13:30 Ballymore Novice’s Hurdle
Impaire Et Passe has certainly been the talking horse of the Cheltenham preview night circuit and the market has moved accordingly, he now sits at the top of the market around the 7/4 mark. He needs to be respected given how highly his stable regard him and how impressive he was last time out, but I’m choosing to side with form in the book rather than solely potential ability.
CHAMP KIELY finished what was considered a disappointing 4th in a grade 1 at Punchestown when odds on earlier in the season, however with the benefit of hindsight I don’t think that run was as bad as people thought at the time. For starters, the winner of that race was Marine Nationale who landed the Supreme on day one. Also, Champ Kiely was far too keen to see the race out, so he probably did well to only be beaten just over four lengths. Stepped up in trip next time, he landed a Grade 1 in battling fashion and with the potential for more to come over this trip I’m happy to have him onside around 8/1.
Hermes Allen has done very little wrong this season and certainly leads the charge for the home side, but as we saw in the Supreme on Monday, the Irish novice hurdles look a class apart from the British contingent. Talking of the Supreme, Barry Connell has a good chance of doing the novice hurdle double with Good Land who landed a Grade 1 with a bit to spare, but I’m siding with the Mullins runner on this occasion.
CHAMP KIELY - 8/1
14:10 Brown Advisory Novices Chase
GERRI COLOMBE looks a really tough staying chaser and it’s not ridiculous to think he could be in the Gold Cup picture this time next year. I have him onside in an ante-post multiple and will be hoping he can do the business. In terms of a fresh approach to the race I like THYME HILL, who has an excellent Cheltenham record (form figures of 23142) and was impressive last time out at Kempton. The first time cheekpieces appeared to improve his jumping that day and he is actually top rated on official figures, if you can get an extra place 9/1 each-way looks a fair shout.
GERRI COLOMBE - 13/8
THYME HILL - 9/1
14:50 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Martin Brassil went close in the Ultima yesterday and An Epic Song is an interesting contender on day two. He finished 12th and 13th on his last 2 starts but the first of those came off a long layoff and prior to that he was seen bolting up in a Punchestown handicap around this distance. Unfortunately, all the fancy prices about him have disappeared now though and at 9/1 I’ll leave him alone. Langer Dan bids to enhance his fine Cheltenham record and bounce back from his early fall in the Martin Pipe when sent of 7/2 favourite last year. He’s 4lb higher now and has been quiet in 3 runs this season, but we know the Skeltons will have been training him with Cheltenham in mind all year given this is the time of year he shows his best form.
FIL DOR tops the weights here and I think he can make his class count. His chasing career didn’t exactly go to plan but prior to that he was seen finishing a good second to Vauban on three occasions last season. The recent switch back to hurdles paid off when landing a grade 3 at Gowran Park last month, beating the classy albeit likely regressive Sharjah. The way he finished that race off was eye-catching and this step up in trip could bring out further improvement, with Ben Harvey taking off a handy 5lb he rates a decent each-way bet.
It’s not often you find a Willie Mullins runner who gets overlooked in the market, but I think ICARE ALLEN looks worth chancing at 25/1 here. The main reason he is such a big price is his disappointing showing in the Betfair hurdle last time out, but the ground was offered up as an excuse which seems feasible. Prior to that he had been seen staying on well in a big field Fairyhouse handicap and the return to softer going looks sure to suit. He’s shaped as though this step up in trip would help on multiple occasions and with six places each-way widely available I’ll be having a few quid on him
HMS SEAHORSE ran very well in the boodles here last year and took another nice step forward when winning at Navan last time out. The worry would be that he may have shown his hand that day but he seemed to win comfortably enough and is only 5 years old so there plenty of scope for improvement. I’m a huge fan of his trainer Paul Nolan and think his runner here is worth having onside.
FIL DOR - 14/1
ICARE ALLEN - 25/1
HMS SEAHORSE - 11/1
16:50 Grand Annual Handicap Chase
Andy Dufresne ran very well to finish 2nd in this last year and has clearly been campaigned with this in mind, connections look to have done well to get him back here on the same mark as last year (155). THIRD TIME LUCKI looks to be hitting top gear in perfect time for this and his overall Cheltenham record is very impressive with form figures of 42611, with the 6th place finish a very creditable run in the county hurdle in 2021. He was one of the leading novice chasers in Autumn 2021 and finished 4 lengths behind Edwardstone last February. Now on a mark of 149 I think there’s a good chance the Skeltons land another big Cheltenham Festival handicap.
I’m also going to chance MASKADA who disappointed at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out, but the step up in trip and quicker ground are probably a valid excuse. Prior to that she beat Rebel Gold at Limerick who has won twice subsequently and based on her old UK form a strongly run two miles could be ideal for her.
THIRD TIME LUCKI - 11/1
MASKADA - 25/1
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