I was delighted to listen to Mick Fitz talking on ATR about the racecourse gallops after Leopardstown yesterday when he related the following story. He was called in to ride Hedgehunter for the equivalent gallops in 2006. He left afterwards without speaking with WP, who asked him later how he felt. Mick gave him a good report and he ran in the Gold Cup, coming second (ridden by Ruby Walsh) behind War of Attrition. WP said he owed him one for the report and duly put him on board the winner of the Grade One Punchestown Champion 4-y-o Hurdle. That winner was Quatre Heures, the horse who is in the featured image on this website.
QH provided me with my best ever moment on a racecourse, when he was running in the Supreme Hurdle the same year and approaching the home turn. Comments in running: “The sole four-year-old in the line up, who had created a decent impression when winning on his previous two outings and looked a player when making ground to join the leaders three from home, yet he failed to sustain his effort and was ultimately well beaten”.
Anyway, here we go with another Cheltenham preview, this time live streamed on Facebook (ATR) from The Goat Bar in Dublin. Didn’t get it all but some good points.
Our panel is:
Emmett Kennedy (EK) (Chair)
Kevin Blake (again) (KB)
Tony Keenan (TK)
Jamie Codd (JC)
Sean Boyce (SB)
Tuesday
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Choice: Charli Parcs (6/1 -> 7/1 ->16/1 -> 14/1)
One to watch: Bacardys (33/1 -> 14/1 -> out of this one – see below)
KB: Ruby will ride Melon. WP quite bullish – on home work Melon is the best of the four or five he will run. Inexperience worries me. Ruby will try to bury him in the race. I like Bunk Off Early – race will suit him. Thinks Paul Townend will ride him
TK: I think the favourite is more lemon than melon. Neon Wolf will shite on these if he runs. probably not going to run but definitely the bet if he does. Ballyandy loves a strongly run race. Moon Racer‘s too short. Won a bit of a joke of a race. Give Bunk Off Early a chance. Little chance to Crack Mome.
JC: I think it’s an ordinary Supreme. I think Neon Wolf is very good, particularly if there’s a little rain. In like Finians Oscar but think he goes for the Neptune. Labaik – one of the best work horses I’ve seen in my life (probably won’t run). If he jumps off, just for the sake of it at 50/1.
SB: Finians Oscar may go for this. Don’t want Melon. Go Finians Oscar NRNB. Also River Wylde – properly bred.
Arkle
Choice: Altior (1/2 -> 1/3-1/4 ->1/3 -> unchanged)
KB: Don’t want to put up negatives against him. Royal Caviar without the fav.
TK: Royal Caviar without the fav.
SB: Flying Angel (10/1) without the fav.
JC: Just sit back and watch it.
Ultima Handicap Chase
Choice: For now, Noble Endeavor (10/1). This may well change.
Champion Hurdle
Choice: Petit Mouchoir (9/2 -> 4/1 ->11/2 -> 6/1)
EK: Mark Walsh on Yanworth
KB: A really good choice. Race has a wide open look but Yanworth is a champion horse
SB: The more I’ve seen of Yanworth the less I like him. He’s tricky, not very natural. I back My Tent Or Yours and the best bet is 66/1 e/w Cyrus Darius. Very lightly raced; very high class.
TK: Between Petit Mouchoir and Yanworth
JC: Moon Racer is a very good horse. He’s an older horse. I’d say he’s a great chance. I also like Yanworth.
Mares Hurdle
Initial Choice: Apples Jade (2/1 -> 11/4 -> 5/2 -> 11/4)
One to watch: Lets Dance (11/1 -> 8/1 -> 16/1 -> 10/1)
KB: I’ve been mad keen on Vroum Vroum Mag all season but no vibe when we went to the yard. Going to run here. I can see excuses for Apples Jade last time out. Want to mention Jers Girl. May not be good enough. Limini very difficult to train, more so than Annie Power, according to WP.
TK: I’d lean Apples Jade.
JC: Vroum Vroum Mag – she’s an absolute jet. I’d forgive her last time out. Mo Farah mightn’t be at his best every time but he still wins. It’d be Vroum Vroum Mag for me all day long.
SB: No interest in the English horses. I like Jers Girl. She’s also in the County and the Coral. A safe price.
National Hunt Chase
No selection yet.
JC: Not selected ride yet. A Genie In Abottle probably the ride.
TK: A Genie In Abottle. Edwulf has a chance.
Close Brothers Novices Chase
No selection yet.
Wednesday
Neptune Novices’ Hurdle
Choice: Finians Oscar (9/2 -> unchanged ->5/1)
One to watch: Bacardys is now routed here and is a serious candidate at 6/1. I’m against Neon Wolf
JC: Finians Oscar – I like him but prefer him for the Supreme. I think that Neon Wolf would do better here.
TK: I’d back Neon Wolf in this or the Supreme. I question Finians Oscar‘s form. I think there is improvement in Bacardys. One at a price – Shattered Love.
SB: Neon Wolf or Bacardys
Coral Cup
RSA Chase
Choice: Might Bite (6/1 -> 7/2 ->100/30)
One to watch: Royal Vacation (20/1 -> 16/1 -> unchanged)
KB: Might Bite good but would go with Alpha des Obeaux.
SB: No strong view.
TK: Don’t like Might Bite. His jumping isn’t great. I like Royal Vacation and Our Kaempfer.
JC: American – a sneaky one. Not as exposed as the others and Harry Fry a good trainer.
Champion Chase
Choice: Douvan (4/11 -> 1/3 -> unchanged)
KB: I like Douvan, will probably bolt up but met Sizing John seven times. He’s just won at Cheltenham. Never beaten a horse rated higher than 150/151. Probably going to win. Could be workmanlike. Don’t go for distance wins.
SB: Douvan‘s really good. Enjoy him. Bet without him.
JC: Sit back and enjoy this horse. He’s probably one of the best we’re going to see. He’s an incredible beast, just to look at him.
TK: Agree
Cross Country
Choice: Auvergnat (12/1 -> unchanged ->)
Fred Winter
Coeur de Lion (one to watch in the Triumph at 33/1) is apparently being routed here (16/1). If confirmed, he’s the selection.
Champion Bumper
I’m unlikely to have a choice in this one until the day. As in previous years, I might well go for a big mover on the day (if it materialises).
JC: Not too sure about Carter McKay. Won two slow bumpers. I like Some Day and Fayonagh.
Thursday
JLT Novices’ Chase
Choice: Politologue (9/1 -> 8/1 -> unchanged)
One to watch: Frodon (25/1 -> 16/1 -> 20/1)…remains of interest to me.
KB: Nothing to worry about with Yorkhill yesterday. Absolutely riddled with talent. A strong case is the key. He’s gonna win because that’s what he does.
SB: Yorkhill is a big no no. Most solid horses are Whisper and Politologue. Lay Yorkhill. Selection is Politologue.
TK: Disko is very solid. Two others: Flying Angel and Frodon.
JC: Yorkhill
Pertemps
Barring any big news in the meantime I’ll have a bet on the day.
Ryanair Chase
Choice: Un de Sceaux (5/2 -> 4/1)
One to watch: Uxizandre (7/1). Last week: “I’m still happy with this one as a place selection. Get on now because this race will cut up severely”.
TK: Two Grade 1 horses in this: Empire of Dirt (a massive chance). Un De Sceaux should be 7/4 rather than 7/2. Put the two of them together. Bet now, prices will shorten.
KB: There’s a lot of rain coming. Couple Un De Sceaux and Empire of Dirt at 6/4. Gordon Elliott sickened that Empire of Dirt running in this rather than Gold Cup. I favour Un De Sceaux but couple them.
SB: Want a bigger price for Uxizandre. I’m less of a fan over Un De Sceaux over fences. I prefer 5/1 Empire of Dirt.
JC: Un De Sceaux is good but proven horse is Uxizandre. I think Mark Walsh rides him. Tough, stays well. Not sure Un De Sceaux will stay. Empire of Dirt bred to stay and Gordon thinks he should be in Gold Cup. I agree.
Stayers’ Hurdle
Choice: Unowhatimeanharry (13/8 ->11/8 -> unchanged)
One to watch: Footpad (33/1 -> unchanged -> unchanged)
KB: Unowhatimeanharry is a good thing, well clear of the rest. No depth in the race; can’t see what’s going to beat him.
JC: Shaneshill. He’s there with his chance with Clondaw Warrior. Is Jezki the forgotten horse? 100% not his ground last time out. Unowhatimeanharry form not good enough. I’ll take him on with Jezki all day long. Jezki has too much class for any of these horses. If I was a betting man I’d be on Jezki at 8/1.
SB: I like Jezki a lot but will he stay? Ballyoptic 10/1 in the without market.
TK: Unowhatimeanharry is a right good bet. Cole Harden at 5/1 to me is a right bet.
Brown Advisory Plate
Too early. I think that we might see one suddenly emerge in this one. There are still lots of interesting entries.
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
This is a pain in the arse race because it messes up other options. If Let’s Dance (3/1) turns up here, she is the selection.
TK: Aerlie Beach e/w
KB: Aerlie Beach
Kim Muir
Another one to wait for and another with the top of the market full of horses I don’t fancy.
Friday
Triumph Hurdle
Choice: Defi du Seuil (3/1 -> 9/4) is the justified favourite.
One to watch: Coeur de Lion (33/1 -> unchanged -> unchanged) …remains of interest for a place.
JC: I think Gordon’s will win it with Mega Fortune. He’s tough, he’s honest, all over him. Defi du Seuil has beaten feck all in England.
KB: With Mega Fortune even though he’s bone idle. By far the best of the Irish.
TK: I like Defi du Seuil
SB: I think that Charli Parcs is better suited by the Supreme. Like Master Blueyes at the price.
Foxhunters’ Chase
Choice: On The Fringe (6/4 -> unchanged
County Hurdle
Too early but interested in Ivanovich Gorbatov at 20/1.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
No clear choice at this stage but interested in Augusta Kate at 10/1.
JC: Maybe too much of a slog for Death Duty. I like WP’s mare (Augusta Kate).
SB: Against front of the market. An attritional race: Ami Desbois and, if he pitches up here, Catamaran du Seuil.
TK: Race might beat Death Duty rather than opponents. Want a tough bastard for this race: Wholestone is the solid one
Gold Cup
Choice: Cue Card (7/2 -> 3/1)
I’m still hanging on to the hope of Bristol de Mai (25/1) running into a place.
TK: Opposed to Djakadam. Been there and not done it. Not sure about Cue Card or Native River. I like Sizing John: changed yard, been held up and gone up in trip. Another is Outlander. Finished out very well in the Lexus.
JC: I think Djakadam will win. It’s going to be Willie’s year. Don Poli is never going to win a Gold Cup. I loved the way Outlander went through the line but needs to do everything right. May be the last one to challenge. Djakadam had a bad cut last year. Can’t underestimate it. For me, he’s the one. Native River might just not have the class. More of That value at 20/1.
SB: Could be a long odds winner. Djakadam might be good enough. I’m looking at Bristol de Mai. Is improving, needs to. I was lying on my bed this afternoon and gave Rebecca Curtis a call. I’m a big fan of Irish Cavalier. Needs good ground. Could easily run a good race. (NTD confirmed Blaklion doesn’t go for the Gold Cup and will go for the National.)
KB: I think Don Poli will run well for a place (only). I like More of That at a big price.
EK: AP schooled More of That this week and said “God, I’d love to ride this horse”.
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
Still too early but Battleford (10/1) is one to watch for this one.
Grand Annual
Leave a Reply