The Foxhunters - But not as we know it

It Came To Pass causing a 66/1 shock last year, beating Billaway (yellow).

 

 

More brilliant racing on Day 3 where we had a couple of good each way collects with Tornado Flyer, Come On Teddy and Magic Blue, who all ran well without winning. For this post, I focus on what would usually be the "Amateur's Gold Cup", now known as the St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase. For those who don't know, I commentate on Point to Points so hopefully can offer a bit of extra assistance!

I am going to do a runner by runner guide with a summary at the end, together with a selection at Fakenham.

As for the Gold Cup, I don't really have a view to be honest. If you forced me to have my last fiver, I'd chance Santini each way but it would be tentative, especially as it is Santini we are talking about, who isn't the most aesthetically pleasing to watch.

Here we go:

1) Billaway - Billaway is the favourite for the race once again after finishing a well beaten second in the race twelve months ago under Patrick Mullins. He has ran three times this season, winning his last two, including a win over Staker Wallace last time at Naas, and a second place finish behind Stand Up And Fight on his reappearance. He has a leading chance once again but at the prices, I'll pass.

2) Bob And Co - Bob And Co reappeared at Haydock last month in devastating style, hosing up under Sean Bowen. His form in France is very good but last season, he was a bit disappointing for me and needs a career best here. He is trained however by Paul Nicholls, so if anyone can find improvement, he's your man. He's short enough for me in the market.

3) Chameron - I called Chameron to win one of the best point to point races in the calendar last season, the Coronation Gold Cup at Larkhill. Ridden by Angus Cheleda, he travelled and jumped well before streaking clear of a strong field in the home straight. He's a gorgeous looking individual and was the best horse I called last season. He reappeared at Leicester on bottomless ground, something he didn't like, and had a good dual with Cousin Pascal, a subsequent Catterick winner, up the home straight before cosily holding him and pulling miles clear of the third. The ground has come right for him and I think he'll run a huge race. Harry Cobden, who also co-owns the horse rides.

4) Hazel Hill - Winner of the race in 2019 under Alex Edwards, who recently turned pro so he could ride him again. This stunning individual is into his teenage years now but retains plenty of zest, as shown in his Ludlow win in January. Freshened up since, he could run into the frame again, but younger legs may find him out.

5) It Came To Pass - Last year's winner who caused a big shock at 66/1. This season's form could be stronger but he clearly comes alive here and would be a lovely story, ridden by Richie McLernon who started his racing life with the yard before moving to the UK.

6) Latenightpass - Latenightpass caused a bit of a shock at Warwick last time out. He likes to sit very handy and with a strong pace will get taken on, but was a course and distance winner on hunter chase night here in May 2019. Usually ridden by Gina Andrews for her husband Tom Ellis, sister Bridget is once again in the saddle and it will be a great family story should he win. He needs a career best, but that's not totally out of the question.

7) Law Of Gold - A horse I have called to win on a few occasions pointing, he has a high cruising speed which was blunted in the ground here twelve months ago when finishing seventh. He returned at Doncaster behind Silsol where his jumping could have been better, and he is one who could outrun his odds. Each way extra places could be the way to go.

8) Mighty Stowaway - Despite being trained by leading connections, his form doesn't stack up against these and I'm more than happy to oppose.

9) Monbeg Gold - Surprisingly ran well at Doncaster last time, just outbattled by Silsol and finishing ahead of Law Of Gold. He might get done for pace here and doesn't have the greatest completion record either.

10) Mr Mantilla - I have to confess I don't know much about him but he has been good in his Irish PTP's. He has moved over to David Jeffreys and really is the unknown quantity for shrewd connections. He is only seven and is worth watching for any market moves

11) Porlock Bay - Trained by the winning most PTP jockey of all-time in the UK Will Biddick, Porlock Bay ran a cracking race on his first run for new connections since moving over from France at Wincanton. The form of the race hasn't worked out but he is a strong traveller and a hold-up horse which may come in handy if the likely strong pace materialises. He has a sound each way chance.

12) Ravished - Has little chance and surely making up the numbers here

13) Red Indian - Red Indian has been a star for current trainer Kelly Morgan and has qualified for a dabble here with a couple of runaway wins in ladies open races at Bishops Court and Alnwick before Christmas. You don't have to look a million miles back to his fourth in the Kauto Star Novice Chase at Kempton and when he was sent off 16/1 to beat A Plus Tard at the 2019 Festival. He has plenty of big field experience too with a sixth place Coral Cup finish and having won two races in fifteen runner fields. On this better ground, I think he has a big chance and given the yard masterminded Top Wood to two placed efforts in this race and a win at Aintree, he will certainly be ready.

14) Salvatore - A horse I've called to win on a few occasions and is still highly progressive if his win at Musselburgh last time out is anything to go by, then he is not stopping yet. The massive positive for him is the ground but he definitely needs a career best, but as mentioned with Porlock Bay, that is not out of the question by any means.

15) Sonneofpresenting - Nice to see a real enthusiast in Sarah 'Ripper' Rippon having a runner here, but it would be a miracle to see him win in all truth.

16) Staker Wallace - The first choice of the JP and Bolger runners, and will be trying to better his fourth place finish in the race last year. Jamie Codd gave the horse a patient ride last year and seemingly didn't get up the hill but has returned this year better than ever and must run a race under Mark Walsh

17) Stand Up And Fight - Stablemate to Staker Wallace and sixth in the race two years ago. He beat Billaway in November at Fairyhouse but a month on was well beaten by that rival. He was narrowly beaten three weeks ago at Thurles, but I think he finds himself slightly in the second tier of the Irish contingent.

18) Wishing And Hoping - Completes a triumvirate of runners from the Rowley stable but has the least chance of the three in my opinion. He is a front runner which could also be a negative if the likely competition for the lead does materialise. However I'm sure Bryony Frost will have a great spin around from this safe jumping sort.

 

All in all it promises to be a cracking renewal, with Chameron and Red Indian being my two against the field. 

Over at Fakenham, I think the hunter chase at 4.40pm looks made for Ennistown, who has a small field, better ground, the champion jockey and much calmer waters in his favour. I thought he'd be favourite for this and I think he'll win.

Have a great Gold Cup day!

Be lucky!

 

Runners aplenty ahead of a strong Stayers Hurdle

If The Cap Fits (far side) landing the Stayers Hurdle at Aintree in 2019 but has been disappointing over fences since.

 

At the halfway point of the Festival we have already seen some very impressive performances from both horse and rider, in particular Rachel Blackmore aboard the likes of Honeysuckle. She still has fair mounts to come, including Allaho and A Plus Tard. Day three however poses some very tricky puzzles, but I have a few ante-post tickets to discuss below and hopefully land one or two like Tuesday!

1.55 - Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final:

A fiendishly difficult puzzle most years and this renewal is no exception, with a few of last years runners trying again including the legend Unowhatimeanharry and Kansas City Chief, who ran well above his station that day. The one I like here though is Come On Teddy for Tom George and Johnny Burke, who hasn't been seen since his third place finish at Warwick in a qualifier for this behind Imperial Alcazar, who he faces again here. He was hampered on the bend that day as well, allowing Paddy Brennan aboard the winner to get away and by the time he was out in the clear, the bird had flown. Two major positives are the better ground, something he's not tried very often but I feel will suit, and also his previous Cheltenham win here earlier this season in impressive fashion, and importantly on the New course. He has a big chance.

2.30 - Ryanair Chase:

What a race this is. Loads of Festival form, nice post-scripts such as Amy Murphy and Dashel Drasher and a horse who deserves a Cheltenham win in Melon. I thought I'd make a case for a forgotten horse in Real Steel for Paul Nicholls. Rewind twelve months and he travelled like a dream in the Gold Cup, looking for a second as though he may even shake up Al Boum Photo, before as expected beforehand, fading up the run-in. He was trained by Willie Mullins back then and having moved to Ditcheat, he needed his first run at Ascot, described by his trainer as a "fact-finding mission". Onto the King George where he travelled well for a long time before bleeding and ultimately pulling up. Paul Nicholls says he has changed his routine and has been doing some great bits of work so that'll do for me at around 20/1. Tornado Flyer was in my horses to follow list at the start of the season and he could run above himself too.

3.05 - Stayers Hurdle:

I think it's a case of whether or not you fancy Paisley Park to be on a good day, like he was here two years ago. He seems fine this season too after his heart scare in this race last year and it would be a great sight to see him regain his crown. Last year's winner Lisnagar Oscar ran a much better race at Haydock last time and he will go well here but I like the chances of If The Cap Fits at the prices. Chasing has been a bit of a write-off for him as he now reverts back to hurdles, in a discipline that he is a Grade 1 winner. Interestingly he wears a tongue strap for the first time together with the reapplied cheekpieces, and with the potential of a burn-up with Sam Spinner, Flooring Porter and Lil Rockerfeller, he could just outstay them as he will keep galloping all the way. Sire Du Berlais would be my idea of the safest conveyance with his great course record.

I want to also give a small mention for Mighty Blue in the 4.15, in a race which I think will suit her down to the ground. She is still a maiden, but a very smart one and a big run at each way odds is by no means out of the question.

More great sport to look forward to.

Be lucky!

It's D-Day for Chacun in the Queen Mother

 

A big day for Chacun Pour Soi, with his chance for domination across both sides of the Irish Sea

After a very good Tuesday for us, with the evergreen Vintage Clouds landing us a nice win at big odds, together with the big run of Indefatigable in the Mares and Coltor in the Boodles both running well and taking advantage of the extra places in each way markets. For Pleasure also ran an absolute blinder in the Supreme despite not hitting the low in-running price I was trying to match. One down and three to go as we move onto day two with four more selections.

3.05 - Queen Mother Champion Chase:

As the caption above indicates, tomorrow is the biggest day in the career of Chacun Pour Soi to date. Having defeated all before him in Ireland in recent times, and doing so easily, he arrives here to take on a new set of opponents and have his first experience of Cheltenham in the process. Do I think he is the right favourite? Yes but at the price, I wouldn't go near him, and there is plenty to go at as far as an each way alternative is concerned. Put The Kettle On has the bonus of the 7lb mares allowance, which of course came in very handy for Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle for the same connections, and would hold claims, as would Nube Negra and last year's winner Politologue. But with plenty of pace on, I thought Sceau Royal could run another good race. The ground in the race last year was too sticky, that coming a year on from his exceptional effort in 2019's renewal when leading at the last before finishing third to Altior. He looked as good as ever when disposing of Champ in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month and at around 14/1, he looks overpriced.

3.40 - Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country):

Easysland is going to go off a short price favourite for jockey Felix De Giles, formerly based over here, and trainer David Cottin. Easysland bolted up in this race last year, and this year is using it as a stepping stone to the Grand National at Aintree, where he has top weight. The one big concern would be the form of the Cottin stable, who are usually very consistent and in the winners on a regular basis but have been going through a real cold spell, with just five winners this calendar year. Tiger Roll, the dual Grand National winner is coming here as opposed to Aintree this time around under instruction from his owners, but he's been in poor form and plenty must be taken on trust. Balko Des Flos would have a massive chance if he a) stayed the trip and more importantly b) took to the fences. But I'm going to throw a dart at Defi Des Carres here each way at big odds. He is trained by Charlie Mann having formally been in France, but he turned up here on his British debut and finished a very good second to Some Neck, getting reeled in close home. His second run is excusable and he has had a nice break since. He jumps very well and although not very well in at the weights, he can go well with extra places. 

4.15 - Grand Annual Handicap Chase:

As ever a very competitve contest. With nineteen runners, there will be lots of extra places around. Zanza has been well talked up by connections, and you can see why, together with Sky Pirate and Chosen Mate. The two I want to play are Us And Them and Glen Forsa. The latter has had his issues but has been given a wind operation and I think the drop down to two miles could be the answer. Pause the tape at the halfway point in both his last two races over 2m4f and he is travelling as well as anything before bombing out. Back down to 2m, I thought he could go well. Us And Them was placed in the race last year off one pound higher and has been freshened up in preparation for this.

4.50 - Champion Bumper:

Kilcruit won on the bridle at Leopardstown but it just seems too good to be true, and I'm not willing to take less than 2/1 to find out. I backed Three Stripe Line at 33/1 after his debut rout at Navan, and he has every chance. If you have a lot of places (5+), then I wouldn't put you off Jack's A Legend, who despite being the only maiden in the field, has good course form, will appreciate slightly better ground and a strong pace to aim at here. He has had a wind operation as well and if he was trained by a more fashionable trainer, he'd be much shorter than he is.

Hopefully more of the same on Wednesday.

Be lucky!

The Master of Rosewell launches a Boodles raid

 

Coltor (stripes) has a big chance in the Boodles

Twelve months ago, crowds were congregating on their annual Mecca style pilgrimage to Cheltenham for four days of top notch equine action. Unfortunately, due to bloody Covid-19, no crowds, not even owners, will be allowed to attend this year. The atmosphere will be very strange, but the racing remains top class and I will explore four angles on each day to hopefully make a few quid and build up some funds to put away to hopefully put towards tickets for next year's meeting!!

1.20 - Supreme Novice Hurdle

A roaring start quite literally to the meeting, as the leading Irish two mile novice hurdlers take on the home team's challenge. Appreciate It looks the most likely winner with very few cracks in the armour seemingly. His main rivals all come with slight doubts, whether it be the ground in the case of Metier, the late decision of participation with Soaring Glory or an unlikely reversal of form for Ballyadam and Blue Lord with the favourite. 

One angle worth exploring however may be a back to lay back on the Betfair exchange with For Pleasure, the likely outsider of the field. He is a blazing front runner who once they finally worked out the way to ride him at Stratford last July, has subsequently won three further races and gone up 37lbs in the weights for doing so. The final win came on his penultimate start, here at Cheltenham, when bursting a long way clear early and beating Third Time Lucki pretty comfortably in the end. That horse is considered by Harry Skelton as his most exciting ride of the week in the County Hurdle, and they pulled well clear of the rest. I'm not suggesting that I think he will win the race as I'm almost certain he won't, but he could well get a clear freebie again and he is worth backing in the win market (55 at time of writing) and leaving a lay-back at 10 to see how long he can last.

2.30 - Ultima Handicap Chase

A very competitive handicap chase, where cases can be made for many. Most bookmakers are offering extra places and one of the old boys of the party, Vintage Clouds. He has ran in the race for the last three years, twice finishing in the frame, and he is almost certain to give his running once again. Trainer Sue Smith has had a pretty torrid season, but in the last three weeks or so things have certainly started to pick up with a few winners. There were small shoots of a revival last time and with headgear on for the first time, he could go well under Ryan Mania.

3.40 - Mares Hurdle

Concertista and Roksana look set for a fantastic dual in this, with the Skelton team arriving in fantastic form after deciding to head here with Roksana rather than going to the World Hurdle. The one that could outrun her odds is the very likeable Indefatigable for the Paul Webber yard. She won at the meeting last year under Rex Dingle, who rides her again in this, getting up in the last stride to win the Martin Pipe, enhancing her already pretty impressive record at Prestbury Park. She was very disappointing last time out, but has had an extended break, and most importantly a wind operation since then. I think she has fair each way chance at around 20/1.

4.15 - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

This would be the destination of my strongest bet of day one, with Coltor topping the list under Jonjo O'Neill jnr, just over a week since a nasty kick in the face at Leicester. Coltor is lightly raced, having only had three runs over hurdles, improving with each run culminating in a win at Naas last time, beating one of his opponents Zoffanien in the process off level weights. He gets 3lbs off that runner this time and will be tuned to the minute by the master trainer Dermot Weld, who has very few runners here. His last runner was a winner in the shape of Windsor Park at the 2016 Festival. Houx Gris is too short based on what he has achieved, his price mainly out down to the fact he is trained by a certain 'Mr P Nicholls', with Busselton the one in the field I fear most.

So there we go, fingers crossed for a winner or two before a big day, as far as my ante post book is concerned, on Wednesday!!

Be lucky