Tag: Djakadam

Gold Lies At The End Of The Festival Rainbow

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Four days of festivities and elite jumps racing culminates on day 4 at The Festival with the running of the £575,000 Grade 1 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. Run over a distance of 3 miles, 2½ furlongs (5331m), the field faces 22 obstacles on the way to joining one of the most prestigious clubs in global racing. The most valuable non-handicap chase in Great Britain, the Gold Cup has been won by the likes of Arkle (1964-66), his great rival Mill House (1963), Best Mate (2002-04), Golden Miller (a five-time winner from 1932-36) and Kauto Star (2007 & 2009) since it was first run over the jumps in 1924 (although the history of a Gold Cup race on this site dates back to 1819).

After the victory of novice Coneygree in 2015 at just his fourth start over the obstacles, the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup was won stylishly by the Gordon Elliott-trained 9/4 favourite Don Cossack, ridden by Bryan Cooper. Pushed into the lead as they approached the last, he powered up the hill to win by 4 ½ lengths ahead of the gallant Djakadam. That would be Don Cossack’s final career run as he was retired from racing in January 2017 following a recurrence of a tendon injury after his Gold Cup win.

Bookies can’t split leading trio

There’s an intriguing market for this year’s Gold Cup, with Djakadam, Native River and Cue Card equal favourites at 7-2 across most the major books, while the next seven among the 14-horse field are rated at 20-1 or better to upset the leading trio. History shows that the winner will most probably come from the three runners at the head of the market with 14 of the past 15 winners in the top three of the betting, only Lord Windermere bucking that trend in 2014. All of the past 16 champions of the race had previously won a Grade 1 contest, while 11 of the past 15 winners had all won or finished second on a previous trip to The Festival.

Lizzie Kelly becomes the first woman to ride in the race for 33 years when she partners outsider Tea For Two. Kelly became the only woman to win a Grade 1 race over jumps when she rode the horse to success in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase in December 2015. But there’s a trend we’re prepared to take on this year with just one of the past 21 winners aged ten or older (Cool Dawn in 1998), with 20 of the past 22 Gold Cup victors were aged seven, eight or nine.

Winning script for Cue Card

The 11-year-old Cue Card (pictured) is a familiar presence at The Festival. He won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (a first Festival victory for his trainer Colin Tizzard) in 2010 and has run at the meeting four times since. He finished fourth in the 2011 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, won the Ryanair Chase in 2013 and finished second to Sprinter Sacre in the Racing Post Arkle Novices’ Chase in 2012. In 2016, he fell three fences from home in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup when disputing the lead, losing out on the chance of a £1 million bonus.

This season, Cue Card has won both the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock and the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase. He will once again be ridden by Paddy Brennan. Perhaps it’s fate that Thistlecrack was ruled out of the Gold Cup on February 21 due to a tendon injury as Cue Card’s stablemate would almost certainly have started favourite. Shortest-priced of the five Irish-trained runners is Willie Mullins’ Djakadam at 4/1, runner-up for the past two years. He looms as the main danger to our top pick. Bizarrely, Mullins has never won the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup but has saddled the runner-up six times.

Punchestown Festival – Wednesday Preview

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The National Hunt festival at Punchestown continues on Wednesday with three Grade 1 events on another top quality card.

The 4.55 race is a novice hurdle over three miles with the Willie Mullins-trained Shaneshill stepping up in trip from two and a half. He had enough speed to chase home the impressive Douvan in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and that horse underlined the form with a dominant display here on Tuesday.

Shaneshill was barely out of a hack canter to win at Fairyhouse last time out and he races as though the trip will suit him. The Albert Bartlett looked like a real slog at Prestbury Park and third home No More Heroes represents the form here. I just wonder if that hard race may have taken its toll while Mullins also saddles festival winner Killultagh Vic under Paul Townend. Thistlecrack is over from the UK after winning gamely at Aintree but Shaneshill may have too much class for him.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup form comes under scrutiny in the Punchestown equivalent at 5.30. I tipped Djakadam at 16-1 for Cheltenham and he ran a mighty race in second, not quite having enough to peg back all-the-way winner Coneygree. He had previously sluiced through the mud to win at Gowran Park and any further rain will help his prospects here.

Road To Riches was not far behind him at Cheltenham and is entitled to respect, as is easy Liverpool winner Don Cossack. He won by an impressive 26 lengths at Aintree but the race was marred by the fatal fall of Balder Succes. Ballynagour stuck to his guns when closing to within a head of Silviniaco Conti at Aintree but this is a more testing track and his best form is at two and a half miles.

The third and final Grade 1 of the day is the Champion Bumper at 6.05. Several of these ran in the Cheltenham bumper with Modus faring best in second. That was a tremendous run but I am convinced that Supasundae will be better if he can be restrained in the early stages. He eventually finished sixth after being up with the pace for a long way and could be a decent bet in a tricky contest. As usual, Willie Mullins is mob-handed with five runners with Bellshill probably his best chance.

Shaneshill 4.55 @@7-4 William Hill

Djakadam 5.30 @11-4 William Hill

Supasundae 6.05 @12-1 Ladbrokes

Cheltenham blog – Coneygree wins Gold Cup

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Coneygree became the first novice chaser to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup since Captain Christy when making all the running to beat Djakadam and Road To Riches.

Betcirca followers still held out hopes for 16-1 ante-post advice Djakadam jumping the last but Ruby Walsh’s mount could not quite get to the leader. Trainer Mark Bradstock discussed the options with connections before deciding to go for the Gold Cup in preference to the RSA Chase earlier in the week.

The son of Karinga Bay had won all three races over fences since returning from a long-term injury in November. He was due to race at Plumpton in November but was withdrawn on veterinary advice at the start. He was quickly re-routed to Newbury where he was opposed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Saphir Du Rheu. That rival unseated Sam Twiston-Davies at the seventh fence and Coneygree went on to beat Dell’ Arca by a length and a half.

He followed up by winning the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton but the race was marred by four of the seven runners failing to complete the course. Bradstock decided to test him against established chasers the Denman Chase at Newbury last month. He made all the running to beat Houblon Des Obeaux and Unioniste by seven lengths and three and a half lengths.

That persuaded connections to go for the big one and the rain arrived just in time in the Cotswolds. Coneygree was bred by the late Lord Oaksey and is a half-brother to former Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers. Jockey Nico De Boinville was having his first ride in the race and rode his first festival winner only last year on Whisper for Nicky Henderson.

Coneygree is a top price 10-1 for next year’s Gold Cup with runner-up Djakadam as high as 16-1 with Coral. Don Poli and Vautour are both available at 6-1 after their impressive victories at the festival this week. Road To Riches is 25-1, the same price as today’s beaten favourite Silviniaco Conti.

Djakadam is only a six-year-old, although the French-bred horses do tend to peak at a younger age. He is as short as 8-1 elsewhere so, if you fancy him, the 16-1 should be snapped up quickly.

On The Fringe (tipped at 8-1) won the Foxhunter Chase to end a run of three seconds on the day for Betcirca after Top Notch (16-1), Djakadam (16-1) and Sort It Out (14-1).

Djakadam @16-1 Coral – 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Cheltenham Preview – Friday 13th March

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It’s Gold Cup day at Cheltenham and we look set for a thrilling renewal. If there are any doubts about the quality, there is at least quantity and most punters would rather watch a competitive race with 17 runners than an odds-on favourite in a small field.

Silviniaco Conti supporters will be hoping for third time lucky after falling in 2013 and fading up the hill last year. We will never know whether he would have won had he not tipped up three out but it is difficult to make a case about him not liking the track. He did everything right last year but didn’t quite last home.

The bookmakers are taking a chance at 5-1 about him. We already have Djakadam tipped at ante-post odds of 16-1 but his inexperience may count against him while Lord Windermere will probably run his best race of the season. I also fancy Holywell to post a career best as he loves this meeting.

The action starts with the Triumph Hurdle and we were on Top Notch at 16-1 some weeks ago. I’m pleased that the owners are letting him run despite also having the hot favourite in Peace And Co. I also like Pain Au Chocolat and Devilment at big prices in a fascinating race. Very few of these have actually met in the trials so it is really a shot in the dark.

The County Hurdle is notoriously difficult to sort out and a very appropriate winner would be Sort It Out. He is one of three JP McManus runners along with Waxies Dargle and Princely Conn. The latter is the mount of AP McCoy while Waxies Dargle fell in a big handicap last time and has Paul Carberry in the saddle. Quick Jack will probably start favourite and should run well for Tony Martin.

I’ve been a fan of Value At Risk for the Albert Bartlett for some time so shouldn’t really desert him now. My only concern is the quicker ground but the same applies to most of these. The Henderson horses, Out Sam and Carache Apache, are attractively priced and I wouldn’t put you off either of them.

It will be interesting to see how Sheikh Fahad’s new purchase Current Event gets on in the Foxhunter but I’m siding with Nina Carberry here with On The Fringe. Much of this week has been about Willie Mullins and he can strike again with Roi Des Francs in the Martin Pipe Hurdle. Everyone will be cheering for AP on Ned Buntline in the finale but Blood Cotil is tough and consistent and can close out the meeting for Mullins in style.

New customers only – Racebet 10-1 Nicky Henderson to win 1.30 (max. £5 stake)

1.30 Top Notch @16-1* Ante-post

2.05 Sort It Out @14-1 Bet365

2.40 Value At Risk @12-1 Paddy Power

3.20 Djakadam @16-1 *Ante-post

4.00 On The Fringe @8-1 Ladbrokes

4.40 Roi Des Francs @9-2 Bet365

5.15 Blood Cotil @10-1 Bet365

Cheltenham Gold Cup Preview

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A large field is set to go to post for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, the feature event of the festival. Rank outsider River Choice is a possible absentee but that would still leave 17 to face the starter.

Silviniaco Conti has been favourite for most of the season and it is surprising that bookmakers are offering as high as 5-1 about the gelding. It is true that he has been beaten in this race twice before, falling in 2013 and fading in the final 150 yards to finish fourth last year. Trainer Paul Nicholls is confident that he has him in perfect condition and a Wednesday treble for the stable has boosted confidence still further.

We tipped Djakadam at 16-1 in our ante-post preview and it looks as though he could start at around half that price. The bare form of his Thyestes Chase victory is not good enough to win this but he has bags of potential and hails from the in-form Mullins stable.

Lord Windermere and Holywell are our next best as they both tend to peak in the spring. Lord Windermere has won the RSA Chase and Gold Cup on his last two visits and he has done enough this year to suggest he can finish in the money at least. Davy Russell rides this course superbly and reminded everyone of that with a double on Wednesday.

I am not convinced that Many Clouds and Road To Riches will enjoy the conditions. There were some fast times on Thursday, notably from Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase, and both horses have shown their best form with plenty of give in the ground. I am not a fan of novices running in the Gold Cup, although Coneygree does jump like an old pro. Good luck to the Mark Bradstock team with their ambitious tilt at the top prize in steeplechasing. Carlingford Lough will come in for support as he is the last ride in the race for Tony McCoy. He jumped poorly here last season and I have my reservations about him.

There is usually a good run from an old stager in the Gold Cup and there are several likely suspects this year. Hardly anyone has mentioned 2013 winner Bobs Worth so there is absolutely no pressure on Barry Geraghty’s mount while On His Own has managed to repeat last year’s tremendous run but could be lit up on the day. And of course there is always The Giant Bolster! Second, fourth and third in previous years, could he have another trick up his sleeve?

Verdict

  1. Silviniano Conti 5-1 (888Sport)
  2. Djakadam 15-2 (William Hill)
  3. Holywell (11-1 William Hill)
  4. Lord Windermere (18-1 Paddy Power)

Cheltenham Gold Cup Ante-Post Preview

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With most bookmakers offering non-runner – no bet on the feature races at Cheltenham, now is a good time to seek out some early value. Bet365 are offering money back on all non-runners at the meeting and the other firms will gradually follow suit as the meeting approaches.

The market for the Cheltenham Gold Cup has been dominated by Silviniaco Conti since he recorded his second King George VI Chase victory in December. Paul Nicholls issued an up-beat report on the gelding this week, suggesting that he is in much better shape than he was last year when fading into fourth place on the run-in. He is obviously the one to beat but does not represent any great value at around 7-2.

Last year’s Gold Cup changed dramatically after the last fence with Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti swamped by three horses arriving late on the opposite side of the track. Leading the charge was Lord Windermere who is back to defend his crown for Jim Culloty. Having won the RSA Chase the previous season, he seems to be one of those horses that peaks at exactly the right time. I felt that he ran a fine trial when third behind Carlingford Lough in the Irish Hennessy and is worth a bet at 14-1 with Ladbrokes. He is as short as 10-1 elsewhere so the 14-1 may not last much longer.

I respect the chance of Many Clouds having supported him in the Hennessy at Newbury at the start of the season. Oliver Sherwood sent out his 1,000th winner not long ago so he knows how to prepare them for the festival. I did not get on him at longer odds so will not be rushing to back him at 8-1. Road To Riches struck me as a doubtful stayer earlier in the season and I have more regard for Djakadam.

There won’t be many Mullins horses on offer at 16-1 at the festival and he could not have won any easier in the fog at Gowran Park in January. With Ruby Walsh aboard, he can bide his time and see how the race unfolds. No decision has yet been made about Foxrock but he has run three terrific races in succession and may not get his favoured soft ground.

I don’t like backing novices in the Gold Cup so cannot see Coneygree featuring while Holywell is worthy of respect. He has won here at the last two festival meetings and Jonjo O’Neill would not be running him unless he felt that he was back to his best.

Tips

Lord Windermere @14-1 Ladbrokes

Djakadam @16-1 Ladbrokes

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3 (Non-runner – no bet)