Morning all,
It’s finally arrived! it’s day one of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. It doesn’t seem that long since we were looking forward to the first meeting at the HQ back in October. Well, plenty of water has gone under the bridge since that opening fixture.
It’s going to be a busy few day’s on the betting front. Although most of my focus will be on the handicaps, I will still be taking an interest at the Championship races. I tend to start the meeting off slowly but build up my bets as the week goes on and I don’t see that changing this year.
This year I’m heading into the festival in good form which is a complete contrast to 12 months ago. Will I still be in a positive mood come Friday evening or will I be tearing out my remaining hair in frustration?
In today’s preview I look at the five races being covered live on ITV and you’ll find today’s selections at the end.
Cheltenham Festival – Day 1
1:30 – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m ½ f
I was disappointed to see Sir Gerhard head to tomorrow’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle rather than come here. His absence means Dysart Dynamo is the pick of the Willie Mullins yard. The 6-year-old is 4-4 under rules and is capable of better. He will be tough to pass if he gets an uncontested lead out in front.
Nicky Henderson runs both Constitution Hill & Jonbon. The first named is also unbeaten on his two under rules and looked a smart prospect when winning the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January.
Stablemate Jonbon is another to put his unbeaten record on the line. The 6-year-old is getting better with racing and his turn of foot could be decisive at the finish. There’s a slight concern how he will deal with preliminaries but the same could be said of Dysart Dynamo. If he doesn’t lose his race before the off, I think he’s got a very big chance.
Mighty Potter should be finishing his race off strongly and will relish the Cheltenham Hill. He doesn’t have much to find on ratings with the big three and has each way claims.
2:10 – Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 2m
Eleven novices go to post for this year’s Arkle and it’s a competitive looking renewal. Edwardstone has won his last four starts over fences, albeit in small fields than today. A neat and accurate jumper of fence. Over hurdles, I thought the 8-year-old was better on a flatter track, although he did finish his race off well enough when fifth in last season’s County Hurdle. The track niggle apart he’s the one to beat.
Willie Mullins saddles three in Blue Lord, Haut En Couleurs & Saint Sam. Blue Lord has won all three of his starts over fences albeit he was workmanlike when beating Riviere D’etel in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown last time. He’s a sound enough jumper though and is the pick of Paul Townend.
Haut En Couleurs looked an exciting prospect when winning on his chase debut at Leopardstown but he fell at the third in the Irish Arkle. He remains an exciting prospect over the larger obstacles but his last time out fall is a concern.
Saint Sam finished third in that race. He’s another capable of better over fences but maybe better over further.
Riviere D’etel was arguably unlucky not to beat Blue Lord last time. The mare made her sole mistake at the last when in front and it was bad one. However, there was plenty to like about how she rallied on the run in to get within ½ length of Blue Lord at the finish.
2:50 – Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – 3m 1f
The veteran Vintage Clouds caused a 28/1 shock when winning this 12 months ago. The 12-year-old is just 1lb higher here and must be respected once more.
I had a seven strong shortlist which shows how competitive these Cheltenham handicaps are. Until last year it had been race where novices or second season chasers had dominated. The novices that appeal most are Floueur, Fantastikas and Corach Rambler.
Floueur proved he can handle a big field when winning a Fairyhouse beginners’ chase two starts back. The 7-year-old improved again when a 7-length 3rd of 13 to Death Duty in the Irish Grand National at Punchestown last time. He stays well, so no stamina issues and provided his jumping holds up he won’t be far away with Jordon Gainford taking off a handy 5lb.
Fantastikas made it 2-4 over fences when winning at Lingfield last time. He looks an ideal type for the race and should give his backers a good run for their money
Corach Rambler won a novices’ handicap chase over C&D in December before finishing 4th of 15 in the Classic Chase at Warwick. Making headway when unseating his rider five out in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot last time. Can be hard ride but should be staying on at the finish and is likely on a good mark.
Besides Vintage Clouds the older chasers that appeal are Ben Dundee & Lastintranslation.
Ben Dundee finished a 5 ½ length 5th of 23 in the Plate here in 2020. A solid 4th of 18 in the Kerry National (3m) back in September. The 10-year-old was then an excellent ½-length second of 28 to School Boy Hours in Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown. First start for 78-days but he’s gone well fresh in the past.
Lostintranslation isn’t the horse he once was but the 2019 Betfair Chase winner has plenty of form around, including when a 1 ½ length 3rd of 12 to Al Boum Photo in the 2020 Gold Cup. The 10-year-old made a winning return to action when beating five rivals in a Grade 2 at Ascot in November. Has since run poorly in the King George VI Chase and in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase last month. Not the most reliable but the first time cheekpieces are interesting addition as is better ground. Trainer & jockey combined to win this in 2013.
3:30 – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) – 2m
Honeysuckle has yet to taste defeat on her fourteen starts under rules. Last year’s winner get’s the 7lb mares’ allowance, which she arguably doesn’t need, and its hard to see her being beaten.
Appreciate It goes well at Cheltenham. Runner-up in the 2020 Champion Bumper went one better last year when winning the Supreme Novices Hurdle over C&D. He’s 4-4 over hurdles and was impressive when winning the Supreme. His preparation hasn’t been ideal and this will be his first start for 12 months.
Teahupoo has improved with each of his three starts this season and the 5-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when comfortably winning a Grade 3 at Gowran Park last month. Today’s likely stronger gallop could see him improve again. His last time out success puts him firmly in the picture and he could win should the favourite underperform.
I put up Saint Roi each way in my “Path to Cheltenham” series. He’s a bigger price than when I put him up which says a lot about his win chance. That said he did win the County Hurdle here in 2020 and he will be suited by today’s likely strong pace. He gets the first-time tongue tie here and trainer Willie Mullins is 16 winners from 52 runners 31% 24 placed 46% with his runners in a first-time tongue tie since that start of 2021. I can’t see him winning but he could get into the places.
4:10 – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 4f
This is another race that’s heading across the Irish Sea.
Telmesomethinggirl won the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago. Yet to win on her three starts this season but posted a career best on RPR’s when a 1¼ lengths 3rd of 9 to Royal Kahala in a Grade 3 mares’ hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas. She was attempting to give the winner 5lb that day when her yard wasn’t in good form. Looks the one to beat if reproducing that effort here.
Willie Mullins saddles three of the 12 runners: Stormy Ireland, Burning Victory & Echoes In Rain. Stormy Ireland bounced back to something like her best when making all to win the Grade 2 Relkeel here on New Year’s Day. The choice of Paul Townend and looks like the pick of the Mullins trio.
Burning Victory took advantage of the fall of Goshen to win the Triumph Hurdle here in 2020. Finished runner-up to Buzz in last season’s Cesarewitch at Newmarket. Put in a career best over hurdles last time when making all to win a Grade 3 at Punchestown 20-days ago. Queens Brook was 1 ½ length back in second that day, but was giving the winner 3lb and was having her first start for 4 months. There shouldn’t be much between the pair. However, Queens Brook trainer Gordon Elliott seems confident that she can reverse placings with the Mullins mare today.
Echoes In Rain was being touted as a possible Champion Hurdle contender at the start of the season. It hasn’t worked out that way for the mare but her 7 lengths 3rd of 5 to Honeysuckle in Irish Champion Hurdle was a step back in the right direction. Can be keen in here races but a danger to all if she stays 2m 4f.
4:50 – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – 2m ½ f
Gaelic Warrior trained by Willie Mullins is considered one of the handicap bankers of the meeting and the ex-French recruit could have a stone or more in hand of his mark. However, at around 5/2 in a 22-runner handicap hurdle you must try to take him on.
Petit Tonnerre two from two over hurdles when trained in France – made a winning debut debut for Jonjo O’Neill against two rivals at Market Rasen last month. A comfortable winner that day, a race like this may come a bit quickly in his career but he does look an exciting prospect. That said it won’t be an easy task from top-weight.
HMS Seahorse got of the mark at the third attempt over hurdles when beating 13 rivals at Fairyhouse last month. Being by Galileo he should be suited by the drying ground and he looks on a decent mark for his handicap debut.
Ebasari made a winning hurdle debut at Cork in January but hasn’t really build on that success on two subsequent starts. Not given to hard a race once his chance was gone when a 16 ¼ length 3rd of 6 to one of today’s rivals Brazil. Only 10lb better off at the weights with the winner but he looks the type to do better in handicap company, especially with trainer Gordon Elliott applying the first time cheekpieces. Elliott has saddled the winner of this race three times since 2013.
5:30 – National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) – 3m 6f
A disappointingly small field for this year’s race. The Irish look to have a strong hand here. The Gordon Elliott trained Run Wild Fred heads the ante post betting. The 8-year-old won the valuable Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan in November. Before running a bit below par when an 8-length 2nd of 8 to Fury Road in three-mile Grade 1 novices chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Today’s longer distance should suit and he does have the able assistance of Jamie Codd who bids for a fourth win in the race in the saddle.
Willie Mullins saddles Stattler. The 7-year-old doesn’t have the experience over fences that the favourite but there was plenty to like about his attitude when he made it 2-2 over the larger obstacles when winning a Grade 3 at Naas last time. There’s a good chance he will stay today’s marathon trip and could give his trainer a third win in the race.
Vanillier showed a liking for Cheltenham when winning the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at last year’s festival. Admittedly he was well behind Stattler last time and Run Wild Fred at Leopardstown. Not jumping brilliantly on either occasion. That would be a worry here but you must respect the 7-year-old on his Albert Bartlett form.
I put up Pats Fancy each way at 20/1 earlier this year. Well, the 7-year-old runs which is half of the battle when it comes to ante post betting. He looks a strong stayer and the 3m 6f should really suit him. And, with only six set to meet the starter my each-way bet is still very much alive.
Betting Advice
Cheltenham
2:50 – 1pt each way – Ben Dundee – 18/1 @ Bet365 (paying 6 places 1/5 odds), 1pt win – Floueur – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 0.5pts – each way – Lostintranslation – 22/1 @ William Hill (paying 7 places 1/5 odds)
4:50 – 0.5pts win – Petit Tonnerre – 28/1 @ Ladbrokes (paying 5 places 1/5 odds), 1pt win – Ebasari – 14/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill and 1pt win – HMS Seahorse – 12/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John