Two days of Cheltenham racing, two excellent cards to look forward too and I can't wait to get started on my blogg this week. As with all new seasons in any sport the anticipation of a superstar striker scoring 30 plus goals or a new fly half in rugby running the show kicking and starting a new phase of play full of anticipation from the crowd, or even the darts...yes the darts! This time of year we have the Alexandra Palace filled to the rafters for the annual WDC with this event it really is an exciting spectacle which brings together some truly athletic men throwing arrows at a board! Sounds great doesn't it! Doodoodoodoodooda, doodadoodoodaa, oi oi oi!!
We've had our fair share of superstars in our beautiful sport of kings recently. The likes of Sprinter Sacre, Bobs Worth and my favourite Flemenstar who have all delivered scintillating performances over fences and have already given us some early season memories to savour.
On with the card...
12.15pm Schloer Novices Chase 2m 5f
12.15pm Schloer Novices Chase 2m 5f
Some potential classy types to follow in the future over the bigger obstacles and a few with claims here, the likes of Hildisvini, Broadbackbob and Rebel Rebellion all look progressing in the right direction and really haven't put a foot wrong and certainly have claims. However, if SUPER DUTY can iron out his jumping a little and get this distance on a stamina sapping track then I'm sure he has an excellent chance. This Donald McCain trained bay gelding is a likeable sort because he has been extremely consistent running up against the best hurdlers last season. Indeed, SUPER DUTY finished 2nd to Simonsig in a novice hurdle race last year. That said, he is now in the chasing sphere and the hurdle form doesn't always translate into solid chasing form but with promise shown in his last two runs over the extended trip I'm certain he will jump soundly and stay on up the Cheltenham hill whilst others will be floundering. The final thing to say is that he is carrying between 5-8lbs lower than his nearest rivals which also adds substance to him winning.
12.45pm Handicap Chase 2m 5f
Handicaps are always some of my favourite races, beating the booky and handicapper at the same time is not always easy but it's certainly a possibility. As this is a conditional jockeys race the first thing to look for is experience from the jockey, winners obviously help but for me one important variable is the record of the jockey at the track. Ryan Mahon has ridden 3 winners and 10 places around Cheltenham from 31 rides. Not a bad record plus the horse he's on FRENCH TIES trained by Jennie Candlish who hails from a small yard and who actually has a very good strike rate at the track and has been very close recently with Cross Kennon who lines up later on the card. FRENCH TIES has been reverting back and forth between hurdles and fences, not sure why but it looks like the chasing form is better on paper. The form that stands out was back in March on good ground at Newbury when running off a mark of 107 he was then raised a further 10lbs which was not a hindrance to him as he won again at Bangor and raised to a mark of 121 which caught him out a little. I believe he has an each way squeak if fit and well on his first start this season.
1.20pm Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f
Now this is a tricky and trappy handicap race. The problem here is the horses at the head of the market tick the right boxes for trainer and jockey but many in my view lack the experience necessary Barry Geraghty rides Tom Du Lay who could be anything, hails from France, is a winner over there and looks the pick so far as jockey bookings are concerned. Paul Nicholls has Dark Angel, one thing you can say about this horse is that he has course and distance form and ran well in his last race to finish 7th. That form looks the pick but I still have my reservations and he also looks a bit high in the weights, plus he's gone up a further 11lbs in the handicap which in my view is a little harsh. I'm of the feeling that this wont be going to a newcomer and thats why NAMPOUR appeals both at the weights and handicap mark. This grey has been putting up solid enough performances against arguably better horses than this. On his first race of the season in October at Aintree he ran a very credible race finishing fourth and looked good 4 out on that occassion, only to be reeled in over the final two flights. He also ran with credit at Ascot last time out in what was a much more competitive race. NAMPOUR is now running in company I believe will suit him, has a good handicap mark and at 16/1 is a very good each way proposition. A return to his best would put him in with an excellent chance.
1.55pm Handicap Chase 3m 1f 110y
MIDNIGHT CHASE won this race back in 2010 and although a ten year old now he stills seems to be a very important corner stone for the Neil Mulholland yard. He is without question the class pick in this race and will take all the beating even if he's carrying top weight. MIDNIGHT CHASE ticks all the right boxes over this trip at the track and will undoubtedly been hard to beat. A gold cup runner who has mixed it with the best in the business. He has the top rating of 160 and is sure to show a strong front running performance which will put the others to the sword with two to jump. Moreover, he ran a very credible third at Wincanton last time out beating Planet of Sound who lines up again here by about 12 lengths. He wont be too put out by the ground conditions but carrying top weight on this surface and track he will need to be at his very best.
3.05pm Handicap Hurdle 3m
Quite a few interesting runners here not least the Willie Mullins trained Inish Island and Rebecca Curtis trained At Fishers Cross, these look like progressing well over hurdles. However, I tipped a horse on this blogg a few weeks ago who was sent off at 25/1 and ran an absolute blinder for the Jennie Candlish yard only going down by a neck at this very track over the extended 3 mile trip. That horse lines up again here and I'm sure another big run is on the cards at what could be his favourite track. CROSS KENNON is an 8 year old who bounced back to form last time out, this Craigsteel bay gelding ran brilliantly and showed he's not scared of a battle up the Cheltenham hill back in November. It's easy to forget that this horse has been rated as high as 154 over hurdles and has the class to take this race. Carrying top weight is always difficult as mentioned previously but with soft ground form at Cheltenham and with such a good run last time out, I really find it hard not to give him a second chance. The jockey Alan O' keeffe has an excellent affiliation with this horse and with that patnership in tact I'm certain of another solid performance.
Good luck.
1.20pm Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f
Now this is a tricky and trappy handicap race. The problem here is the horses at the head of the market tick the right boxes for trainer and jockey but many in my view lack the experience necessary Barry Geraghty rides Tom Du Lay who could be anything, hails from France, is a winner over there and looks the pick so far as jockey bookings are concerned. Paul Nicholls has Dark Angel, one thing you can say about this horse is that he has course and distance form and ran well in his last race to finish 7th. That form looks the pick but I still have my reservations and he also looks a bit high in the weights, plus he's gone up a further 11lbs in the handicap which in my view is a little harsh. I'm of the feeling that this wont be going to a newcomer and thats why NAMPOUR appeals both at the weights and handicap mark. This grey has been putting up solid enough performances against arguably better horses than this. On his first race of the season in October at Aintree he ran a very credible race finishing fourth and looked good 4 out on that occassion, only to be reeled in over the final two flights. He also ran with credit at Ascot last time out in what was a much more competitive race. NAMPOUR is now running in company I believe will suit him, has a good handicap mark and at 16/1 is a very good each way proposition. A return to his best would put him in with an excellent chance.
1.55pm Handicap Chase 3m 1f 110y
MIDNIGHT CHASE won this race back in 2010 and although a ten year old now he stills seems to be a very important corner stone for the Neil Mulholland yard. He is without question the class pick in this race and will take all the beating even if he's carrying top weight. MIDNIGHT CHASE ticks all the right boxes over this trip at the track and will undoubtedly been hard to beat. A gold cup runner who has mixed it with the best in the business. He has the top rating of 160 and is sure to show a strong front running performance which will put the others to the sword with two to jump. Moreover, he ran a very credible third at Wincanton last time out beating Planet of Sound who lines up again here by about 12 lengths. He wont be too put out by the ground conditions but carrying top weight on this surface and track he will need to be at his very best.
3.05pm Handicap Hurdle 3m
Quite a few interesting runners here not least the Willie Mullins trained Inish Island and Rebecca Curtis trained At Fishers Cross, these look like progressing well over hurdles. However, I tipped a horse on this blogg a few weeks ago who was sent off at 25/1 and ran an absolute blinder for the Jennie Candlish yard only going down by a neck at this very track over the extended 3 mile trip. That horse lines up again here and I'm sure another big run is on the cards at what could be his favourite track. CROSS KENNON is an 8 year old who bounced back to form last time out, this Craigsteel bay gelding ran brilliantly and showed he's not scared of a battle up the Cheltenham hill back in November. It's easy to forget that this horse has been rated as high as 154 over hurdles and has the class to take this race. Carrying top weight is always difficult as mentioned previously but with soft ground form at Cheltenham and with such a good run last time out, I really find it hard not to give him a second chance. The jockey Alan O' keeffe has an excellent affiliation with this horse and with that patnership in tact I'm certain of another solid performance.
Good luck.
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