Hi all,
I have another Cheltenham festival ante post selection for you today in the latest instalment of my “Path To Cheltenham” series. Plus, I have a few fancies on Thursday and hopefully one or two of them can go one place better than Kashi did at Fairyhouse yesterday.
Path To Cheltenham
There are just five Thursdays until the start of the Cheltenham Festival and, after the weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, I’m no firmly in festival mode. Today it’s my fifth Cheltenham ante post selection.
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
The three miles the Albert Bartlett is the longest distance of the three novice hurdles at the festival. Past winners of the races include Bobs Worth, Unowhatimeanharry, Penhill, Monkfish and last season’s Gold Cup Winner Minella Indo.
I put up The Real Whacker in last Tuesday’s tracker piece after his recent run at Doncaster. Looking at his Albert Bartlett entry I said that “there will be worse 66/1 pokes at the festival”. Not sure if anyone had a nibble on him for the race but the 66/1 available with Coral & Ladbrokes has now gone and he’s a best priced 40/1 for the race.
You had to be impressed with Minella Crooner’s run in the 2m 6f novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
A winner over 3m at Punchestown. The drop back to 2m 6f wasn’t ideal for the 6-year-old. He was slightly outpaced two out when the leader quickened the pace but kept on well to finish runner-up. He’s going the right way. The distance of the race will suit him but does need to improve his jumping.
It looked an ideal prep run for Cheltenham. Mind you that performance hasn’t been lost on punters. He’s been well backed for the Albert Bartlett over the last few days and is now a best priced 5/1 with Coral & Ladbrokes.
Falcon Eight
Falcon Eight, trained by Dermot Weld, has come on to my radar for the race. Now in the ownership of Dr Ronan Lambe who who’s has had a few big winners at the Cheltenham Festival. Off the top of my head Lord Windermere (RSA 2013 & Gold Cup 2014); Silver Concorde (Champion Bumper 2014); Windsor Park (Ballymore 2015) and Spring Heeled (Kim Muir 2014). He hasn’t had many runners at the festival in recent season which makes Falcon Eight of interest.
A smart performer on the flat won a 2m Listed race at Sandown in 2019 and took advantage of handy mark to win last season’s Chester Cup. He didn’t jump particularly on his hurdles debut when only 5th of 9 at Leopardstown over Christmas. However, that was a promising enough effort on ground that would have been plenty soft enough for him. He goes well on a sound surface but did win the Chester Cup on good to soft. He wouldn’t really want it worse than the ground that he faced at Chester.
The 7-year-old runs at Thurles today in a 2m 7f Maiden hurdle. If he wins as connections will be hoping. Then he will be heading across the Irish Sea for the race. I backed him earlier in the week. He’s now a best priced 33/1 which is still fair. Mind you the bet could go down this afternoon.
Now Thurles wouldn’t be a track you would associate with producing Cheltenham Festival winners. However, looking at the stats. Those horses whose previous run was a Thurles have produced 7 winners from 45 runners. With last time winners being 5 winners from 20 runners +8.5 since 2016.
1pt each way – Falcon Eight – 33/1 @ Bet365 (NRNB).
Thursday Racing
I have a couple of selections from Huntingdon and two from Doncaster today.
Huntingdon
3:10 – The days’ feature race the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle. A race won by Shishkin in 2020 before going on to win the Supreme at Cheltenham.
Harbour Lake has won both his start over hurdles starts, both at Wetherby, He’s got a bit to find with market leaders with Wonderwall and Elle Est Belle on official ratings. However, he looks a good prospect who should be suited by the step up to 2m 3 ½ f.
1pt win – Harbour Lake – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:45 – A chance is taken with Wilde About Oscar who hit form around this time last year winning at Exeter and Uttoxeter in March. Granted he hasn’t beaten a rival on his two starts this season but has had a breathing operation since last time. Now 1lb below his last winning mark, if he bounces back to last year’s best, he would win this.
1pt win – Wilde About Oscar – 5/1 – Gen
Doncaster
2:10 – Clondaw Pretender returned to form when a ¼ length 2nd of 6 at Leicester. He’s only had four starts over fences so he could be capable of better for the step up to 3m over the larger obstacles. Minella Examiner won this race last year off 5lb higher. He hasn’t fired on three starts this season but the first-time visor replaces the cheekpieces and he’s on a winnable mark of he revives for the new headgear.
1pt win – Clondaw Pretender – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Minella Examiner – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John