Keskonrisk and Hook Up.

FEMALE FAMILY: Epatante’s female family is a little lighter on black type in comparison to all the promise held in her paternal lines. Her dam Kadjara won one race in France and did also produce Tante Sissi who won a Listed Hurdle Race in Newbury in 2012, as well as three other winners. And under Epatante’s third dam is Listed winner on the flat, L’Emeraude.

GOSHEN (FR) - Gary Moore
Goshen - Champion Hurdle the plan
Goshen - Champion Hurdle contender
Goshen was set to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle last year in his first graded race attempt before being cruelly parted with his rider at the last Hurdle. He has had three mediocre efforts since, until seemingly back to form when winning the Grade Two Kingwell Hurdle by 22 lengths three weeks ago.

SIRE: Authorized – The Epsom Derby, Racing Post Trophy and Juddmonte International winner who began his stud career at Sheikh Mohammad’s Dalham Hall, transferred to France for six years, and is now residing in Turkey. He has produced several Group One winners on the flat including last year’s Irish Derby winner Santiago, but Authorized is more celebrated in the jumping sphere as sire of the infamous Tiger Roll (who also won the Triumph before his two Grand Nationals) and eight-time Grade One winning hurdler Nichols Canyon. Authorized is then also by Montjeu, who sired dual Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly.

FEMALE FAMILY: Goshen has a brilliant French pedigree. His dam Hyde is by Poliglote (actually making Goshen inbred to Sadler’s Wells 3x3) and she placed once over Hurdles in France. Hyde’s second foal is the JP McManus’ and Willie Mullins Grade Two winning chaser Elimay. And they stem from French Listed winner Camarange who also produced the tough French chaser Naringe amongst a number of others.

ABACADABRAS (FR) – Denise Foster
Jack Kennedy (left) with Abacadabras
Jack Kennedy (left) with Abacadabras
In 13 starts, Abacadabras is the winner of five races including the Grade One Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown and the Morgiana Hurdle; also finishing just a head second to Shishkin in the Sky Bet Supreme at Cheltenham last year and 10 lengths behind Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle on their last outing.

SIRE: Davidoff – A Group Three winner over a mile in Germany, Davidoff is a son of Montjeu (sire of dual Champion Hurdle hero Hurricane Fly) and stood for very small fees in France before his early death at the age of 14. Along with Abacadabras, Davidoff is also the sire of Grade One Future Champions Novice Hurdle winner Saturnas, from seven crops of National Hunt racing age which averaged at 13 foals per crop.

FEMALE FAMILY: Abacadabras’ dam placed twice over hurdles in France and his year-younger full brother La Barakas, has placed in two Grade Three chases in their home country. Abacadabras' grandam is then a sister to Poliantas who won the Grade Two silver Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham for Paul Nicholls in 2003.

SHARJAH (FR) – Willie Mullins
A third Matheson Hurdle for Sharjah
A third Matheson Hurdle for Sharjah
Sharjah is now a four-time Grade One winner of the Morgiana, Ryanair and back-to-back Matheson Hurdles. He was solidly beaten by Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle both this year and last year, most recently finishing 19 lengths behind her in third. He did however finish second to Epatante in this race last year.

SIRE: Doctor Dino – The most expensive National Hunt stallion in France standing at €18,000 and for good reason. An international Group One winner on the flat in his day including two Hong Kong Vases, Doctor Dino began his stud career at €3,000 in 2010 and while his eldest progeny are just ten, his first five crops were extremely small (between 15 and 40 foals) and he has still been represented by the likes of Sharjah, Grade One winning chasers La Bague Au Roi and Sceau Royal, as well as French Grade One winning hurdler Master Dino.

FEMALE FAMILY: Sharjah comes from a decent flat family. His half-brother by Dark Angel, Sahawer, placed in multiple stakes races in France while his grandam Belle Argentine, is a stakes winner herself and placed in both the French Guineas and French Oaks. She is the dam of Group Three Cornwallis Stakes winner Alzerra and the grandam of Group Three Pavilion Stakes winner Gifted Master.

ASPIRE TOWER (IRE) – Henry De Bromhead
Sharjah delivers is winning run
Aspire Tower (right)
From six starts for Henry De Bromhead, Aspire Tower has won three races (two at Grade Two level), placed second in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last year and was two lengths second behind Sharjah in the Matheson Hurdle at Christmas on his latest start. It is important to note that only two five-year-olds have won the Champion Hurdle in the past 34 years (Espoir d’Allen and Katchit).

SIRE: Born To Sea – A Listed winning and Irish Derby placed son of Invincible Spirit who is also a half-brother to Galileo and Sea The Stars. Now standing in France after eight years in Ireland, Born To Sea has sired one Group Three winner on the flat and has had much more promising results in the jumping sphere with both Aspire Tower and his Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle winning son, A Wave Of The Sea.

FEMALE FAMILY: Aspire Tower’s dam Red Planet is unraced and had already produced stakes performers on the flat in both Sweden and Italy. Red Planet is by Pivotal, a broodmare-sire sensation in the flat world, and is also a full-sister to speedball and Group One Nunthorpe Stakes (five furlongs) placed, Pivotal Flame. The better performers within Aspire Tower’s female family are certainly on the opposite end of the distance spectrum but he has already proven he is made for the two mile trip.

SILVER STREAK (IRE) - Evan Williams
Silver Streak and Adam Wedge are clear at Kempton
Silver Streak and Adam Wedge are clear at Kempton
Silver Streak finally broke his Grade One duck in the Christmas Hurdle when beating Epatante in December. He had previously placed sixth in this race last year and third the year before, as well as second to Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle in 2019, after 32 starts in total now.

SIRE: Dark Angel – A Group One winning sprinter who ran solely as a two-year-old and is a leading sire of sprinters.

FEMALE FAMILY: Silver Streak’s dam Happy Talk was a winner over 10 furlongs and has bred seven winners, all sprinters bar Aspire Tower and his half-brother Mica Mika who also won over hurdles. Happy Talk is a half-sister to Storm Dream who placed in the 1000 Guineas and is the grandam of Spanish Reef, a Group Two winner over a mile in Australia.

JAMES DU BERLAIS (FR) – Willie Mullins

First run for Willie Mullins since being purchased from France. Even though only five, he has run 13 times already - winning on four occasions including two Grade Three Hurdles over almost two-and-a-half miles and two Listed contests. He also placed second by short margins in two Grade One events over the same distance.

SIRE: Muhtathir – A top-class miler in his day and sire of a number of principal performers both on the flat and over jumps including Doctor Dino (sire of Sharjah above), as well as unbeaten Envoi Allen who won the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle over two miles along with his four other top-level wins - just to mention the most significant.

FEMALE FAMILY: Now this is something special. James Du Berlais is out of the King’s Theatre mare King’s Daughter. King’s Theatre is the sire of heavyweights such as Cue Card, The New One and L’Ami Serge. And King’s Daughter herself is a Grade Three winner over hurdles in Auteuil, placed at the top level and has already produced a Grade One winner in Goliath Du Berlais (Saint Des Saints) who won the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure over two-miles-six at Auteuil in 2019 and is now standing at stud in France for a fee of €7,500. James Du Berlais then has a younger full-sister who placed second in a Listed Hurdle race on her second start at Compiegne last year. And it doesn’t stop there, King’s Daughter is also a half-sister to Lyreen Legend who won a Grade Two Novice Hurdle at Thurles in 2012, placed second in the RSA and third in the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

SALDIER (FR) – Willie Mullins
Also hailing from France, Saldier won the Grade One Champion 4YO Hurdle at Punchestown back in 2018 and has only been seen on four occasions since – winning the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle in 2019 and then being well beaten on his two starts this season in the Matheson behind Sharjah and the Irish Champion Hurdle behind Honeysuckle.

Saldier
Saldier
SIRE: Solider Hollow – A four-time Group One winner over ten furlongs and leading German sire of the likes of Dschingis Secret and Pastorius from only 412 total runners. Soldier Hollow has not had too many representatives over jumps but can take credit for Hatton’s Grace winner Arctic Fire and Grade Two bet365 Hurdle winner Silsol.

FEMALE FAMILY: Saldier’s dam ran just the once and is by Monsun who of course has created a huge legacy though his sons in the National Hunt world. She is a half-sister to two very different, but good horses – Sri Putra who was a top performer on the flat winning Group Twos in France and Britain and placing at the highest level numerous times; and Duty who won a Grade Two juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Saldier’s grandam is a sister to Caerlina who won the French Oaks and produced King Of Queens who won a Grade Two handicap hurdle also at Fairyhouse.

NOT SO SLEEPY (GB) – Hughie Morrison
Nine-year-old who will be running his 50th race on Tuesday. He pulled up in this race last year and his best form is back-to-back wins in the Grade Three Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot, the most recent on his last start in December.

Not So Sleepy wins at Ascot... again
Not So Sleepy wins at Ascot
SIRE: Beat Hollow – Multiple 10-furlong Group One winner and the sire of one of the only horses ever to win a Group/Grade One both on the flat and over obstacles – Wicklow Brave, as well as one of Friday’s leading Gold Cup contenders, Minella Indo.

FEMALE FAMILY: Not So Sleepy’s dam is unraced and his grandam is a half-sister to Great Voltigeur Stakes winner and St Leger-placed Air Marshall, as well as the dam of Fairyhouse Grade Three Hurdle winner Paco Jack.

[dennisg]

It's that time of year again - the Cheltenham Festival bankers. Our racing team and the Timeform journalists provide theirs.

Jake Pearson - Chacun Pour Soi (Champion Chase)
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There appear to be a host of unassailable short-priced favourites at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, including Shishkin in the Arkle, Monkfish in the Brown Advisory and, of course, Envoi Allen in the Marsh, but the banker of the meeting for me is Chacun Pour Soi in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Chacun Pour Soi is 7 lb higher than his nearest contender on Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings, highlighting his class edge. He was withdrawn from last year’s Champion Chase at the eleventh-hour, but has come back as good as ever this season, winning the Hilly Way Chase, the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase and Dublin Chase, showing that he is an outstanding chaser.

He is a two-miler in the truest sense and remains Timeform’s highest rated chaser in training. There is a strong argument that Altior is past his best, while the likes of Politologue and Nube Negra need to raise their game, and this is surely the year Chacun Pour Soi gains the Champion Chase that his consistency and lofty rating deserves.

Chacun Poir Soi leads over the last
Chacun Poir Soi leads over the last
David Ord - Bravemansgame (Ballymore Novices' Hurdle)
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He's the poster boy for the British novice hurdlers at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and Bravemansgame can live up to the billing by landing the Ballymore.

He's on a steep upward curve heading to Prestbury Park, taking the step up to Grade One company in his stride when routing his field in the Challow. His only defeat over timber came when collared close home by subsequent Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory at Chepstow on his debut.

As you'd expect there's a strong Irish challenge in here headed by Bob Olinger and Gaillard Du Mesnil but neither has achieved more than the selection yet but trade shorter in the betting.

Clearly it's all about potential at this stage but Bravemansgame is full of it. He's been likened to Denman by Paul Nicholls can can take a small step towards meriting such a comparison by leading them home on Wednesday.

Bravemansgame clears the last in the Challow
Bravemansgame clears the last in the Challow
John Ingles – Monkfish (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
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Among a vintage crop of novice chasers, Shishkin, Envoi Allen and Monkfish all return to Cheltenham 12 months after winning the Festival’s three novice hurdles.

Impressive though they’ve been this season, Shishkin and Envoi Allen have done no more than live up to what were already towering reputations.

Monkfish, on the other hand, has gone from strength to strength in his novice chase campaign, so much so that jockey Paul Townend suggested he wouldn’t have been out of place in the Irish Gold Cup instead after a top-class effort at Leopardstown last time.

He’ll take all the beating in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Paul Townend celebrates on Monkfish
Paul Townend celebrates on Monkfish
Adam Houghton – Paisley Park (Stayers’ Hurdle)
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Paisley Park may have lost his aura of invincibility over the last 12 months, but there is no doubt in my mind that he remains the best staying hurdler in training, buoyed by the remarkable performance he put up to win the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time.

Everything about that display was trademark Paisley Park, who was shuffled back on the home turn – hitting a high of 64/1 in-running – before producing an irresistible late surge to mug Thyme Hill in the final strides.

I’ve heard and read several different interpretations of the Long Walk, but my personal view is that Thyme Hill essentially enjoyed the run of the race and that Paisley Park’s superiority was undersold given the seemingly impossible position he had to come from.

Paisley Park can regain the crown he won so memorably back in 2019.

Aidan Coleman after winning on Paisley Park
Aidan Coleman after winning on Paisley Park
Andrew Asquith – Appreciate It (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle)
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Most people are looking to oppose Appreciate It in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but I’m not convinced of Metier, Soaring Glory isn’t a guaranteed runner, and there is no reason why Ballyadam should reverse the form.

It therefore looks a weak renewal, and Appreciate It has done nothing but impress over hurdles this season.

Yes, he is bred to stay further, but he hasn’t looked short of speed so far, and you do need to stay well to win Supreme. Anything odds against looks a good bet in my eyes.

Sky Bet's first race special at the Cheltenham Festival
Sky Bet's first race special at the Cheltenham Festival
Matt Brocklebank - Adrimel (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle)
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The Cheltenham Festival isn’t the be-all and end-all but it can really help forge a career and certain trainers look destined to taste success here at some stage in their careers. One such handler is Tom Lacey who sends Adrimel into battle with a huge chance in Friday’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

His sole defeat – under Rules and point-to-points – came when down the field in last year’s Champion Bumper but you can excuse any young horse with little experience one run around Prestbury Park and the improvement he’s made since last March has been striking.

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After giving Grumpy Charley – winner of three races subsequently – 5lb and a beating at Haydock he went to Warwick for the Leamington Novices’ Hurdle and was sent off a well-backed 7/2 favourite in the hands of Richard Johnson.

He duly got the job done, in spite of having to make his own running, and while runner-up Mint Condition ran no sort of race at Haydock subsequently, the fourth and fifth have done their bit for the form. Adrimel looks crying out for three miles now and heads to Cheltenham on a steep upward curve with the prospect of so much more to come now granted a proper test of stamina.

Adrimel in control at Sandown
Adrimel in control at Sandown
Ben Linfoot - Imperial Alcazar (Pertemps Final)
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IMPERIAL ALCAZAR looks very solid in the Pertemps Final and he fits the banker mould nicely.

Generally 5/1, he might even drift a bit come raceday as pundits and punters look for value alternatives, but there is no doubt in my mind he deserves to be a strong favourite.

He went up 8lb to 147 for winning the qualifier at Warwick – a race that has found a few winners of the Final in recent years thanks to Holywell and Sire Du Berlais – but even that hike is conservative when it comes to putting a figure on his dominance and potential.

The Pertemps has been a good route for would-be top-level novice chasers in recent years – think Delta Work and Presenting Percy – and Imperial Alcazar looks another type who looks very well treated at this stage of his career considering what he could become.

A head second to Protektorat (considered a 154-rated chaser earlier this season) on his only previous visit to Cheltenham, a patient ride from Paddy Brennan looks the required tactics once again and a career-best – and a first Festival success for his trainer – could well be forthcoming.

Imperial Alcazar leads over the last
Imperial Alcazar leads over the last
Tony McFadden - Royal Kahala (Mares' Novices' Hurdle)
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There are a lot of races at this year's Cheltenham Festival in which the favourite is seemingly presented with a penalty kick – and for the outcome think Matt le Tissier rather than Chris Waddle!

But, looking beyond the odds-on shots, the horse I'm banking on is Royal Kahala in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle. Willie Mullins has won all five runnings since the race's inception in 2016 but Royal Kahala has already beaten Hook Up, his leading light this year, and she did so in authoritative style. That five-length victory at Fairyhouse completed a hat-trick for Royal Kahala and a key feature of those victories was the turn of foot she displayed.

Royal Kahala didn't travel with her usual zest when runner-up to Roseys Hollow in the Solerina last time – a key pointer for this race – but I'm of the view that she simply wasn't firing on all cylinders, rather than it being a case of her lacking pace. The style of her previous performances suggests to me that she is a class act and has the pace to cope with this drop in trip.

[dennisg]

Willie Mullins credits early Champion Bumper wins with launching his training career
By Nick Seddon
12:15 · SUN March 14, 2021

Willie Mullins has named the Weatherbys Champion Bumper as the race which helped launch his record-breaking career as a trainer.

With 72 winners to his name, Mullins is the most success trainer in the history of the Festival. And although his first victory at Jump Racing’s greatest spectacle was in the 1995 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, it was consecutive victories in the Champion Bumper in 1996 and 1997 which really put his yard on the map.

The Closutton trainer has an unrivalled record in the race, winning an incredible 10 renewals of the 28 contested since it was introduced in 1992. The first of those - Wither or Which in 1996 – was not only trained by Mullins but ridden by him too.

This week’s renewal marks the 25th year of Weatherbys’ sponsorship of the race and Mullins said: “It’s a race which I look back at fondly, because the first Champion Bumper we won was the foundation of our whole business.

“We bought him, trained him and rode him ourselves, and it showed that we could actually go to the sales and buy a young horse and bring him to Cheltenham – which was huge at the time.

“The amount of people who came to us after that to buy horses was amazing, so the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham has been very good to W P Mullins and Co - it put us on the map.”


Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day Two Preview
It did not take Mullins long to reap the benefits of that success, returning to win the race for a second time just 12 months later - in Weatherbys’ first year as sponsor - with Florida Pearl.

No one knew it at the time, but Florida Pearl would prove to be a King George VI Chase winner and a horse capable of taking Mullins’ career to even greater heights.

He explained: “Florida Pearl lifted our business. We had good horses before that, but this was a horse that everyone knew at the time, and we went from a bumper straight to a chase as he was so good.

“He was stood at about 17 hands and he was a big plain horse with a white face. You wouldn’t miss him coming up the straight and he had such ability. To look at him, a lot of people would have said he looks too big to be a good racehorse, but with his size came ability and he had just raw power with his huge stride and his effortless way of jumping.

“I loved watching him in the Champion Bumper. We thought he had a chance and coming across the top he was in the leading bunch of horses as they faced down the hill.

“Richard (Dunwoody) then moved on him, and you could just see the engine igniting – I think even Richard got a fright as he put him back to sleep for another furlong or two! I suppose I was watching him in particular but you could see he had this power that the other horses didn’t have, and rather than go too soon Richard took a hold on him and waited until he turned for home. To me that was just hugely exciting to watch.”

It would be fair to assume that Florida Pearl’s victory is Mullins’ favourite victory in the race, but he will be hoping that he and his team can make new Weatherbys Champion Bumper memories in 2021. With two market leaders in Kilcruit (6-4) and Sir Gerhard (2-1) few would bet against him adding to his tally.

The former was a 12-length winner of a Grade Two contest at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival in February and Mullins expects another big run at The Festival.

He added: “Kilcruit put up a huge performance at the Dublin Racing Festival and I was very pleased. I was gobsmacked actually at how well he won on the day, and I’m hoping he can put a similar kind of performance in at Cheltenham.”


Cheltenham Festival: Day Two Preview
Sir Gerhard, meanwhile, is a last minute addition to the team and although Mullins concedes that it would be tough for such a young horse to acclimatise to a change in routine so close to Cheltenham, he feels he has a very nice horse on his hands.

He said: “Sir Gerhard is a fine horse. His form looks very good and he looks like he could be anything, as he’s got all the qualities of a good horse. It’s going to be very tough changing stables so soon before the race, but we’ll see what we can do.”

The Weatherbys Champion Bumper is the closing race on day two of the 2021 Festival, on Wednesday.

[dennisg]

Get the views from connections ahead of all the major races on day one of the Cheltenham Festival including the Sporting Life Arkle.

1.20pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
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Willie Mullins will once again be the toast of punters if Appreciate It can add to the yard’s record six victories in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

It is 26 years since Tourist Attraction provided the most successful trainer in Festival history with his very first victory at the showpiece meeting in the traditional curtain-raiser.

Ebaziyan was a shock winner for the master of Closutton in 2007, but Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015) and Klassical Dream (2019) have all been well fancied and come up with the goods since.

Appreciate It, runner-up to stablemate Ferny Hollow in the Champion Bumper 12 months ago, is the latest product of the Mullins machine to bid for Supreme glory.

The champion trainer admits he expected to be running the seven-year-old in one of the longer Cheltenham novice hurdles at the start of the campaign, but he has more then earned his place in the two-mile opener with successive Grade Ones over that trip at Leopardstown.

Mullins said: “I had him down as a stayer, so the fact that he has that turn of foot is good too.

“What he did at Christmas was terrific, and I’m wondering whether he was as good in himself at the Dublin Racing Festival last month, or was it a better race?

“He did what he had to when he had to, and we all thought he was in trouble turning for home, but when Ballyadam came to him he got the job done – which was the sign of a good horse – and he’s been in great form since.”

Mullins also saddles Blue Lord, who finished six lengths behind his stablemate when third in last month’s Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle – while the runner-up Ballyadam is in opposition again, having moved from Gordon Elliott’s yard to Henry de Bromhead.

The chief hope for the home team is Harry’s Fry’s Metier, who is unbeaten in three starts and could hardly have been more impressive when trouncing his rivals by 12 lengths in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on his latest appearance.

“There’s only eight runners, but all the main contenders are there,” said Fry.

“We’re all systems go at our end. We’re really pleased with him at home – he’s fresh and well and goes there all guns blazing.

“He’s been very progressive. He’ll need to progress again, but there’s no reason why he can’t.

“This will be the best ground he’s run on over hurdles, but he’s got Flat form on better ground, so I’m not overly concerned.

“He’ll either be good enough or he won’t – and I don’t think the ground will be an excuse, hopefully.”

Jonjo O’Neill’s Soaring Glory brings top-class handicap form to the table after landing last month’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

De Bromhead’s second string Irascible, the Alex Hales-trained For Pleasure and Grumpy Charley from Chris Honour’s yard complete the field.

Money Back as Cash with Sky Bet
Money Back as Cash with Sky Bet
1.55pm Sporting Life Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
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Shishkin is all the rage to become the latest Nicky Henderson-trained star to claim victory in the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy.

First successful with Remittance Man in 1991, the Seven Barrows handler has now racked up a record six victories in the prestigious two-mile novice chase on the opening day of the Festival.

Sprinter Sacre went on to establish himself as one of the greatest chasers of the modern era following a runaway Arkle success in 2012, while Altior weaved a similar path to superstardom after striking Arkle gold in 2017.

Like Altior, Shishkin is out to double his Festival tally following victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – and having barely put a foot wrong in three starts over fences, the seven-year-old is long odds-on to enhance his already huge reputation.

“Everybody thinks these races are exciting, but I’m not sure we do!” said Henderson.

“There’s a lot at stake, and we have to sit and suffer. Our first Arkle winner was Remittance Man, who was a spectacular jumper. Sprinter Sacre was probably the most flamboyant of them all – and Altior was pretty deadly.

“This fellow has just been very good. I think Shishkin’s performance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was pretty good, because he was literally taken into the car park at the second-last, and to get back up and win was a pretty solid performance.

“He probably hasn’t had a lot of opposition over fences, but he’s been very clinical and very accurate and has done it well every time.

“He comes in with 10 ticks for all three runs, to be honest with you, even if he didn’t have to beat anything very sensational. He is in good form and has proven that he’s top-class – and he’s had a good run-in.”

Following the enforced withdrawal of the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene because of injury, the biggest threat to Shishkin appears to be the Dan Skelton-trained Allmankind.

A tearaway juvenile hurdler last season, the five-year-old has appeared more amenable since having his attentions switched to the larger obstacles, which has enabled him to win each of his three starts.

Skelton said: “I’m really happy with him and was really happy with his prep run in the Kingmaker at Warwick – it did its job. He’s fresh and well and ready to go, so we’re looking forward to it.”

In Energumene’s absence, Mullins relies on Franco De Port to provide him with a fifth Arkle success. He was 10 lengths behind his stablemate when runner-up in last month’s Irish Arkle at Leopardstown.

Captain Guinness (De Bromhead), Eldorado Allen (Colin Tizzard) and Numitor (Heather Main) complete the sextet.


Nicky Henderson Sporting Like Arkle Special: Shishkin
Shishkin tops a final field of six for the Sporting Life Arkle at Cheltenham.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, Shishkin was a narrow winner from Abacadabras in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle last March and returns to Prestbury Park with an unblemished 3-3 record over fences this season.

Captain Guinness was brought down in last year's Supreme and faces Shishkin again on the back of a rollercoaster novice chase campaign to date, but the main danger according to the betting is Dan Skelton's Allmankind, who put the finishing touches to his Festival prep with victory over Sky Pirate in the Kingmaker at Warwick.

Eldorado Allen runs for Colin Tizzard while Willie Mullins - who had to rule out the popular Energumene owing to a setback - relies on Franco De Port. Numitor completes the list of declared runners.

2.30pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
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Aye Right bids to land a deserve success in the Ultima Handicap Chase after going close in three decent prizes this term.

Harriet Graham’s eight-year-old has finished second in the Ladbrokes Trophy and Sky Bet Chase, and third in the Charlie Hill Chase.

With his regular rider Callum Bewley suspended, Richard Johnson takes the mount.

“He’s a lovely ride to pick up, but obviously it’s a great shame for Callum he’s suspended and can’t ride him,” said Johnson.

“His run in the Ladbrokes Trophy behind Cloth Cap, the way he won at Kelso the other day that form looks very solid and his run at Doncaster a few weeks ago was good.

“Obviously he’s higher in the weights now, but that is because his form is so good and he’s one of the class horses in the Ultima. He goes there with a really strong chance in a very competitive race.

David Bass is looking forward to continuing his association with the Kim Bailey-trained Happygolucky after their victory in a novice chase at Cheltenham in December.

“I think he’s got a great profile for the race. I’ve always really liked him and he’s a true professional,” said Bass.

“He’s a good traveller, he jumps well and while it’s his first handicap chase, I’m not concerned about that as he has a great temperament.

“He ran a very good race in the Martin Pipe last year and was fourth, but he’s always been crying out for three miles. We stepped him up last time and he won at Cheltenham. He’s so straightforward and handles any type of ground.”

Dan Skelton believes Alnadam will be suited by going up in trip after winning over an extended two and a half miles at Sandown.

“He’s a progressive novice and I think the step up to three miles is a real positive,” said the Alcester trainer.

“I’m looking forward to getting him out there, to be honest with you. It’s a massive step up for him, but he deserves to have a pop.”

Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week on A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week on A Plus Tard
3.05pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
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Honeysuckle bids to dethrone Epatante in a mouthwatering clash for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The market for the feature event on day one of the Festival is dominated by the two top-class mares, with Henry de Bromhead’s Honeysuckle just about edging favouritism off the back of a scintillating display in last month’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

That dominant victory saw the seven-year-old stretch her unbeaten record to double figures, leaving connections with a mixture of expectant nerves and excitement for her biggest assignment yet.

Peter Molony, racing manager for Honeysuckle’s owner Kenny Alexander, said: “She arrived in Cheltenham on Saturday night and travelled well, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.

“I do get desperately nervous, but if you’re not pumped up for this you’re not going to get pumped up for anything. She’s an amazing mare, and we’re very lucky to be in this position, so we may as well enjoy it.”

Honeysuckle already has a Festival win on her CV, having outgunned Benie Des Dieux in an epic Mares’ Hurdle 12 months ago.

The daughter of Sulamani was made to pull out all the stops when successfully defending her crown in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse on her first start of the current campaign, but raised her game significantly when powering clear of her Irish Champion rivals.

“She was incredible in Leopardstown,” added Molony.

“It’s well documented Henry didn’t have her fit enough for her first run of the season in the Hatton’s Grace – she blew up for the first time in her life in a race.

“Henry mentioned the other day that he thinks she’s still improving. If that is right, and we can get her there at the best of her ability on Tuesday, it will be very exciting.”

A huge part of the Honeysuckle story is jockey Rachael Blackmore, who bids to become the first female jockey in history to ride a Champion Hurdle winner.

Molony has nothing but praise for the rider, saying: “It sounds a funny thing to say, but it’s almost like people have forgotten she’s a woman at this stage – she can hold her own with any man.

“She’s so balanced, and horses run so well for her and jump so well for her, and she’s got a fantastic tactical brain. She’s got all the attributes – she’s fantastic.”

Honeysuckle produced many of her best performance over longer distances, so De Bromhead was thrilled to see her prove she can be just as effective over two miles last time out.

The Knockeen-based trainer, who also saddles Aspire Tower, said: “She looks very effective over anything really. All the judges say her last day was her best performance so far.

“Aspire Tower ran really well to finish second at Leopardstown at Christmas, and we decided to go straight to the Champion Hurdle. I’m very happy with him. He’s in great form, and we’ve put him away for Cheltenham.”

Epatante provided trainer Nicky Henderson with his eighth Champion Hurdle success last season – and owner JP McManus with his ninth.

She looked as good as ever on her seasonal reappearance in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in November, but returns to the Cotswolds with something to prove after suffering a shock defeat when bidding for back-to-back wins in Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Henderson said: “She as very impressive in the Fighting Fifth. She picked up Sceau Royal after the last and went past him with so much class.

“She wasn’t herself at Kempton – but fair play to Silver Streak, who was very good on the day. He set a proper test, and at no stage were we in a position to have a crack at him. I think we’re back in the right place now.”

The Evan Williams-trained Silver Streak is once again in opposition, having finished third and sixth in the last two Champion Hurdles, but the biggest threat to the two mares could be Gary Moore’s Goshen.

The five-year-old was set for a wide-margin win in the Triumph Hurdle at last year’s Festival before his agonising exit at the final obstacle. He was then beaten twice on the Flat in the autumn, and finished stone last in Cheltenham’s International Hurdle in December, but bounced back with a wide-margin success in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on his latest outing.

Moore said: “He seems in good order. I’m very happy with him. He’s done everything right this morning (Monday), so it’s all systems go. There will be loads of pace. He doesn’t have to make the running. They can do that for him if they want. It’s down to Jamie (Moore).

“We’re 100 per cent ready to go.”

Willie Mullins runs last year’s runner-up Sharjah, as well as Saldier and intriguing French recruit James Du Berlais.

The former has 19 lengths to make up on Honeysuckle on their meeting in the Irish Champion, a race he also disappointed in last season before raising his game at Cheltenham.

Mullins said: “I don’t know what it is about the Irish Champion Hurdle with Sharjah – it maybe comes too soon for him after Christmas. The better the ground the better his chance, and if we can just adjust tactics this year it might make the difference.”

Of James Du Berlais, he added: “He had a very busy season in France last year, and was bought by Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede) as a novice chaser – but it’s a long time to wait, so we put him in training.

“I was happy to run him somewhere and I’m not going to run him in the Stayers’ Hurdle. I said ‘let’s run him in the Champion Hurdle and let him have a go there’, rather than do nothing the whole spring.”

Denise Foster’s Abacadabras and the Hughie Morrison-trained Not So Sleepy are the other hopefuls.

3.40pm Close Brothers David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
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Dan Skelton is convinced he has made the right decision in running Roksana in the Close Brothers’ Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Skelton could have switched his talented nine-year-old to Thursday’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, but he resisted the temptation even after the news that leading fancy Thyme Hill will not run.

Roksana bids to win the Mares’ Hurdle for a second time after scoring in 2019, when she benefited from the final-flight fall of Benie Des Dieux.

Since then she has proved she can be competitive against geldings at the highest level, only being beaten two lengths when third to Paisley Park and Thyme Hill in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December.

“We were always going for the Mares’ Hurdle really. I just confirmed her for the Stayers’ to satisfy myself that we were making the right decision and to give us a little bit longer to make sure that we were right after Thyme Hill came out,” said the Alcester handler.

“We just wanted to make sure we were happy, and we are. She’s in great form at home and brings some very strong form into the race.

“She’s obviously coming back in trip as she’s done her racing at three miles this year. She stays very strongly.

“I don’t think there’s any need to talk about whether she has better form than Concertista or not. We’ll find out on Tuesday.

Concertista, trained by Willie Mullins, took the Grade Two mares’ novice hurdle at last year’s Festival and has won both her starts this season. Mullins is also represented by Great White Shark and My Sister Sarah.

Minella Melody has yet to get the better of Concertista, but connections of the Henry de Bromhead-trained seven-year-old expect her to run well.

“I can’t get over her price, to be honest. It’s hard to see her beating Concertista, who has beaten her twice, but I think she’s the forgotten mare of the race,” said Peter Molony, racing manager to owner Kenny Alexander.

“Black Tears is half her odds. The last day we ran against her we were giving her 6lb and beat her six lengths, so I’m not sure she’s a much shorter price than Minella.

“Hopefully she can do the talking on the day and run a good race.”

Nicky Henderson reverts to hurdles with Dame De Compagnie, after a brief spell chasing.

“She won the two-runner race at Ayr and we were a bit short of opportunities then and I had to throw her into a Grade One, which was a bit of a baptism of fire really and it was just a bit too much of her,” said the Seven Barrows handler.

“She’s in very good form and the fall (in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase) did her no harm. I don’t see why she shouldn’t come back over hurdles and two and a half is her trip, as she showed in the Coral Cup last year.

“She’s not ready for the Mares’ Chase as yet, especially after the incident at Sandown. We can always go back over fences next year.”

Henderson said of his other runner, Floressa: “She has been running good races at two miles in graded company and we’ve always felt two and a half would suit her.”

4.15pm Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle (Handicap Hurdle) 2m 87y)
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Dan Skelton expects Cabot Cliffs to run a decent race in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, having won his last two races at Warwick in good style.

“He’s a very tough an consistent horse,” he said.

“This is a totally different type of race to what he’s been running in, but some juveniles you suspect might not give their running – it’s a hard season for them.

“One thing with Cabot Cliffs is, he’s a very tough horse.”

4.50pm Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Chase (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y
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Paul Nicholls sprang a minor surprise at the weekend when opting to run Next Destination in the San Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase rather than the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on Wednesday.

He told Betfair: “I spent a long time on the phone on Saturday night with his owner Malcolm Denmark weighing up all the options before we decided to go for the National Hunt Chase rather than the Brown Advisory a day later.

“Three miles on nearly good ground would not be ideal for Next Destination who is a stout stayer, so with Royale Pagaille heading for the Gold Cup it made sense to go for the race that suited us best on what is likely to be the slowest ground of the week.”
The same owner/trainer combination also run Soldier Of Love.

“Malcolm has a useful second contender in Soldier of Love who made giant strides in the summer and has enjoyed a nice little holiday while waiting for ground conditions to come in his favour,” Nicholls added.

[dennisg]

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls on his Cheltenham Festival runners
By Sporting Life
07:12 · TUE March 16, 2021

For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content visit betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

Best chance
16:50 - Next Destination

He has made a bright start over fences and looks a thorough stayer.

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16:15 - Hell Red

He won nicely on his debut for us on good ground at Chepstow but then choked on his next start so had a breathing op shortly afterwards. I had to get one more run into him before Cheltenham but the ground at Wincanton was heavy and he needed the outing badly so he ran ok before tiring late on. Hell Red has improved tonnes since then and will be much happier on the drying ground on Tuesday. He is not without a chance.

16:15 - Houx Gris

I’ve fancied him for this handicap for a while and deliberately kept him fresh for it since he ran a race full of promise on desperate ground in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow early in January. We hadn’t had him long and he travelled strongly to the second last before keeping on to finish third. That form is smart and having had a little break he has settled into our routine now. Houx Gris is another who will like better ground, his mark of 128 is fair and I am hopeful of a big run. He is very much in the mould of Diego du Charmil who won this race five years ago.

16:50 - Next Destination

I spent a long time on the phone on Saturday night with his owner Malcom Denmark weighing up all the options before we decided to go for the NH Chase rather than the Brown Advisory a day later. Three miles on nearly good ground would not be ideal for Next Destination who is a stout stayer, so with Royal Pagaille heading for the Gold Cup it made sense to go for the race that suited us best on what is likely to be the slowest ground of the week. Next Destination continues to progress, jumps soundly and will be galloping on strongly up the hill. Solid chance.

16:50 - Soldier of Love

Malcolm has a useful second contender in Soldier of Love who made giant strides in the summer and has enjoyed a nice little holiday while waiting for ground conditions to come in his favour. He was rated 113 on his first start over fences for us and is now up to 144 after winning four in a row earlier this season before finishing second to Galvin who is favourite for this race. Soldier of Love was then over the top when he struggled on soft ground in November. While he is fresh and well he probably needs to step up again.

For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content visit betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/

[dennisg]

Which Irish horses to back at the Cheltenham Festival? Billy Nash previews the action
By Billy Nash
09:41 · TUE March 16, 2021

Timeform’s Billy Nash runs through the main Irish hopes on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, featuring a tip for one of Joseph O'Brien's in the Boodles.

Cheltenham Festival tips: Day one
Best Bet: Honeysuckle (3.05 Chelteham)

10
Horse silk
Honeysuckle38
Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 161| C| D
5/4
Form: 1111-11
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Best Outsider: Druid’s Altar (4.15 Cheltenham)

5
Horse silk
Druid's Altar31
Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: H Morgan(5)| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 135| D
28/1
Form: 13621
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Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Appreciate It sets the standard here and I expect him to get the Irish off to a winning start. Runner-up in the bumper last year, he has won all three starts over hurdles since and had Ballyadam, Blue Lord and Irascible behind in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time. It is hard to see any of that trio turning the form around and Appreciate It will be hard to pass up the hill.

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Sporting Life Arkle
Energumene’s absence weakens the Irish challenge significantly in the Arkle. Franco De Port did win a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas and Captain Guinness was still going well when tipping up two out in the Irish Arkle last time, but it would be a bit of a surprise if one of them were to prove too good for Shishkin.

Ultima Handicap Chase
Last year’s Kim Muir winner, Milan Native, is back for more and is sure to have his supporters. His last two runs are easy enough to excuse (the trip was too far the first time and he made a mistake two out when still in contention on his latest start) and he has reportedly undergone a breathing operation since last seen. Discordantly began the season in good form but his jumping has let him down of late.

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Champion Hurdle
A strong Irish challenge is headed by the unbeaten Honeysuckle who arrives here on the back of a very impressive victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. Successful in the Mares’ Hurdle on this card last year, she should get the strong pace she needs at this trip and is the one to beat. Of the others, Abacadabras was well beaten by the selection last time but is another who is best coming off a strong gallop and expect him to be played late. Sharjah finished second to Epatante last year and has place claims again, while James du Berlais has a bit to find on his French form but shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand on his first start for Willie Mullins.

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Mares’ Hurdle
Concertista ran away with the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle here last year and has improved again for the step up to two and a half miles this season. She gave weight and a beating to Minella Melody, Black Tears and My Sister Sarah at Leopardstown and may have too many gears for Roksana at this trip. Willie Mullins also saddles Great White Shark and she may well represent some each-way value. Third in the Martin Pipe last year, she has since won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and is easily forgiven a rare poor run at Gowran last time as she clearly failed to handle the extremely testing conditions.

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
There is plenty of Irish interest here with 10 (plus one reserve) of the 22 declared trained in Ireland. Saint Sam, Busselton and Youmdor filled the frame in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown last time and all three should appreciate this drop in class. Coltor appears to have been campaigned with this race in mind and should be able to make his presence felt from what looks a handy mark. It also seems significant that the headgear goes back on (won a maiden on the Flat in a first-time visor). Riviere d’Etel is the type to do better in a big-field handicap having been too free for her own good at Navan last time, but one that could go well at a big price is Druid’s Altar. A mile-and-a-half maiden winner on the Flat, he has won two of his five starts over hurdles and holds Zoffanien on Naas form. The stiff uphill finish will play to his strengths and Hugh Morgan takes a valuable 5lb off.

National Hunt Chase
Galvin has been prominent in the betting for this race for quite some time now and the fact that he has recently been transferred to Ian Ferguson is unlikely to have much bearing on his chance. Lord Royal is a good jumper who gives impression that this sort of trip should be within range, but the pick of the Irish quartet may well be Escaria Ten who arrives here on the back of a good second to Eklat De Rire at Naas in a race that wasn’t really run to suit.

Cheltenham Festival tips: Day two
Banker: Monkfish (1.55 Cheltenham)

4
Horse silk
Monkfish38
Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| CD
4/9
Form: 111-111
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Each-way: Sneaky Getaway (2.30 Cheltenham)

18
Horse silk
Sneaky Getawayp126
Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: B Hayes| T: Emmet Mullins| OR: 137| D
20/1
Form: 13-115P
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Timeform’s Billy Nash runs through the main Irish hopes on day two at Cheltenham...

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
There isn’t much between Gaillard du Mesnil and Bob Olinger on form, both of whom won Grade 1s on their most recent starts. The former has a bit more experience, but the smaller-than-usual field will suit Bob Olinger. Keskonrisk, a staying-on third to Appreciate It over two miles at Leopardstown last time, was my idea of the each-way value in the race but the fact there are only seven runners and two places on offer has scuppered that plan.

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
Monkfish has been little short of flawless over fences this season and it is hard to see him getting beaten in a race that has cut up quite a bit. Eklat De Rire, also unbeaten over fences, has much more on his plate than when beating Escaria Ten at Naas but he is a sound jumper who stays this trip well. He may be the one for the forecast.

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Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
A typically open renewal and, as usual, the Irish have plenty of chances. Grand Roi, the current market leader, is completely unexposed at this sort of trip but has no easy task off a mark of 149. Koshari isn’t easy to get a handle on but it is possibly significant that all his wins have come in single-figure fields. Blue Sari split Envoi Allen and Thyme Hill in the bumper here two years ago but has shaped as if amiss on each of his last three starts. A market move for him would obviously make one sit up and take notice, but he is hard to recommend on form. Of the others, Sneaky Getaway isn’t badly treated on the pick of his Flat form and is still unexposed over hurdles. He makes each-way appeal with cheekpieces on for the first time.

Queen Mother Champion Chase
Chacun Pour Soi left Notebook and Put The Kettle On (last year’s Arkle winner) trailing in his wake at the Dublin Racing Festival and, assuming he avoids any last-minute hiccups, he looks set to credit Willie Mullins with an elusive first victory in the Champion Chase. Cilaos Emery looked back to his best at Naas last time, but more will be required in this company.


Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day Two Preview
Cross Country Chase
Tiger Roll is bidding for his third win in this race and fifth overall at the Cheltenham Festival. However, he was well beaten by Easysland in this last year and hasn’t cut much ice in a handful of starts since. Balko des Flos hasn’t won since landing the Ryanair in 2018 and is nothing like the force of old, a comment that also applies to Alpha Des Obeaux. Some Neck won around this course in December and makes some appeal with Richard Johnson booked.

Grand Annual Handicap Chase
A strong Irish contingent includes last year’s winner Chosen Mate. He has 9lb more on his back this time but Jordan Gainford’s claim offsets a lot of that and he shaped as if on the way back to form last time. Embittered has been found wanting against some of the top novices in Ireland this year but finished third in the County Hurdle off this mark last year. Entoucas is nothing if not consistent, Us And Them tends to come alive at this meeting and Sizing Pottsie is back at a more realistic level having failed to hold a candle to Chacun Pour Soi at Leopardstown last time.

Champion Bumper
Kilcruit looked something very special at Leopardstown last month, running to a figure that would be good enough to win most renewals of this race, and can round off a good day for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. If there is one in the field to beat him it may well be his new stable companion Sir Gerhard, an impressive winner of both of his starts.

Timeform
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[dennisg]

Willie Mullins Column: Cheltenham Tuesday guide
By Willie Mullins
09:23 · TUE March 16, 2021

A star-studded squad on day one of the Cheltenham Festival and hopes are high that Appreciate It can get the Closutton team off to a flying start.

1.20 Appreciate It
1
Horse silk
Appreciate It37
Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| D
5/6
Form: 112-111
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He would look to be a good favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme having performed well in Ireland, winning his two Grade Ones. He’s done nothing wrong and was second at the meeting last year. He jumps well so has every chance and hopefully might give us a good start to the Festival.

I walked the course on Sunday and thought the track was heading towards being good but there was a lot of rain overnight. I was amazed by the difference in the ground on Monday morning and it was a totally different racetrack.

The smaller field should make it easier for jockeys to ride, a lot of the social runners haven’t turned up which is a pity and something that could be a feature for the week.

1.20 Blue Lord
3
Horse silk
Blue Lord37
Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| D
11/1
Form: 123
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He worked last week and showed a lot of improvement so we felt he could be a good second string for us in this. He’s in very good form at home and pleasing us.

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1.55 Franco De Port
4
Horse silk
Franco De Port38
Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| D
10/1
Form: 72P-112
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The rain will benefit him hugely, it will just slow them down a little bit. He could be coming along at the business end of the race up that tough hill.

3.05 James Du Berlais
4
Horse silk
James Du Berlais121
Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160
28/1
Form: 121212
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He’s a recruit from France. Daryl Jacob rides him. He has top class form in France as a three and four-year-old and I think he’s adjusted well to jumping our style of hurdles. The ease in the ground will suit him and we’re very happy with the few bits of work he’s done but it’s tough to change stables and he’d had a tough season in France.

We bought him to go chasing next year but he’s fresh and well and is worth having a run in a Champion Hurdle as it’s a long time before October or November when he might be back in action.


Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day One Preview
3.05 Saldier
6
Horse silk
Saldierp138
Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| D
80/1
Form: 31F/1-66
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He hasn’t shown his best form yet this season and we’ll possibly try a chance of tactics on him. Danny Mullins, who rode him to win a Morgiana Hurdle, is back aboard and we’re hoping he has place claims too.

3.05 Sharjah
7
Horse silk
Sharjaht38
Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| D
10/1
Form: 4162-13
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The rain wasn’t in his favour. He has good form around the track though, including when second last year, so hopefully still has an each-way chance.

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3.40 Concertista
2
Horse silk
Concertista77
Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| C| D
11/10
Form: 4331-11
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She has a great record at Cheltenham. She was second in the Mares’ Novice on her first start over hurdles and came back last year to win that race by a good distance. The extra half-mile here will suit her and the rain shouldn’t be a problem. She looks to have an outstanding chance.

3.40 Great White Shark
6
Horse silk
Great White Shark47
Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| BF
16/1
Form: 3083-17
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Ran well in the Martin Pipe last year and track form puts her in with a squeak in this. Better ground would suit her and she deserves her place in the line-up.

3.40 My Sister Sarah
9
Horse silk
My Sister Sarahp77
Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| D
40/1
Form: FB-2214
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This is her first run after a wind operation and if that works it might bring about improvement which could give each-way punters a chance of a return.

4.15 Saint Sam
3
Horse silk
Saint Samh137
Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139
9/2
Form: 911242
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He’s been running well all year but just hasn’t been able to contend with the real top-notchers in his age group. We’re dropping him back to a handicap in the Fred Winter and hope that helps him. The soft ground will be to his liking and overall I’d give him a real chance.

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Check out the Sporting Life ITV7 League
4.15 Youmdor
2
Horse silk
Youmdorh37
Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| D
28/1
Form: 1F4
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He has some good form and looked like he was going to collect at Fairyhouse when falling at the last. We then ran him back at Leopardstown but I think that came too quick for him and he ran too free. Hopefully he’s recovered and is in good shape. He has top weight but they have a fair record in this race and if he settles as he did at Fairyhouse he has a chance of making the frame.

4.50 Lord Royal
5
Horse silk
Lord Royalt46
Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| BF
8/1
Form: 2/12-F52
Live betting powered by
He goes to the National Hunt Chase as a maiden. From what looked a very good start to his career he’s had a few disappointments. We had a change of tactics with him at Navan and weren’t as forceful and he finished second there. He gets a longer trip here but I do think Next Destination will be hard to beat in this. With our fellow a clear round and top four finish would be great.

[dennisg]

Cheltenham Festival: Three tips for day one including the Champion Hurdle
By Sporting Life
09:46 · TUE March 16, 2021

Timeform have three tips for day one of the meeting, the clearest top-rated horse, a flag horse on their Race Passes and a handicap fancy.

Clear on ratings
Shishkin – 13:55 Cheltenham
6
Horse silk
Shishkin45
Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Nico de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 164| CD
1/2
Form: 111-111
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The Sporting Life Arkle promised to be the best race of the entire Cheltenham Festival when top-class chasers Shishkin and Energumene were on a collision course. A late setback has frustratingly ruled Energumene out of the contest, but it's still a must-watch event due to the potential of Shishkin producing something special.

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Shishkin is 6 lb clear of Allmankind on Timeform ratings and 11 lb clear of third-favourite Captain Guinness, underlining his clear class edge. Part of the problem for Shishkin's rivals, however, is that the level of form he has shown does not represent the ceiling of his ability.

Shishkin has the Timeform large 'P' attached to his rating – indicating that he is considered capable of much better form under the right circumstances – and there's a chance that Tuesday's race may develop in a way that provides Shishkin with the perfect platform to showcase his extraordinary talent.

Allmankind is a head-strong sort and a confirmed front-runner who will ensure the race is run at a good gallop. Class usually comes to the fore when there is a true test and Shishkin can show why he is regarded by many as the most exciting horse in training.

Timeform Cheltenham offer
Timeform Cheltenham offer
The Timeform Flag
Honeysuckle – 15:05 Cheltenham (Horse In Focus)
10
Horse silk
Honeysuckle38
Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 161| C| D
5/4
Form: 1111-11
Live betting powered by
The Timeform ‘Horse In Focus’ Flag is awarded to horses who produced a noteworthy performance on their latest start and are likely to be a betting proposition next time. Honeysuckle heads the market for the Champion Hurdle based on her hugely impressive 10-length success in the Irish Champion Hurdle last month that took her unbeaten record under Rules to 10.

Honeysuckle has already won at the Cheltenham Festival as she produced a very smart performance at last year’s meeting to take the notable scalp of Benie des Dieux in the Mares' Hurdle. That race is contested over two and a half miles, as is the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, which Honeysuckle won for the second time on her reappearance in November. At that stage her effectiveness over two miles was in some doubt as she had only scrambled home by half a length in last season's Irish Champion Hurdle, running to a much lower level than she went on to produce at Cheltenham, but she set the record straight in the latest renewal.

Honeysuckle's rivals failed to run up to their best but, even so, her dominant success was still one of the best performances posted in the division this season and shows she has more pace than she is often credited with. In receipt of 7 lb from the males, she should prove difficult to beat.

Sky Bet's first race special at the Cheltenham Festival
Sky Bet's first race special at the Cheltenham Festival
Handicap Hope
Houx Gris – 16:15 Cheltenham
13
Horse silk
Houx Gris66
Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128
9/2
Form: 12313
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Paul Nicholls has sent out three winners of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – no trainer has had more – and it's notable how the trio had similar profiles. Sanctuaire (2010), Qualando (2015) and Diego du Charmil (2016) were all lightly raced recruits from France who were making their handicap debut at the Festival, and Nicholls' leading contender this year, Houx Gris, is from the same mould.

He was purchased for €200,000 after winning at Auteuil on his second start over hurdles and is presumably held in high regard by Nicholls as he was pitched straight into Grade 1 company on his first outing for the yard at Chepstow. Houx Gris was ultimately beaten more than 20 lengths in third, but he looked set to finish significantly closer for much of the Finale Juvenile Hurdle. In fact, he was still right with the first two home, albeit not going quite as well, when he made a significant error at the second last.

He weakened from that point but had shown enough to suggest that an opening handicap mark of 128 may underestimate his ability. That he has not been seen on a racecourse since the start of January suggests connections also believe it is a mark worth preserving to exploit on the big stage.


Paul Nicholls 2021 Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour
Published at 1225 GMT on 15/03/21
Timeform: Three for day two
Clear on ratings
Monkfish – 13:55 Cheltenham

4
Horse silk
Monkfish38
Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| CD
4/9
Form: 111-111
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In a field which has cut up considerably at the declaration stage to just six runners, Monkfish stands out fully a stone clear of his nearest rival on Timeform ratings.

Monkfish was involved in one of the tightest finishes to a Grade 1 contest at last year’s Festival in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle when there was only a neck and a nose between himself and the placed horses Latest Exhibition and Fury Road. But fences have proved the making of Monkfish this season and he took his unbeaten chasing record to three last time in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown when pulling 11 lengths clear of Latest Exhibition without being extended after a superb display of jumping from the front.

To put his rating of 167 (with the ‘p’ symbol denoting further improvement is likely) into context, that’s the same figure that his stable-companion Al Boum Photo ran to in winning his second Gold Cup at last year’s Festival.

Monkfish could easily be a Gold Cup horse himself, therefore, in 12 months’ time, and he’s entitled to win this with a good deal more to spare than when successful at the meeting last year.

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The Timeform Flag
Bravemansgame – 13:20 Cheltenham (Horse In Focus)

3
Horse silk
Bravemansgame78
Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| D
11/4
Form: 36-2111
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Bravemansgame was awarded the Timeform Horses In Focus Flag, marking him out as a likely betting proposition next time, on his latest start in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.

That took the winning Irish pointer’s record to three out of four over hurdles. His only defeat this season came on his hurdling debut at Chepstow but there was no disgrace in finding the future Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory too good on that occasion, all the more so since that was over two miles.

Bravemansgame has been well suited by the step up to two and a half miles for his last two races and he followed up an earlier course-and-distance win in the Challow last time with a stylish performance, taking up the running at an early stage before quickening clear on the run-in to score by 10 lengths.

Paul Nicholls had last won the Challow with the future Gold Cup winner Denman who went on to finish second in this same contest. Bravemansgame has the potential to go one better than Denman here, despite the presence of a couple of Irish rivals of similar merit in Gaillard du Mesnil and Bob Olinger.

Handicap Hope
Craigneiche – 14:30 Cheltenham

12
Horse silk
Craigneiche53
Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D
9/1
Form: 131-1
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Nicky Henderson has won the last two editions of the ultra-competitive Coral Cup and saddles four this year in his bid to complete the hat-trick.

Three of those are among the top half-dozen in the weights, but a bit further down the handicap is Craigneiche, the mount of Tom Cannon, whose BHA mark of 139 still looks on the lenient side. Being so lightly raced, Craigneiche hasn’t been the easiest for the handicapper to get a handle on, and he proved a long way ahead of his opening mark of 127 when winning the Grade 3 Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in January.

He was briefly outpaced on that occasion but rallied to lead on landing over the second-last and forged clear for a seventh-length victory over Arrivederci who has run well again at Ascot since. What made Craigneiche’s performance all the more praiseworthy was that it was his first start for just over a year after he had won a maiden hurdle at Doncaster the previous January.

He’s going back up another two furlongs or so here and that’s another reason to expect further improvement from him.

Incidentally, Craigneiche was sweating and very much on his toes at Ascot, so any signs of edginess on his part again beforehand shouldn’t be a cause for concern.

[dennisg]

Cheltenham Festival tips: Value Bet preview for Champion Hurdle day
By Matt Brocklebank
09:54 · TUE March 16, 2021

Cheltenham betting tips: Tuesday, March 16
1pt e.w. Vintage Clouds in 2.30 Cheltenham at 16/1 (Sky Bet 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7)

1pt win Riviere D'etel in 4.15 Cheltenham at 12/1 (General)

1pt e.w. The Mighty Don in 4.50 Cheltenham at 33/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

Abacadabras could bring the magic
While there’s no shortage of intrigue in the principal races, the best bets on day one of the Cheltenham Festival predictably come in the big-field handicaps.

The unusually small turnout for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle makes for a fascinating race and Allmankind versus Shishkin in the Sporting Life Arkle does have the potential to be a fun watch, but neither contains anything that can be classed as wildly overpriced.

Irascible - an impressive maiden winner first time out at Clonmel at the end of October - looked a potential player in the Supreme division when staying on for second behind Appreciate It at Leopardstown over Christmas, but his Dublin Racing Festival run didn’t offer enough hope.

Money Back as Cash with Sky Bet
Money Back as Cash with Sky Bet on the day one opener
A big-field scenario might have suited him better and he’s expected to be a ridden with a touch more restraint on this occasion, but I’m not convinced he’ll have the gears to cope with Metier, let alone bridge the gap with Blue Lord, Ballyadam and favourite Appreciate It.

Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory is going to be popular if the dead eight stand firm but his winter campaign looked to be geared around Newbury and he’ll need another major leap forward in the first-time headgear in order to be seriously competitive on his first look at a Grade One.

It’s a race I’ll happily sit and watch, likewise the Arkle in which Shishkin is expected to produce the goods now faced with a more competitive field.

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The Unibet Champion Hurdle poses a bit of a conundrum as it’s a fairly level playing field ratings-wise, until you factor in the 7lb mares’ allowance, and it could be a bit too much of a stretch to see both Honeysuckle and reigning champ Epatante failing to fire.

Antepost fancy Abacadabras certainly appears to be arcing back to peak condition and could be able to take his form to new levels in what promises to be such a strongly-run affair but, equally, he’s now half the price he was soon after crossing the line 10 lengths adrift of Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Not a huge amount has happened since then, other than Goshen putting his name firmly back into the hat with a brilliant performance in the Kingwell Hurdle, so I can just about let Abacadabras go at current odds, especially as Aspire Tower has twice finished in front of him this season and is more than double the price.

Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week on A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore: Could be the story of the week according to Ben Linfoot
Vintage performance from old stager?
Novices have won seven of the last 17 editions of the Ultima Handicap Chase and while there are only four who fulfil that criteria this time around, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one came good again as two of them head the betting in Happygolucky and One For The Team.

Impressive Sandown winner Alnadam has to shrug off an 8lb rise in the weights and also has stamina to prove having not tackled three miles since his pointing days (won a weak race at the trip at Dromahane in May 2018), but he’s clearly another open to further improvement for a yard that can do little wrong right now.

The Wolf – who was nibbled at big prices through Monday - completes the novice quartet and he should appreciate a 3lb ease for being readily outclassed by Chantry House at Wetherby. Having run a pretty big race behind a bunch of subsequent Graded winners in last year’s Albert Bartlett, there’s a chance a return to Cheltenham and this searching trip could spark something positive in him too.

But the door does appear ajar for one of the more established performers to be let in if on a going day and Aye Right is the one I’ve been with for a few weeks now. He should probably have won the Sky Bet Chase (jockey dropped whip) and looks guaranteed to get a no-nonsense, prominent ride from Richard Johnson, who won on the horse during his hurdling days for good measure.

However, he’s another who has really shortened up in the betting and with so many ‘repeat offenders’ having starred in this race over the years – in the past decade alone three winners had contested the previous year’s renewal while loads have been placed on more than one occasion – it’s worth giving him a swerve and instead looking to the 2020 Festival for clues.

Check out Sky Bet's big extra place offer on Tuesday
Check out Sky Bet's big extra place offer on Tuesday
Milan Native is a big danger off 8lb higher than his Kim Muir win but of more interest are the two who return from last year’s Ultima, namely seventh home Cepage and the eighth VINTAGE CLOUDS, who is 11lb better off with Venetia Williams’ top weight on what will be his fifth attempt at the race in total.

Prior to last year’s relatively disappointing run, Vintage Clouds’ Ultima record was really quite strong. He fell two-out when still in with every chance in 2017, finished third a year later, and then found only Beware The Bear too good in 2019.

So last year was unquestionably his worst performance, but it also coincided with his highest official mark (151), having absolutely bolted up in the Peter Marsh from a mark of 143 before having another hard race on heavy going at Haydock less than a month before the Festival in the Grand National Trial (finished fifth).

9
Horse silk
Vintage Cloudsp125
Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: Mrs S J Smith| OR: 143| D
22/1
Form: 158-753
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He’s been campaigned much lighter this time around and hasn’t shown a huge amount in his three public outings, but he prepped in a small-field race at Kelso on February 19, following another breathing operation (also operated on immediately prior to his peak Ultima effort three years ago), and that might have put him spot-on fitness-wise.

He was dropped another 2lb for the run which means he’s back on 143 – the same mark from which he’s won two major handicap chases during his career including the aforementioned score last season – and looks dangerously well-treated as a result.

Trainer Sue Smith has opted to fit first-time cheekpieces too so there must be some hope of rekindling one more massive effort from one of the veterans of the party, and I’m happy to back him each-way with seven places on offer with Sky Bet (25/1 bet365, four places) given it looks like day one will offer the softest ground of the week.

Timeform Cheltenham offer
Timeform Cheltenham Festival offer
Keep eye out for Shark in side markets
The decision to run Roksana in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle makes the race stronger on the face of it, but there’s no denying her improvement this season has come at three miles and it’s slightly surprising connections didn’t aim for Thursday’s Stayers’ Hurdle.

Coral Cup winner Dame De Compagnie is at least fancied to keep favourite Concertista honest but Great White Shark was another slightly surprising name in the final declarations and she’s worth a second look in light of Willie Mullins’ propensity to utterly dominate this race.

Perhaps it should be seen as a vote of confidence in Koshari and other stablemates in Wednesday's Coral Cup as Great White Shark was wrongly presumed to be heading in that direction, but she’s not miles off the pick of these on ratings and did look better than ever on the Flat when winning the Cesarewitch by three lengths in October.

Her only appearance since was a complete no-show (2/1 favourite) on bottomless ground over three miles in Gowran’s Galmoy Hurdle, but I’d expect to see more from her on a slightly better surface back at this sort of trip. She’s around 8/1 in the market ‘without Concertista’ which could be the way to get her on side.


Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival Stable Tour: Day One Preview
Sneezy does it in Boodles?
Irish-trained runners have been bossing the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle in recent seasons and it won’t be a surprise to see that trend continue as the biggest yards in Ireland look to have a really strong group of four-year-olds again this year.

Dermot Weld’s Coltor is an eye-catching runner and market confidence behind him is understandable, especially as he improved a considerable amount when first fitted with a visor on the level. The headgear has been held back until now which looks significant and his natural Flat speed could be a real asset around the Old Course here.

Preference at the prices, however, is for Denise 'Sneezy' Foster's RIVIERE D'ETEL, who geared up for this in the same Navan novice hurdle as the Gordon Elliott-trained 2018 Boodles winner Veneer Of Charm en route to Festival success.

7
Horse silk
Riviere D'etelh46
Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: J W Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 134| BF| D
15/2
Form: 213
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Veneer Of Charm was down the field in her prep before springing a 33/1 shock whereas Riviere D'etel wasn’t at all disgraced, beaten three and a half lengths into third behind Thedevilscoachman. He’s gone on to win a Listed race at Punchestown in really good style and looks bound for Grade One company before long so the lightly-raced Riviere D'etel could do some damage sent handicapping from a mark of 134.

Fillies have performed really well from a limited representation in this race down the years, winning four times from the 16 previous editions, and the selection is just one of three in the race this season along with Alan King’s Doncaster winner Her Indoors and Noel Meade's Curious Bride who got in as first reserve.

The hooded Riviere D'etel has looked pretty headstrong and really bounded clear when making all in her maiden in the Punchestown snow on New Year’s Eve, but being buried away in a bigger field at Cheltenham should help her settle better and could bring out a fair amount of improvement.


Paul Nicholls: Cheltenham Festival Memories
Don't miss Gifford stayer at 33/1 in finale
THE MIGHTY DON can outrun his odds in the Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase.

This race is often won by horses with loads of experience – only one winner in the past 10 years has had fewer than four chase starts under their belt and that was Back In Focus in 2013. He had only run three times in novice chases but had won a Grade One on his previous start, so his class clearly more than made up for a relative lack of chasing nous.

In the same period, there have been three winners with 10 chase starts to their name and another with nine, and while Ravenhill took top spot last year after 'just' six previous runs over fences, he did have a bunch of point-to-point outings under the belt too.

Galvin is a short-priced favourite and you can’t knock him on the experience front as he’s already had eight chase starts (winning four), while I don’t see Sunday’s rain being a massive hindrance either with a relatively dry forecast from this point.

12
Horse silk
The Mighty Don33
Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 140| C
40/1
Form: 0-132P0
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The next four in the betting are all really lightly raced, though, so it’s worth casting the net wider for an each-way bet and Nick Gifford’s horse stands out having had 10 previous runs over fences. He’s only won one of those but I’ve had him in mind for this since his staying-on second to Ultima favourite Happygolucky over the extended three miles, one furlong in December, and I can excuse him the two runs since then.

He was a bit out of his depth against the 161-rated Yala Enki and co and would have hated the seriously testing going at Taunton on January 23, while the jumpers’ bumper outing last month was clearly just to help him tick over ahead of the Festival.

He comes into this rated 140 and seemingly has plenty to find but he was a worthy 150 over hurdles a couple of years ago when eighth to Paisley Park in the Stayers’. He had a few jumping issues last season but has come good now, like a lot of the Gifford horses, and makes quite a bit of appeal in this company.

Published at 1430 GMT on 15/03/21

[dennisg]

Another strong team for our star columnist on Thursday including a team of four in the Ryanair Chase.

Appreciate It was very impressive in winning the Sky Bet Supreme, much more so than he has been in Ireland this winter. He was awesome on the day and it opens up a lot more possibilities for him. I’d imagine he’ll go on to Punchestown from here. We’ve always thought he’d be a chaser and a Brown Advisory type, but he looked a Sporting Life Arkle horse on Tuesday.

Appreciate It is out on his own in the Sky Bet Supreme
Appreciate It is out on his own in the Sky Bet Supreme
I see he’s being quoted for the Champion Hurdle too which is astonishing from what we were thinking at the start of the season. Hopefully he stays sound now and is a star of the future.

Blue Lord was fine after his fall in the same race, he was running a career best and he could develop into a lovely chaser too.

Concertista didn’t jump as well as she can in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle and possibly when she’d beaten Roksana she thought that was enough. She was unfortunate to get chinned on the line and always runs a good race.

Saint Sam was second in the Boodles, giving a lot of weight to the winner. We changed tactics with him on Tuesday and it worked well and he’s a horse we’re learning about all the time.

Timeform Cheltenham offer
Timeform Cheltenham offer
My two runners in the opening Marsh Novices’ Chase on Thursday both look up against it.

13:20 BLACKBOW
2
Horse silk
Blackbowh,t40
Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153
33/1
Form: 42-1F33
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We’re going out in trip with him and I’m hoping he’ll jump a lot better going the marginally slower pace over two-and-a-half miles. If either of mine ran into a place we’ll be very happy.

13:20 ASTERION FORLONGE
1
Horse silk
Asterion Forlonget39
Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| D
20/1
Form: 14-1FF4
Live betting powered by
I think he has the ability to go well but possibly going left-handed might be a disadvantage for him here. But it is Cheltenham, it is the top stage and I thought he deserved a crack at it. The ground drying out will suit him.

13:55 DANDY MAG
4
Horse silk
Dandy Mag39
Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| D
16/1
Form: 450-810
Live betting powered by
On his best day he has a chance but drying conditions mightn’t suit and we have a lot of weight but we’re qualified and he’s in good form so we’ll take our chance.

14:30 MIN
9
Horse silk
Min40
Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 168| CD
9/2
Form: 2121-1P
Live betting powered by
We should have a strong hand in the Ryanair Chase.

He likes the track and the drying ground will suit him and Paul Townend chose to ride him. Everything is a plus for him for his chance.

14:30 MELON
8
Horse silk
Melonp39
Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 165
13/2
Form: 142-335
Live betting powered by
Bryan Cooper takes over on him and the horse has a great record at the Festival albeit without a win. He has four seconds to his name including two Champion Hurdles. We know he likes the track but he’s just finding it hard to find the winning post but maybe this will be the day. He has the ability.

14:30 TORNADO FLYER
14
Horse silk
Tornado Flyer40
Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162
25/1
Form: 35-2254
Live betting powered by
He probably has his work cut out but if you go back to the John Durkan Chase when he was second to Min, he’d have a chance of grabbing a podium place at a big price.

14:30 ALLAHO
1
Horse silk
Allahot150
Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162| D
5/1
Form: 213-641
Live betting powered by
Rachael Blackmore rides him. He was very good in Thurles and I’m sure it was a difficult choice for Paul between him and Min. Rachael will be a good fit for this horse.

15:05 BACARDYS
1
Horse silk
Bacardyst49
Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| D
33/1
Form: 243-4P5
Live betting powered by
He wears a tongue tie and the drying ground will help him but the best we can hope for here I’d imagine is a top three finish. His form doesn’t suggest he’ll win but he’s here and has form on the track so we’re hoping for the best.

16:15 PONT AVAL
12
Horse silk
Pont Aval32
Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: -
28/1
Form: 231/0-P1
Live betting powered by
Brian Hayes rides and she was very impressive in winning at Punchestown. However, the more the ground dries the less chance she has – but I hope she proves me wrong.

16:15 HOOK UP
7
Horse silk
Hook Upt39
Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136
6/1
Form: 30-124
Live betting powered by
The drying ground will suit her more than any of our runners in this and if Danny (Mullins) can produce her late she is one who might surprise people. She had a very good run at Leopardstown the last day.

16:15 GLENS OF ANTRIM
6
Horse silk
Glens Of Antrim46
Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: W P Mullins| OR: -| BF
7/1
Form: 422
Live betting powered by
Jonjo O’Neill rides her for JP McManus. His father rode a winner for my father and it would be great to get Jonjo jnr a winner in Cheltenham 35 years on. She’s a mare who’s improved hugely since her last run. She’s there with a good shout. She’s loads of experience and this would be a good place for her to break her duck over hurdles – as Concertista did in the same race last year.

16:15 GAULOISE
1
Horse silk
Gauloise38
Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140
13/2
Form: 1-113
Live betting powered by
Paul has picked her even though she has a five-pound penalty. She was beaten at Fairyhouse last time but he felt she wasn’t quite herself that day and on her best day he feels she’s the one to be on from our team. Kenny Alexander won the Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle on Tuesday and if this one won it would cap a great week for him.

[dennisg]

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls on his Cheltenham Festival runners for Thursday
By Sporting Life
08:07 · THU March 18, 2021

THURSDAY RUNNERS
Best chance. Storm Arising EW. 13:55 Cheltenham. It’s hard to split my pair in the Pertemps but Storm Arising looks to have a sporting each way chance.

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13:55 - Storm Arising

The usual strong gallop in the Pertemps will play to the strengths of Storm Arising who showed a great attitude to win in a tight finish at Lingfield before getting to the front too soon at Sandown where it looked as though he felt he had done enough. He comes here on the back of a decent success early in January at Chepstow where he galloped on powerfully. I’ve kept him fresh for this and Bryony Frost gets a good tune out of him.

13:55 - Southfield Harvest

This has been the target for Southfield Harvest all season and I do like his chances. He is progressing nicely, stays well and although he hasn’t won this season his form is solid. His half brother Southfield Theatre was beaten a nose in this race in 2014 and ran some of his best races at Cheltenham so it would be great if Southfield Harvest could go one better.

14:30 - Real Steel

Spin back twelve months and he was still in with a shout going to the last fence in the Gold Cup before fading on the hill. It’s been hard to find the key to key to him since he joined us in the summer and he’s been a bit disappointing although he did travel strongly in the King George before stopping quickly when we found that he had bled. I’ve changed a few things with Real Steel who looks great and worked really well at Wincanton recently. The more it dries up before the race the better it will suit him and the Ryanair trip is ideal.

16:50 - Shantou Flyer

I am expecting Shantou Flyer to go well and he is spot on after after two promising runs at Wincanton. I was hoping he would win last time and wasn’t happy that he was raised 5lbs for getting beaten when he was ridden by a 7lbs claimer, though he has since been dropped 1lb. Shantou Flyer was third in the Foxhunters a year ago, has won twice at the track, is in good shape and should be competitive.

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[dennisg]

Cheltenham reaction: Timeform on Wednesday key performances
By Timeform
20:03 · WED March 17, 2021

Timeform react to the performances of Put The Kettle On and Monkfish in snaring big prizes at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Thrilling but not vintage Champion Chase
Unfortunately, Timeform’s highest-rated jumper in training Chacun Pour Soi fluffed his lines in the big race of the day, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which instead went to the admirable mare Put The Kettle On – who created her own piece of history by becoming the first mare to win the race.

However, the fact that the field finished in something of a heap – with less than ten lengths covering the first seven home – illustrates that it wasn’t a vintage renewal of the race.


Ed Chamberlin reflects on day two of the Cheltenham Festival
Timeform chase handicapper Phil Turner said: “The gallop wasn’t anything like so strong as expected and things got pretty muddling late on, with runner-up Nube Negra and fifth-placed Sceau Royal, in particular, among those with possible hard-luck stories. The stopwatch backs up this view too, with the Grand Annual run in a faster time some seventy minutes later. Indeed, if those times were taken literally, that would make the Grand Annual winner Sky Pirate an 11lb better horse than Put The Kettle On, which clearly isn’t the case at present.”

“The poor timefigure limits the view that can be taken of the race, and Put The Kettle On must rank as a below-average Queen Mother Champion Chase winner for now. Even if the 7 lb mares’ allowance is added to her current Timeform rating of 160, there have been only three other Champion Chase winners rated lower than her this century – namely Newmill (2006), Dodging Bullets (2015) and her former stable-companion Special Tiara (2017).”

“None of that will bother her connections, though, and they deserve plenty of credit for being bold and taking on the boys here instead of the easier pickings on offer in the newly-instigated mares’ chase on Friday. She’s now won seven of her nine starts over fences, whilst the trademark battling qualities that saw her get back up here should continue to stand her in good stead.”

Chacun still tops charts
Meanwhile, despite his odds-on reverse, Chacun Pour Soi (Timeform rating c176) remains the highest-rated runner from the 2021 Champion Chase field.

Turner explained: “Chacun Pour Soi comprehensively beat Put The Kettle On by more than eight lengths on their only previous meeting and it looked for much of the way that he was going to confirm those placings – indeed, he traded as low as 1.15 in-running on Betfair after taking the lead in the straight!”

“He has posted several other performances in the past which place him a notch above what he showed here today and they shouldn’t be ignored now, for all it’s clearly disconcerting that he couldn’t get the job done after being produced to win his race. Perhaps the slower-than-expected gallop counted against him more than most as it meant he raced a shade too exuberantly, with the fuel gauge running dry close home as a result. Either way, his aura of invincibility has gone for the time being – particularly as Tuesday’s Sporting Life Arkle winner Shishkin is now on the horizon!”

Monkfish avoids late drama
There relatively few instances in Cheltenham Festival history where the result has been significantly affected by a final-fence departure.

The 2013 RSA Chase was one such case, when leader Boston Bob crashed out at the last whilst looking the likeliest winner, and Paul Townend must have briefly sensed a déjà vu moment when Monkfish got the last all wrong in the latest renewal of that race (now sponsored by Brown Advisory).

Happily, Townend was able to maintain the partnership on this occasion and the giant chestnut remains a hugely exciting prospect even though, strictly speaking, his latest Cheltenham success didn’t require him to be at his best.

Timeform Cheltenham offer
Timeform Cheltenham offer
Timeform chase handicapper Phil Turner explained: “Monkfish’s win at Leopardstown last month actually came in a stronger race than the one at Cheltenham today – several potential rivals dodged him to run in the National Hunt Chase instead, whilst the two closest to him in the betting today blundered away their chances early on the final circuit.”

“As a result, he didn’t need to run to his best in order to win today, but he won with stacks in hand despite that last-fence scare and remains a hugely exciting prospect.

"His Timeform rating is unchanged on 167p (he ran to 155 today), a figure which already puts him firmly in the picture for next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.”

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Which Irish horses to back at the Cheltenham Festival? Billy Nash previews the action
By Billy Nash
08:05 · THU March 18, 2021

Cheltenham Festival tips: Day three
Banker: Envoi Allen (1.20 Cheltenham)

Each-way: Mighty Blue (4.15 Cheltenham)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

Marsh Novices’ Chase
The Irish have won the opening race on the first two days and will fancy their chances of doing so again on day three. The unbeaten Envoi Allen is the clear pick on form and should prove very hard to beat. Darver Star has yet to hit the heights expected of him over fences but has plenty of form at this sort of trip and the drying ground will suit. Asterion Forlonge is very talented but has had issues with his jumping, while Blackbow was a good third to Energumene in the Irish Arkle and should appreciate the step up in trip. Chatham Street Lad showed his liking for this track when running away with a valuable handicap here in December and should give a good account again.

Pertemps Final
Lots with chances here. The Bosses Oscar has finished out of the first two just once over hurdles (fifth in the Martin Pipe here last year) and shaped very well when second to Dandy Mag last time. He faces no easy task under top weight, but the promising Jordan Gainford takes a handy 7 lb off. Mrs Milner looks on a fair mark and has a big each-way shout provided a heavy fall last time hasn’t left a mark. Dandy Mag needs to bounce back from a lacklustre effort last time, and Anything Will Do is only 1 lb lower than when well held in the Martin Pipe last year. Milliner lacks experience but must enter calculations off a feather weight.

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Ryanair Chase
Willie Mullins has won three of the last five renewals of this race and has a very strong hand again this time around. The pick of his quartet may well prove to be last-year’s winner, Min, who is easily forgiven a rare poor effort last time, and it seems significant that Paul Townend has chosen to ride him. Allaho, a real favourite of mine, showed what he is all about with a dominant performance at Thurles last time and is sure to give a bold show from the front. Melon and Samcro have very good records at the Festival, though the latter has a bit to prove after a couple of disappointing efforts this season. Fakir d’Oudairies found only Put The Kettle On too good in the Arkle last year and warrants plenty of respect at what is probably his optimum trip.

Stayers’ Hurdle
Flooring Porter, something of a revelation this season, took this step up to this grade in his stride at Leopardstown last time, but not many horses make all in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Sire du Berlais tends to save his best for this meeting and must have a big chance again. Beacon Edge got the better of Fury Road last time and shouldn’t be underestimated, while The Storyteller has been in great form over both hurdles and fences this term and looks a bit of each-way value at the current odds.

Paddy Power Plate
Farclas, who shaped well in the Leopardstown Chase last time, and The Shunter head the Timeform ratings for what looks a wide-open handicap. The latter escapes a penalty for winning the Morebattle Hurdle last time, stays this trip and has the assistance of Jordan Gainford – so he will do for me. A Wave of The Sea is another who will be suited by this trip and looks the most solid of the Joseph O’Brien-trained trio.

Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Willie Mullins has won every edition of this race since it was introduced in 2016 and saddles four runners this time around. Hook Up was a good fourth to Appreciate It last time, but I think Gauloise – who found two and a quarter miles on heavy ground a bit of a stretch last time – may prove best of his quartet. Roseys Hollow won that Fairyhouse race but may struggle to confirm that form with Royal Kahala, who reopposes on better terms. Mighty Blue, placed in a Group 3 on the Flat in September, can be expected to improve on her previous hurdles form now that she gets a chance away from heavy ground. She looks overpriced to me.

Kim Muir Handicap
Mount Ida has done little wrong over fences this term and looks to have some room for manoeuvre off an opening mark of 142. Her form is working out well and she is completely unexposed at staying trips. Plan of Attack is 2 lb lower than when fourth in this race last year and shaped as if on the way back to form at Leopardstown last time. Young Dev looks to have plenty on his plate from a career-high mark.

Timeform
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[dennisg]

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The going at Cheltenham has dried out to good to soft, good in places for the final day of the Festival.

A mainly dry and overcast day is forecast although light drizzle is possible at times.

So far there's only one non-runner on the card with Pileon out of the closing Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

The feature race is at 3.05pm with Al Boum Photo bidding to join Cheltenham legends such as Arkle, Cottage Rake and Best Mate by winning a third WellChild Gold Cup.

However, he been usurped as favourite by A Plus Tard who is bidding to cap a remarkable week for jockey Rachael Blackmore who has five winners on the board from the first three days.

[dennisg]

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls on his Cheltenham Festival runners for Friday
By Sporting Life
07:27 · FRI March 19, 2021

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls guides you through his team for the final day of the Cheltenham Festival including Gold Cup hope Frodon.

FRIDAY RUNNERS
Best chance: FRODON (15:05 Cheltenham)

He is a course specialist who has a great each way chance with ground conditions in his favour.

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13:55 - Thyme White

He is a lovely young horse who romped home on decent ground at Chepstow in October and was cruising along when he unseated Harry Cobden two out in a freak incident at Newbury. I’ve deliberately kept him away from the worst of the winter ground and he ran a cracker in the Betfair Hurdle a month ago until tiring late on. He’s much sharper now and as he is a bit keen we going to ride him more patiently and try to produce him late on.

14:30 - Barbados Buck’s

He has progressed hand over fist this season and comes here in top form as he seeks to complete a four timer. The key to his improvement has been the step up to three miles. He is one of those horses who will keep galloping all day, is just the type you need for the Ballymore and will be fine on the drying ground.

14:30 - Threeunderthrufive

I can’t split Barbados Buck’s and Threeunderthrufive who has also enjoyed a fruitful season and more than earned a shot at this Grade 1 novice hurdle. He has always looked smart, is unbeaten over hurdles and stayed on stoutly when upped to three miles for the first time at Musselburgh early in February.

15:05 - Frodon

He is a marvel who keeps surprising people because he tends to be underestimated. I don’t see the trip as an issue as he was outpaced in the Ryanair a year ago and seems to have more stamina with age. Don’t forget he won the Cotswold Chase on deep ground and more recently landed the King George at Kempton in great style. Bryony Frost gets a great tune out of Frodon, he loves Cheltenham having won there six times, and he worked beautifully at Wincanton recently with a group of mine. In addition the fact that the ground will be good on Friday rather than attritional is a massive bonus for him. So with plenty in his favour he has an excellent chance of being placed and I wouldn’t be surprised if he won.

15:40 - Bob and Co

He is the highest rated of the home trained runners, has a touch of class, is on a roll and warmed up for this with a fluent success at Haydock a month ago on his first start since a wind op to help his breathing which obviously worked well. It’s a shame that the current ban on amateurs means that his enthusiastic owner David Maxwell cannot ride him but Sean Bowen, who won on him at Haydock, is not a bad substitute. Solid chance.

16:15 - Cut The Mustard

She has been running consistently this season without managing to win and will enjoy the better ground at Cheltenham but she does need to take a big step forward to be competitive in this.

16:50 - Amour de Nuit

He has a fair bit to do at the weights, mainly because he is so consistent, and he couldn’t handle the testing ground last time at Taunton. Amour de Nuit will relish the good ground at Cheltenham but holds no secrets from the handicapper.

16:50 - Eglantine Du Seuil

She won the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Festival at 50-1 two years ago when trained in Ireland but hasn’t been successful since then and her current mark of 143 still looks high enough. While she has mostly struggled since joining us in the summer, she does go well at Cheltenham and I suspect she will enjoy the return to decent ground.

16:50 - Fabulous Saga

He had a long time off and has needed both his runs over fences this season. But he didn’t take to chasing so is back over hurdles in this. Its fair to say I haven’t found the key to Fabulous Saga since he arrived from Ireland and all his best form in the past was on deep ground. I’m pleased to give a first ride to Millie Wonnacott who has made quite an impact this season.