DAVY RUSSELL: Festive Reflections

Davy Russell reflects on the best of the Festive racing with an eye on big prizes at the Cheltenham Festival…

I’m after spending the last few days doing TV in Ireland for some special racing. I suppose the big takeaway was the blistering form of Gordon (Elliott) and his team – he has his horses in some form. And, his riders are riding out of their skin too – Jack (Kennedy), Sam (Ewing) and Jordan (Gainford), all take a bow. Anyway, here are a few horses to take out of the last few days (from both sides of the Irish Sea) ahead of Cheltenham in March…

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🏇 EL CAIROS – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

I was hugely impressed by this lad in the Maiden Hurdle on St Stephens’ Day despite taking a tumble at the last with the race in the bag. That was some acceleration he showed to put the race to bed approaching the final flight and he has some future ahead. I can see why he’s nearly favourite for the Supreme Novices’ and he’s exciting.

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🏇 ROMEO COOLIO – Arkle Chase

Plenty are second guessing on the back of Gordon’s comments after his workmanlike win over Irish Panther that he will now step up in trip and go for the Brown Advisory Chase over three miles in Cheltenham. I wouldn’t be so sure as that’s one hell of a jump and when the dust settles, I expect to see him back in the Arkle picture.

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🏇 SIR GINO – Champion Hurdle

Don’t underestimate the training performance by Nicky Henderson to get Sir Gino back to anywhere near the form he showed to win the Christmas Hurdle in Kempton. The Champion Hurdle market looks wide-open, but I’d say Sir Gino is the one to beat now with plenty more improvement to come.

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🏇 WODHOOH – Mares Hurdle

She made it 9 out of 10 over hurdles in Leopardstown despite the tape on a bandage coming loose in the straight. She will head to Cheltenham now and it will be interesting to see her against either Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead (or both) should they turn up in the Mares race too.

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🏇 FINAL DEMAND – Brown Advisory Chase

He looks to be an absolute monster of a horse and won pretty easy in Limerick. That said, I wasn’t overly impressed with his performance but there is way more to come from him and he will continue to improve.

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🏇 MARINE NATIONALE – Champion Chase

There is no doubt in my mind that Marine Nationale is the best two-miler around after his unlucky defeat at the hands of Solness. He did extremely well to overcome what happened to him halfway through the race and he will be the one to beat in Cheltenham again.

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🏇 JANGO BAIE – Gold Cup

He was the big stand out for me in the King George despite the fact that he only finished fourth. We know he has plenty of speed and the fact that he proved he stays three miles now is a huge plus. Last year’s Arkle winner will surely now go down this route. Gaelic Warrior won’t be far away now either, nor will the winner The Jukebox Man. It promises to be one of the races of the Festival.

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Good Luck
Davy

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