Cheltenham hosts the first day of a two day meeting on Friday with a competitive and exciting seven race card. In this preview I will be touching on each race and any selections that I have. (At the time of writing, the cross country course are yet to inspect).
12.15 is the first race, and it's a novice chase over two miles and five furlongs. Hildisvini is up in grade and has a double penalty to contend with here, making life difficult. Broadbackbob created a good impression at Plumpton on chase debut, and is entitled to hold every chance. Forgotten Gold has plenty to find with both the horses mentioned above from previous races. Rebel Rebellion has some decent form, but it is on right handed tracks. He has won left handed, but it was a Southwell jumpers bumper at odds of 1/8! I will chance Super Duty, who recieves 5lbs from the others, and may get an easy lead here under the in-form Jason Maguire. He has shaped really well on both chase starts, and is best on good to soft and going left handed.
The 12.45 allows the conditional jockeys to have a chance at a big prize at the home of jumps racing, again a two mile five furlong handicap chase. Sound Stage won this particular race three years ago off an 8lb lower mark. He has been out of form, but showed a bit more last time and could go well again. As could Bene Lad, who fell at the first in this last year, but has improved since, goes on the ground and has Lucy Alexander aboard. But my selection is Lexicon Lad, who is very consistent. He needed his reappearance run at Aintree, getting outpaced before staying on. He was second over course and distance on Trials day in January off the same mark and is sure to go well under Peter Carberry. Surely he's fed up of Nina and Paul telling him he's yet to have a Cheltenham winner!
A fiercely competitive, seventeen runner handicap hurdle over two miles follows this at 1.20. The novices provide an interesting angle, Turn Over Sivola, the easy Plumpton winner, and the relative unknown Tom Du Lys for Nicky Henderson. I like two here each way. Dark Lover for Paul Nicholls won here two starts ago after a big lay off, and then ran in the Racing Post Hurdle over C&D, and ran a belter in seventh, only beaten eight lengths. The other is Falcarragh, again, he has a good course run here last time when third to Ifandbutwhynot. He has gone up 3lb, but is still fairly weighted and should go well.
The 1.55 is a belter, a three mile, two furlong handicap chase, and the early favourite is Bradley. He is trained by Fergal O'Brien, who is having a fantastic season, but this trip may be a little too short if anything. He got outpaced before staying on over this course and distance in October, and in the Foxhunters in March. Quartz De Thaix has been in the form of his life, but it is very difficult to win three in a row at this level. Midnight Chase is sure to go well if he can dominate on a course where his record excluding the Gold Cup reads: 2311111. He has top weight, but that shouldn't hinder a bold show. Becauseicouldntsee is the other one I like. He has finished second twice here at Cheltenham in both his visits to the course from Ireland, in the Kim Muir and four miler at the last two Festivals. He had a tune up over hurdles before the Kim Muir in March, and has had two more hurdles starts to presumably get him A1 for this race. 5/1 represents a solid each way.
If it goes ahead, the Cross Country chase at 2.30 will be the best spectacle of the day no doubt. Uncle Junior goes again, trying to repeat his success at the Open Meeting. He has to give the minimum of thirteen pounds to the others though, which will be very difficult. I really like Arabella Boy here, who has a good record in the Irish Banks races at Punchestown, including when beating Bostons Angel last time out. He is trained by 'Mr Cross Country' Enda Bolger, who is formidable here at Cheltenham, the likes of Garde Champetre and Spot The Difference spring to mind, and this horse has been nurtured towards this venue as he's only a seven year old, ten stone eight is a lovely racing weight and Nina Carberry aboard too.
3.05 is a three mile handicap hurdle, and it's important to note that Air Force One goes to Bangor if it's on, meaning this would then be a 15 runner race, and three places for each way backers. At Fishers Cross is favourite, and despite a poor round of jumping, won with plenty in hand at Newbury last time. He is stepping up to this trip for the first time, and I'm not sure it will suit, so am willing to let him go. Inish Island is a complete unknown, after winning a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick, but Willie Mullins is not here for a day out that's for sure. Medinas is consistent and acts at Cheltenham. I'm going to narrowly go for Saint Roque, who would have definitely been involved in the finish last time, still travelling well when brought down three out. He hasn't gone up for that, only had four runs under rules and despite being a pound out of the handicap, has a good conditional in Harry Derham aboard, and must go very well. The rise in trip shouldn't be a worry as he has won a point to point over this trip. At the other end of the weights, the gallant Cross Kennon will try his heart out again and should run well.
The closing novice hurdle at 3.40 looks a cracker too, this time over two miles. I was at Southwell when Imperial Leader won, and he is a very likeable type, and what impressed me was his response to reminders, if you can watch that replay on either Sportinglife (need a SkyBet account) or Attheraces (need a free account) websites, you will see what I mean. The big question of this race is what will front run? It may be the big outsider Dr Dreamy, or perhaps Royal Boy, yet to run under rules after a point win. Mr Watson, the horse that unseated and kicked Tony McCoy at Wetherby not too long ago, is reunited with the champ tomorrow after pulling far to hard at Market Rasen last time. Village Vic is dropped in trip, and is going to be my narrow selection in a good race. He was a high class bumper horse, and ran a great race here behind The New One in October on hurdles debut, before a flop in horrendous ground, again at Cheltenham over two miles and five furlongs last time. Melodic Rendezvous, Valdez and Eduard are all very nice types too, and could easily figure, but I fear they haven't quite got the class of Village Vic.
I hope you have enjoyed my preview, and if you have any feedback, either tweet me @willbowler2k12, or fill in the box below.
Will
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