CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
DAY FOUR
1.20 TRIUMPH HURDLE
Almost a throwback to the good old days of the Triumph, when there were masses of runners charging down to the first and that should ensure we get a good pace in what appears to be an above-average renewal.
During the build up to the race, there have been divided opinions surrounding the chances of East India Dock and Lulamba and there are sound cases to be made for either depending on which side of the fence you sit.
Regarding the former, his claims are arguably built on more solid foundations – not hype – and the fact he has been there and got the T-shirt over the C&D on trials day, makes him a slightly more reliable proposition.
Not only did he impress with his jumping and attitude two months ago, James Owen’s inmate also clocked a time figure that would have been good enough to win the Triumph in each of the last ten years and he undoubtably sets the bar for the others to try and match.
Lulamba, on the other hand, can’t lay claim to those sorts of details but he might turn out to be the most talented of the pair further down the track. Whether that view comes to pass only time will tell but based on pure numbers, as it stands, he has quite a bit to find with his main market rival at this stage of his career.
The data for the big juvenile at the DRF didn’t stack up as well as in previous years, so there’s a distinct possibility that the likes of Hello Neighbour & Co might fall short of the mark.
Already advised – East India Dock – 1-point win@9-1
2.00 COUNTY HURDLE
A surprisingly small field for a race that seems to contains only a handful of potentially well-handicapped horses and KARGESE (NAP) (best price 10-3)) stands out as the main cheerleader of those in that category.
In simple terms, she looks the class act of the field and having dined at the top table for pretty much her entire career, she should, in theory, find life in the slower lane of a handicap well within her compass.
Good enough get within three lengths of the mighty Sir Gino at Grade 1 level as a juvenile, she rounded off the campaign with a deserved success against the best Ireland could muster on home soil at Punchestown and she has done well to seemingly escape the attentions of the assessor based on those efforts.
Likely to be all the better for her opening gambit of the season at Ascot, when she was just too keen for her own good in a small field, today’s assignment should turn out to be more to her liking in terms of pace and if she can run anywhere near the level that saw her chase home Majborough in last year’s Triumph, Willie Mullins’ filly is going to be extremely hard to beat if she settles in the early stages.
Of the main dangers, it’s easy to see why Lark In The Mornin has been popular in the ante-post markets to follow up last year’s Fred Winter success as there was a lot to like about the way he shaped in the fog (which was handy for connections!) at Leopardstown on his sole start this season.
Of the others who have raced at the Dublin venue so far this season, McLaurey impressed with his victory at the DRF and he remains a horse for the future whatever his fate here tomorrow and Pinot Gris has the cruising speed to put himself in with a winning chance from two out.
KARGESE – 2-point win@10-3
2.40 MARES CHASE
Not much to say here other than the market looks to have pegged it just about right and, as a result, it’s very hard to manufacture any sort of meaningful angle.
Dinoblue has been all the rage in the ante-post markets to go one place better than she did last year and she arrives here having beaten another one of her old rivals, Allegorie De Vassy, at Naas last time out.
The only slight doubt for those willing to accept a skinny price derives from fact she’s yet to win over today’s distance and there are enough in the field to give me the wobbles.
Allergorie De Vassy snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in this race two years ago and she might have a better chance of making amends on better ground than she faced when returning last year.
The way she brushed aside Limerick Lace with total distain at Fairyhouse earlier in the campaign shows what she can achieved when on-song, so it all boils down to whether she provides us with that side of her game rather than one or tame finishes in the past.
Limerick Lace has endured a far from smooth campaign and I suppose it all boils down to the skills of her handler to get her back to the sort of form we witnessed twelve months ago. There is a school of thought the Grand National attempt left a bigger mark that anticipated and she remains a tricky one to assess.
Stable mate Brides Hill, therefore, could turn out to be the each-way alternative as at least we know she arrives here in reasonable form. Her victory at Punchestown last season also puts her into the mix and she has the capabilities to cause a shock if her main market rivals come up short for one reason or another.
3.20 CHELTENHAM
Usually, a brutal affair and with a maximum field going to post and plenty of front runners likely to push the pace on from the start, no reason to suggest otherwise.
Experience also counts for plenty in this contest and JET BLUE (best price 8-1), with a multitude of runs in France, holds a decent chance of backing up his previous C&D at the December meeting.
The son of Martaline took a while to warm up over the British style timber hurdles but once he’d figured it all out, he ran out an impressive winner – storming clear on the long run from two out to the line.
Winning with seemingly any amount on hand, he ended up posting a smart speed figure and with Yellow Car going on to boost the form in the River Don next time, the six-year-old has stronger claims than his current odds imply.
Of the others who have a profile similar to previous winners of this race, INTENSE APPROACH (best price 20-1) fits the bill and his latest victory at Musselburgh proves his current wellbeing.
Similar to Jet Blue, the surroundings of Prestbury Park are familiar to him courtesy of his win over the New Course back in November and with his stable mate, Heads Up, running his face off in the bumper here yesterday, John McConnell’s inmate could easily follow suit.
JET BLUE – 1-point each-way@8-1
INTENSE APPPROACH – ½ point each-way@20-1
4.00 GOLD CUP
After so many favourites flopping here this week, bookmakers will be praying for another miracle but acts of God aside, Galopin Des Champs has all the credentials to secure his name alongside the greats of the jumping game by winning this for the third time.
Imperious in his two previous Gold Cup wins, his performances on home soil suggest he is just as good, if not better than ever, and, although easier said than done, a repeat of anything near his best would surely prove good enough.
Looking away from the most likely outcome, INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN (best price 5-2) has fair claims of justifying his late inclusion and he appeals as the most obvious solution in the each-way alternative/without favourite markets.
The way he stayed under a sympathetic ride behind Galopin in the Irish Gold Cup last time out suggested he is coming to the boil at the right time and having proven his suitability to Cheltenham with his romp in the Kim Muir last season, he ticks quite a few boxes where many others don’t.
INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN – 1-point win@5-2
4.40 HUNTER CHASE
Having covered all other 27 races in full, hopefully there’s a degree of slack cut if I refrain from giving this race a miss.
5.20 MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP
All the talk has surrounded Kopeck De Mee in this traditional finale to the week and, having watched his video from Auteuil last time out, it would come as no surprise if he were to make a mockery of his current mark.
He has now, however, become an almost unbackable price for those not in the inner sanctum and the suggestions as value alternatives are NO QUESTIONS ASKED (best price 16-1) and TAPONTHEGO (best price 10-1).
The former ran out an honourable second in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon last time out and with the time figure suggesting it was a race of some repute; Ben Pauling’s inmate easily posted a career high.
Thought good enough by connections to receive entries in both the Supreme and Turner’s Novices’ Hurdles respectively, his opening mark of 138 looks more than fair and this strong-travelling seven-year-old has the class and ability to make an impact at rewarding odds.
The latter, similar to stable mate Waterford Whispers (runner-up last year), has had this race as his main objective all season and following an eye-catching effort over an inadequate trip at Punchestown last time out, his preparation looks to have been judged to a tee.
The form of that race at the Kildare venue was given a huge boost when winner, William Munny, ran a blinder in the opening race of the meeting and with today’s better ground and step up in trip set to suit, Henry De Bromhead’s inmate could easily provide is handler with another winner at the festival.
NO QUESTIONS ASKED – ½ point each-way@16-1 (six places)
TAPONTHEGO – ½ point each-way@10-1 (six places)