Friday, March 10, 2017

Cheltenham Festival 2017 - the calm before the storm

I'd have to admit my concentration wasn't totally on the weather when ITV Racing's Lucy Verasamy gave her long-range forecast for the Festival last weekend but I'm pretty sure she mentioned this had been a very dry winter.

Amongst the images that immediately sprang to mind were One For Arthur and Willoughby Court winning in desperate ground at Warwick; Bristol De Mai in the Peter Marsh and Neon Wolf in the Rossington Main at Haydock; Native River in the Welsh National; Unowhatimeanharry in the Long Walk and Otago Trail in Newcastle's Rehearsal Chase. Dry?

The perennial Festival conundrum presents itself once again. We've spent winter months trying to evaluate races run for the most part on soft ground and then, all of a sudden, as if the task isn't hard enough already, we're challenged with predicting the outcome of top class championship races that are likely to be run on ground better than we've seen for the past four months.

Bearing all that in mind, here are my Friday preview notes which are, as always, subject to change without prior notice. I've done slightly more work for Wednesday's card when I'll be at the track, asking the bookmakers for their very best prices and in the process making my own personal contribution to their summer holidays on the sun-kissed beaches of the Bahamas...


TUESDAY


1.30 Supreme Hurdle
Ballyandy won the bumper last year and goes in this rather than the Neptune. Together with Foxtail Hill he has been put up by trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies as his best chance at the meeting. He's on the shortlist and so is Moon Racer if taking up this option. David Pipe's charge is fragile but talented and has finished ahead of Ballyandy twice this season, the last time giving that rival four pounds and a two and threequarter lengths beating at the November Open meeting. For the record, the vet reported Ballyandy suffered post-race ataxia on that occasion. Connections still have to make a decision about Neon Wolf but appear to be leaning towards the Neptune.


3.30 Champion Hurdle
Yanworth is undefeated this season but I'm against him here. Owned by J.P. McManus his original aim earlier this season was the Stayers' Hurdle but he's re-routed as J.P. has red hot favourite Unowhatimeanharry in Thursday's feature. Yanworth won the last day at Wincanton but didn't really jump very well at all. Alan King reports his charge has come on for that run but his hurdling remains a cause for concern.


4.10 OLBG Mares' Hurdle
Trying to predict Willie Mullins' running plans is nearly as difficult as finding the winners of the races themselves, witness the decision on Wednesday not to supplement Limini for the Champion Hurdle. Before that surprise I would have been very wary about taking a short price about Vroum Vroum Mag. Last year's winner was 'all out' to hold Midnight Jazz a head over two miles at Doncaster six weeks ago; she was placed on antibiotics afterwards and remained on the easy list for a time. Quoting the master trainer:

"She was terrible at Doncaster. But she's coming back right, we're much happier with her."

With that sort of preparation she looks vulnerable, currently holding entries in the Champion Hurdle, the Mares' Hurdle, the Champion Chase, the Ryanair, the Stayers' Hurdle and the Gold Cup; Limini holds a single entry - for the Mares' Hurdle - for which she is quoted a 5/4 chance.



WEDNESDAY


1.30 Neptune Hurdle
A number of fancied runners have form on soft but how they'll handle better ground is a matter of some conjecture. Neon Wolf earned RPR rating 152 when beating Elgin (RPR 145 - entry in the Supreme) at Haydock while Finian's Oscar earned RPR 147 beating Capitaine (RPR 142) in the Tolworth,. Since 2007 when Massini's Maguire sprung a surprise at odds of 20/1, the SP of the winner has been no bigger than 7/1. Connections of Messire Des Obeaux (RPR 146) were in no way dismayed when their charge was beaten a neck conceding eight pounds to Keeper Hill (RPR 139) at Huntingdon the last time.


2.10 RSA Chase
Favourite Might Bite brings arguably the best form to the table but has been touted as 'the lay of the meeting' on the Festival preview circuit. This year's renewal looks open but perhaps not as competitive as the JLT on Thursday which has routinely been described as 'hot'. American will be of interest if allowed to take his chance although I've heard one commentator carp his Warwick win (14.01.17) on the grounds that the horses beaten that day have failed to frank the form. I like Royal Vacation who wouldn't be the best on ratings but looks tough - his win at the track over two miles five (28.01.17) bears scrutiny (Singlefarmpayment unlucky to be brought down). There is a query about Acapella Bourgeois' latest win at Navan but Sandra Hughes was quick enough to talk up her charge's chance this week - he is preferred to Alpha Des Obeaux who bled badly last time while, whisper it, Whisper is older than ideal... Nine of the last ten winners have been aged seven.


2.50 Coral Cup
I like Peregrine Run on 10-12. His defeat of Wholestone (holds Albert Bartlett entry) and West Approach (holds Albert Bartlett and Stayers' Hurdle entries) at the track (11.11.17) reads well. Carrying my money he got stuck in the mud at Warwick the last day behind Willoughby Court (Neptune and Albert Bartlett entries) and Gayebury (Pertemps and Albert Bartlett entries). Earlier in the week Ben Linfoot's piece on Grade One form in handicaps will have sent readers scuttling to their form books. Tombstone, fourth behind Altior in the Supreme last year, goes in this rather than the Champion Hurdle; with 11-5 on his back he is, unsurprisingly, amongst the market leaders. He also holds an entry in the County.


3.30 Champion Chase
Douvan is the banker at the meeting but he's no betting proposition for the likes of you and me. Henry De Bromhead reports Special Tiara 'in mighty form'; third in the past two renewals, he is worthy of each-way support at 20/1 on his preferred decent ground.


4.50 Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle
There have been some big-priced winners of the Fred Winter in the past ten years but none has been rated higher than 133. Of Nicky Henderson's duo Divin Bere is probably too high on 139 while Domperignon De Lys is around the right mark on 133 as is Dreamcatching on 131 - Paul Nicholls has won the previous two renewals but connections appeared downbeat on this one's chance at a preview evening. Diable De Sivola (132) has a hatful of placed efforts to his name but second to Defi Du Seuil (Supreme and Triumph entries) here last November catches the eye.


5.30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Over the years Willie Mullins has appeared frustratingly equivocal about his charges' chances in the concluding bumper. No such ambiguity this year about Carter McKay with the result the gelding is priced up the clear favourite.


THURSDAY


1.30 JLT Novices' Chase
Yorkhill is short enough for a very competitive JLT given his jumping after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday was considered 'rusty'. Described as 'exciting' by connections, he's scheduled to have another schooling session before making the journey across the Irish Sea - I'm a layer rather than a backer. Paul Nicholls rates Politologue his best chance of the week, Nicky Henderson states Top Notch likes soft while Disko improved markedly for a front-running ride at Leopardstown last month.


2.10 Pertemps Network Final
Pertemps favourite Tobefair is a story in himself. Philip Hobbs' two runners, Golden Doyen and For Good Measure, are closely matched after finishing first and second in a qualifier here last October. Owned by J.P. perhaps it's not surprising that money has come for the latter but marginal preference is for the former who will appreciate good ground and has been trained with this race in mind.


3.30 Stayers' Hurdle
2015 World Hurdle winner Cole Harden hinted at a return to better form when beaten by Unowhatimenaharry last time. He was in receipt of eight pounds that day but the race was run on unsuitably soft ground; given drying conditions at around 9/1 NRNB he looks an each-way bet to nothing.


FRIDAY


1.30 Triumph Hurdle
At 10/1 Tiger Roll is the biggest priced winner of the Triumph in the past decade. Earlier in the week I'd picked up that filly Meri Devie was highly regarded at Closutton; that view is confirmed in the Weekender. Ruby Walsh has to choose between her and Baupaume; her price has contracted accordingly - she's now a 14/1 chance. I think I'm right in saying that Snow Drop was the last filly to win the Triumph in 2000.


2.10 County Hurdle
I had William H Bonney pencilled in but I didn't foresee an entry in the Imperial Cup at Sandown. A shot at the £50,000 bonus on offer is a possibility should he come home in front tomorrow. Dan Skelton won this last year with Superb Story and he's followed a similar path with North Hill Harvey.


3.30 Gold Cup
Still in with every chance coming to the last, More Of That unseated his rider with a bad mistake in the Irish Gold Cup five weeks ago. Jonjo O'Neill still rates this horse amongst the very best he has trained. Given decent ground he's my each-way outsider at 14/1; I missed 25s earlier in the week.


5.30 Grand Annual Chase
The obvious two with Grade One form are Sire De Grugy and Dodging Bullets. The former is reported to have worked  'lethargically' recently.


Finally, at 4/1 with Betway, I think Ireland look overpriced to win the Prestbury  / Betbright Cup.


That's it for now. In time-honoured tradition, I'll aim to publish a post for each day of the Festival. "Form an orderly queue!" is a cry that's as likely to be heard in the bar as in the betting ring this year...

9 comments:

Reamonnt said...

Good luck to you next week. I like Ballyandy and wonder has perfect harmony an ew chance in the bumper.

GeeDee said...

Good luck Reamonnt!

Ballyandy for me as well; your each-way suggestion in the bumper noted.

PG.

Anonymous said...

I tune in looking for inspiration on the Imperial Cup and what do I get……an excellent write-up on your early Cheltenham thoughts, well done and best of luck this coming week!

My modus operandum is only to study form the day before the event so in an effort to bolster the Cheltenham war chest I’ve invested in 2 EW selections and an EW double.

As a 10yo Spice Fair will be the first horse trend followers have put a line through. Third in this race last year of 3lb higher and with Zac Baker claiming another 7lbs I’m hopefully he can continue the good form he has shown during a busy 2017 and stay on up the hill past tiring rivals to grab one of the four places (1/5 odds) on offer at 25/1 with Corals.

Over at Hereford Somchine (12/1) needs to put two poor runs behind him but 2 miles on soft ground look ideal and my eye was caught by the 10lbs claim of the yard’s conditional jockey.

The selections need to overcome progress rivals but I’m hopeful both can make the frame to produce a return.

With the diary cleared I’m looking for to the week ahead and I’ll certainly be checking out your posts each day should you publish them.

TW

GeeDee said...

TW - There's just too much form to study and not enough time to study it all in... ;)

I won't play in the Imperial Cup as I haven't done the spadework - looks as though several trainers are targeting the £50,000 bonus payable for winning this and a race at the Festival. I like Bigmartre (16/1) who would have been worth a second look if the stable had been in better form.

Somchine looks intriguing. Good luck!

GeeDee said...

Excellent work, TW!

Spice Fair finished fourth in the Imperial Cup (20/1) while Somchine won at odds of 14/1 at Hereford - form book reads 'led two out, driven home turn, in command flat, eased toward finish'.

I'm guessing the Cheltenham war chest is in robust health... ;)

GeeDee said...

Festival update - Saturday evening 11.03.17:

Finian's Oscar has a bruised foot and misses the Neptune;

Moon Racer goes for the Champion Hurdle rather than the Supreme;

Zabana misses the Ryanair after a dirty scope;

The Storyteller pulls a muscle and misses the Martin Pipe;

On The Opening Show Sam Twiston-Davies puts up Dolos, third behind Defi Du Seuil and Evening Hush at Chepstow over Christmas, as one of the rides he's most looking forward to in the coming week. Dolos goes in the Fred Winter, currently quoted at 14/1.

Reamonnt said...

http://www.gaultstats.com/

I saw this site discussed in the Irish Field as its been revamped and in my opinion is a great free guide to the festival.

GeeDee said...

Hi Reamonnt,

Many thanks for this excellent reference - I'll look to work it into a post. May have to re-consider a few of my selections... ;)

PG

Anonymous said...

The betting bank is certainly healthier this morning but it was much needed and I may have peaked far too soon!

The going and weather forecast look favourable and there should not be any real excuses on that front unless the horse is a real mud lark, Simon Claisse should not have too many concerns and probably could not be more pleased.

The Gault Stats web site noted by Reamonnt is quite impressive, though the obvious ‘trend’ horse are usually shorter in the betting than they should be these days as it is much used.

At The Races have put together a decent micro site at http://cheltenham.attheraces.com

Good luck!

TW