CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
DAY TWO
1.20 TURNER’S NOVICES’ HURDLE
The traditional curtain raiser on day two has divided opinion among the preview panels during the build up over the last few weeks, with many favouring the silky-smooth The New Lion over the brut power of Final Demand.
Personally, I would always lean towards Willie Mullins – a trainer who has won this race multiple times over – with his main representative in this contest and the data from Final Demand’s victory at the DRF suggests he’s no slouch either.
However, despite many seeing this as a coin toss between the pair, it might be dangerous to totally dismiss The Yellow Clay out of hand and Gordon Elliott’s should give supporters of this column a reasonable run for their money at the very least.
Advised as a bet for this race after landing a Grade 3 at Navan in November, the son of Yeats duly followed up over the same C&D a month later despite being given a scare, and his latest effort when completing the four-timer over hurdles in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas ended up being much more convincing in terms of overall performance and the clock.
Although not flash in anyway, he has both a likeable attitude and reliability factor in equal measures and having obtained vital festival experience courtesy of his decent effort in last season’s champion bumper, he rates a strong each-way alternative to the ‘big two’ in the market.
THE YELLOW CLAY – already advised@16-1
2.00 BROWN ADVISORY
The biggest disappointment surrounding this Grade 1 for the staying novices is there is no British-trained horses in the field but that said, Ballyburn is such a formidable force that even a race-fit The Jukebox Man, for instance, would struggle to make an impact against Willie Mullins’ star.
Winner of last season’s Turner’s over 2m5f, the son of Flemensfirth has always been seen as a stayer long term, so it came as no massive surprise that he struggled to cope with the speedier Sir Gino around Kempton’s sharp two miles on just his second outing over fences.
Since then, the six-year-old went on to prove his true worth with a classy display in a Grade 1 at the DRF and given how strong he was from the back of the last, he has the potential to be an even more potent force over further.
Softer ground would have brought the proven stamina of stable mate Dancing City into play and Better Days Ahead will have his supporters, but this looks all about Ballyburn on all known form and it would be slightly disappointing if he doesn’t live up to star billing.
2.40 CORAL CUP
It’s noticeable in this ultra-competitive handicap, the cream has risen to the top in recent times with 15 of the last 16 winners all rated above 138 (last seven all previous winners at listed level) and with previous course form also seen as a positive, everything points towards SANDOR CLEGANE (best price 14-1) running a big race.
Paul Nolan’s inmate has been somewhat of a twilight horse in the last two seasons, just falling short at Grade 1 level over fences, and since returning to hurdles, a similar pattern has ensued.
A creditable fourth behind Stayers Hurdle-bound Home By The Lee at Leopardstown over the Christmas period, he filled out the same position in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran last time out and on each occasion, he left the impression he wasn’t quite seeing out three miles against the very best.
With connections clearly drawing a line through tackling the Stayers Hurdle, the eight-year-old comes here on his first handicap mission off what appears a workable mark and having hit the frame on his two previous festival visits, he can keep that trend going at rewarding odds.
SANDOR CLEGANE – ½ point each-way@14-1 – six places
3.20 CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
Not a race for the purist, but, in theory, one that usual goes the class horses with form around the track and Mister Coffey, albeit a candidate for the biggest Mickie taker in the game, is taken to hit the frame at the very least.
0-15 over fences, Nicky Henderson’s last throw of the dice was to pitch the 10-year-old into a discipline that could have gone either way, but based on the evidence of his two performances over the banks, he seems to be reinvigorated.
A creditable runner-up when having a ‘sighter’ here in November, he then ran a blinder when filling out the same position behind Stumptown on his return visit and considering he had to make up an enormous amount ground up in the closing stages, his effort has to go down as an upgradable one.
Although not advisable for maximum stakes win wise, confidence of him finishing in the first five can be cranked up a notch or two and he deserves to be played accordingly.
4.00 CHAMPION CHASE
The conjecture surrounding Jonbon not liking Cheltenham is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy for those willing to take him on, as there plenty of occasions where Nicky Henderson’s gelding has been just as dominant around Prestbury Park as he has been elsewhere.
In plain and simple terms, he really ought to win but as this column revolves around trying to find the value alternative 9 times out of 10, MARINE NATIONALE (best price 5-1) looks the obvious one for the each-way thieves.
Winner of the Supreme two years ago, things haven’t quite panned out as anticipated over fences but he has shown snippets of his best here and there and his run at the DRF offers hope he is heading back in the right direction.
The only one to offer any resistance to the aggressively-ridden Solness in the final mile, the big effort in took to reel in the front runner eventually took its toll after the last but the figures suggest it was by some way his best display over fences and connections would have no doubt been buoyed by that fact.
Well documented to have had slight issues with his wind in recent times, tomorrow’s better ground looks set to suit and providing all eight runners go to post, it would be disappointing if he doesn’t get himself on the podium.
MARINE NATIONALE – 1-point each-way@5-1
4.40 GRAND ANNUAL
A typically wide-open renewal of this two-mile handicap which is sure to be frantic from the word go and MIDNIGHT IT IS (best price 18-1), who has often given the impressive he is good enough to land a big pot one day, is worth small interest to see whether that theory comes to pass.
A convincing winner of a competitive affair on his seasonal bow, Gavin Cromwell’s inmate was strongly fancied to take his game to the next level in the Dan Moore at Fairyhouse next time out and if it wasn’t for fumbling his way through the middle part of the race, he would have surely prevailed.
Extremely well punted to make amends at Leopardstown on his latest outing, he failed to live up to expectations with an uncharacteristic poor run but, as he was found to coughing post-race, his run can be excused.
Although he’s yet to step foot at Cheltenham, he does go well on a stiff, left-handed track and with the drying ground likely to suit him more than some, a bold show could well be forthcoming if he can avoid mishap.
MIDNIGHT IT IS – ½ point each-way@18-1
5.20 CHAMPION BUMPER
As usual, Willie Mullins in mob-handed in this traditional finale to day two and many expect Copacabana to prove the pick of the quintet. Whether victory in a race that was run at a complete crawl on debut will prove a good enough preparation compared to what he is to face here is open to debate, and at the prices, he is readily passed over in favour of stable mate BAMBINO FEVER (best price 13-2).
Unbeaten in three starts, the daughter of Jukebox Jury completed the hat trick with a stylish success in an ultra-competitive mares’ contest at the DRF and with the speed figure speaking very favourably of her performance, her foundations heading into today’s contest appear more concrete than the favourite.
Of the rest, Gameofinches is easily the most prepossessing individual in the field and his victory on debut came with a huge amount of swagger. The big question mark with him concerns the potential for him to boil over but providing he passes the preliminaries without getting himself too worked up, he has the size and class to make an impact.
BAMBINO FEVER – 1-point each-way@13-2