Tag: Monksland

World Hurdle Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The World Hurdle is the big staying hurdle of the Cheltenham festival and looks wide open this year. Big Buck’s dominated the event for Paul Nicholls between 2009 and 2012 but has now been retired while More Of That is not able to defend his title due to injury.

Annie Power remains favourite with some firms but looks virtually certain to run in the Mares’ Hurdle instead. Willie Mullins is presumably leaving her in here until the last moment in case of any calamities in the earlier race. Nicholls could easily start with the two joint-favourites here in Saphir Du Rheu and Zarkandar.

Saphir Du Rheu did this column a couple of favours last season when winning at Kempton and Chepstow. His excursion over the bigger obstacles did not go to plan and connections wisely decided to revert to hurdling after he failed to complete for the second time in three starts. He only had a neck to spare over the gallant Reve de Sivola at Cheltenham in the Cleeve Hurdle but he travelled like the winner throughout.

Zarkandar won a valuable race in France over three miles earlier this season and looked set to follow up in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. He found very little off the bridle from the last and allowed Reve de Sivola to get back up and beat him. He was probably just idling but you can be sure that Noel Fehily will be delaying his challenge until as late as possible here. Of the Nicholls duo, I just prefer Saphir Du Rheu who looks a straight-forward ride.

If you fancy Saphir Du Rheu, it is very difficult to ignore the claims of Whisper at 14-1. Nicky Henderson’s gelding won the Coral Cup last season to give us a 28-1 winning ante-post tip. He showed that he was better than a handicapper when winning the Aintree Hurdle and he is another one who did not take to fences. He could still be improving and must have each-way claims.

Rock On Ruby has been winning over two and a half miles but is yet to show that he stays this trip. The Irish pair Monksland and Dedigout surely need plenty of cut in the ground and that seems unlikely at present. There is even talk of the possibility of watering during the meeting. Un Temps Pour Tout would also appreciate some give in the ground and looks more of a chaser in the making.

Saphir Du Rheu @5-1 Bet365

Whisper @14-1 William Hill

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

Thyestes Chase Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Cheltenham trials will be coming thick and fast in the coming weeks and Gowran Park could provide some pointers on Thursday. The feature race is the Thyestes Chase, won last year by subsequent Gold Cup runner-up On His Own.

Willie Mullins tries to follow up with the lightly-raced Djakadam, a disappointing favourite in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November. The gelding won the Grade 2 Killiney Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown last season but fell four from home in the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham festival.

He travelled nicely into contention at Newbury but weakened quickly in the straight. He could prove to be well handicapped off a mark of 145 but this will be a real test of stamina in the heavy ground. Considering his lack of jumping experience, I am prepared to look elsewhere for the winner.

Gallant Oscar looks to have been aimed at this by Tony Martin, having been kept over hurdles so far this season. He was quietly fancied for the Irish National in April but parted company with Davy Condon at the thirteenth. Better value may be the French import, Sadler’sflaure, trained by Jessica Harrington.

It is impossible to compare French and Irish form but he was four times a winner in his native country and ran well when chasing home Grand Jesture at Punchestown last month. That was only his second run since joining Harrington and he could be ready to run a big race on Thursday.

Goonyella ran in the Welsh National and the Irish National last season and likes it when the mud is flying. He was not disgraced behind Living Next Door last time out while The Job Is Right also ran well in that race. He came out and won at Punchestown but this will be three races in quick succession.

Earlier in the day, Monksland can book his place in the World Hurdle field by winning the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle. The eight-year-old was having his first race for two years when third to Lieutenant Colonel at Leopardstown last month and holds Dedigout, Zaidpour and Briar Hill on that form.

Noel Meade’s gelding was third to Simonsig in the Neptune and won the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in 2012 before injury intervened. He was as short as 5-1 for the World Hurdle after that and is a proven winner in heavy ground. With normal improvement, he should confirm the form with Briar Hill who was not that impressive last season in his prep races before falling at the festival. His future may lie over fences and Monksland can get back on the winning trail here.

Monksland 2.15 Gowran Park @6-4 Paddy Power

Sadler’sflaure 3.15 Gowran Park @8-1 William Hill

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4