Tag: Cheltenham Festival

Sam Winner has been the big ante-post gamble for the Pertemps Final following his impressive victory over Peddlers Cross on the all-weather at Kempton in January. The son of Okawango was a smart four-year-old and was sent off favourite for the Triumph Hurdle, eventually finishing fourth to his stable companion Zarkandar.

He was sent chasing in 2011 but fell at Cheltenham and fractured his off-fore knee. Trainer Paul Nicholls reported that his chances of survival were only 50-50 at one stage and his chances of racing again looked remote. He eventually reappeared at Sandown a year later when staying on from the rear to finish fifth and confirmed his well being at Kempton. The market support suggests that he may be back to his best but the trip is unknown territory and this represents a much stiffer task than a national hunt flat race.

Jonjo O’Neill’s Shutthefrontdoor has also been well backed as he goes in search of a four-timer. He was far from impressive when winning narrowly at Carlisle last month and jockey Tony McCoy expressed doubts that he possessed the necessary experience for the Pertemps. Although beaten only once in seven starts, he does not look an easy ride and may struggle in this hugely competitive field.

Trainer David Pipe has kept up the family tradition of placing his horses well in big handicaps and Close House is one that could figure here. He has done nothing but stay on in all of his races, notably when fourth to Simonsig at last year’s festival and second to Double Ross back here in November. This extended trip should bring out the best in the son of Generous. Stable companion Gevrey Chambertin has multiple entries at the festival and is certain to attract interest wherever he runs.

Ely Brown put up a good performance when winning the series qualifier at Warwick in January. Although the winning margin was just over a length, he always looked to have matters in hand under Noel Fehily. He does not look harshly treated off a 7lbs higher mark but may need some give in the ground to show his best form.

Irish trainer Dessie Hughes has several entries headed by Si C’Etait Vrai, second to Grand National favourite On His Own last time out. Stonemaster stayed on well to finish sixth at odds of 100-1 in the Coral Cup last year and he put in an eye-catching run when third at Leopardstown in December.

Summary

Sam Winner is clearly fancied for this but it looks a difficult race for a horse on the comeback from serious injury. There are also serious question marks about Shutthefrontdoor’s ability to cope with this big field and preference is for Close House if he is David Pipe’s chosen representative. If the going is on the soft side Ely Brown looks to have excellent each-way claims.

This race could feature one of the gambles of the meeting if David Pipe elects to run impressive Warwick winner Ballynagour. The handicapper was sufficiently impressed to raise the gelding 21lbs for that victory but he still gets in here with 10st 7lb. Having his first outing for the stable since arriving from France, Ballynagour spread-eagled his field to win by 19 lengths after being backed from 11-2 down to 7-4 favourite. Pipe still has options over both hurdles and fences at the festival but this looks his most likely objective.

He may have most to fear from Hunt Ball who was one of the most popular winners of the meeting 12 months ago. He completed his meteoric rise through the handicap by winning the Pulteney Land Investments Novices’ Handicap under 12 stone. A highly creditable third at Aintree in Grade One company followed and connections were hoping he would prove to be a worthy contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup this season. Those ambitions were ended when the horse gave every indication of not lasting the trip in the Argento Chase, travelling well into the straight before weakening rapidly behind Cape Tribulation and Imperial Commander. He eventually trailed in 36 lengths adrift in third and Trainer Kieran Burke has redirected him to this race. Although racing off a 15lb higher mark than when successful last year, he still travels strongly at this distance and must be respected.

Paul Webber’s Cantlow has been kept under wraps for the festival since scoring comfortably in novice events at Plumpton and Taunton. He finished runner-up in the Pertemps Hurdle Final last year and has since been purchased by leading owner JP McManus. He is difficult to assess with his limited experience but Webber is confident that he jumps well enough to be competitive at this grade. McManus also has another interesting entry in Alderwood, winner of the County Hurdle at the corresponding fixture. Although he was a 20-1 shot that day, he has been a model of consistency since and the heavy ground found him out at Punchestown last time. He looks very handily weighted with just 10st 4lb but holds similar claims in the Grand Annual.

Gary Moore’s Vino Griego is a reformed character of late and defied a 10lb penalty to win a valuable chase at Ascot in February. He does not look the easiest of rides but there was nothing wrong with the way he saw off Cappa Bleu that day and he had previously won by 19 lengths over course and distance. Both victories came with plenty of cut in the ground and connections will be hoping for similar conditions. The handicapper has raised him a further 7lbs for the Ascot race.

Summary

Hunt Ball has been crying out for a two and a half mile race on good ground all season and may finally get the opportunity to return to his best. The problem is the likelihood of having to carry top weight and he may be vulnerable to one of the less exposed runners. Ballynagour certainly fits the bill and could develop into one of the gambles of the meeting whilst Alderwood would also come into consideration of electing to come here.

This year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup features an intriguing clash between some rising stars and some heroes of the past. Nicky Henderson’s Bobs Worth was elevated to favouritism last November after winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. His preparation has not gone entirely to plan and this will be his first start since that race. Although Henderson always intended a light campaign for the eight-year-old, he would certainly have preferred to get one more race into him.

Challenging Bobs Worth in the Gold Cup betting is the leading Irish hope Sir Des Champs, trained by Willie Mullins. He has been a leading contender since winning the Jewson Novices’ Chase at the festival last season and has continued to progress throughout the season. He was staying on dourly when beaten under a length in a thrilling Lexus Chase before defeating Flemenstar in the Irish Hennessy. Third favourite is the Paul Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti, unbeaten this season in three starts. He side-stepped Cheltenham last year and was most impressive at Aintree and has added victories at Wetherby, Haydock and Newbury. The biggest question mark against him is his lack of experience at the course.

First Lieutenant is arguably held on form by Bobs Worth but he has enjoyed an uninterrupted campaign and run consistently well for Trainer Mouse Morris. He runs in the same colours as Sir Des Champs and holds an alternative engagement in the Ryanair Chase but his trainer has made no secret of the fact that he favours a tilt at the Gold Cup.

Following the late withdrawal of Imperial Commander due to a lung infection, Long Run is now the only previous winner in the field. Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old won this race in 2011 and finished third last year. He was made to work hard to beat Captain Chris in the King George and his careful jumping still costs him valuable ground at his fences. The Lambourn trainer is fitting him with cheekpieces this year in an effort to sharpen him up. Captain Chris tried his heart out at Kempton but that flatter track may have drained his stamina to the limit and he is unproven over Cheltenham’s three and a quarter miles. Cape Tribulation got the better of Imperial Commander in the Argento Chase in January. That race was on very soft going but trainer Malcolm Jefferson is confident that Cape Tribulation will be competitive on a better surface and he has attracted solid each-way support.

Of the outsiders, The Giant Bolster returns to the scene of his excellent second to Synchronised 12 months ago. His form has been below par since then but trainer David Bridgwater has not lost faith in him and expects a big run.

Summary

Much of the interest will centre on the three rising stars; Bobs Worth, Sir Des Champs and Silviniaco Conti. All three have the potential to win a Gold Cup and Bobs Worth would probably be a shorter price had he not missed his intended prep race. First Lieutenant would come into the reckoning if the trainer is granted his wish to run here in preference to the Ryanair and could still represent some each-way value at around 12-1.

There is no more competitive race at the Cheltenham festival than the County Hurdle and this year’s race is certainly no exception. A huge entry means that several of the leading fancies are not even certain to get into the race when the final declarations are made. Top weight is Nicky Henderson’s admirable veteran Petit Robin but the horse could return to fences for the Grand Annual rather than try to defy the welter burden of 11st 12lb. He finished a brave second to Cause of Causes in the Ladbroke at Ascot and fifth in the Betfair at Newbury.

Trainer John Ferguson has decided to run Cotton Mill here rather than go for the Champion Hurdle after finishing second to My Tent Or Yours in the Betfair with Swing Bowler a length and a quarter further back in third. David Pipe’s mare is allowed 4lb but both horses have been raised in the handicap. Swing Bowler is currently languishing at number 43 so will need plenty to drop out to get a run. At last season’s festival, Cotton Mill was still ahead of Simonsig when taking a crashing fall at second last hurdle in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle. He is entitled to run well but it would be a concern if the weights go up further.

Nicky Henderson has plenty of options including impressive Kempton winner Forgotten Voice. This classy sort won the Royal Hunt Cup on the flat and was successful in his first two starts over hurdles before disappointing in soft ground. Clearly the ground is the key to him as he was always travelling best in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle before sprinting clear to win by five lengths. He has been raised 7lb for that victory and would have a favourites chance if the ground firms up. Henderson could also be represented by Cash And Go who is rapidly emptying his supporters pockets. A highly promising second first time out was followed by an unseated rider in the Ladbroke and a modest seventh behind his stable companion at Newbury. He has been well supported on each occasion but there seemed no obvious reason for his defeat last time out.

Plenty of horses have been backed for this race including the Willie Mullins-trained Tennis Cap and Jonjo O’Neill’s Mr Watson. Both have been raised by the handicapper but could still have a few pounds in hand. Paul Nicholls could run Edgardo Sol who flew up the hill in this race last year, just failing to catch Alderwood. The Champion trainer also has the lightly raced Mr Mole and Ranjaan who is another still capable of improvement. Pipe’s entries also include chase winner Ballynagour, multiple winner Tanerko Emery and the consistent Dan Breen.

Summary

Punters have struggled in this race in recent years and there seem to be a number of progressive hurdlers lining up this year. Forgotten Voice could be well in at the weights but his chances are entirely dependent on good ground. Cotton Mill and Swing Bowler have potentially the best form in the race after their placed efforts in the Betfair Hurdle but you wouldn’t want to see the former carrying too much weight. Mr Watson landed a gamble in some style last time out and could still be competitive off a 12lbs higher mark. Both he and Tennis Cap would be attempting to defy a steep rise in the weights but both like to race prominently and that is the best place to be in this huge field.