AUTHOR: Star Sports Content
STAR RACING PREVIEW: Cheltenham Festival Thursday
Day 2 started so well with The New Lion’s victory in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, although Dancing City’s disappointment was a blow and seconds in both the Coral Cup and Grand Annual were blows, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.
Step forward Jody Townend to save the day with a brilliant ride on Bambino Fever, who performed exceptionally well to come from behind and take the Champion Bumper off a slow gallop, meaning a small profit on the day!
The story of the day however, was Marine Nationale’s Champion Chase win, one of the most emotional wins at the Festival for many a year – followed up by Jazzy Matty’s win in the Grand Annual.
There’s a ton of great content we have to offer – take a look at our best features below – and then analysis of all seven races. Be lucky and enjoy it!
⭐ CLICK HERE FOR DAVY RUSSELL’S FEATURE RACE PREVIEWS ⭐
⭐ CLICK HERE FOR PDF STATS GUIDE WITH HARRY SKELTON AND DAVY RUSSELL ⭐
⭐ CLICK HERE FOR HARRY SKELTON’S STABLE TOUR ⭐
⭐ CLICK HERE FOR HARRY SKELTON: SIX HORSES THAT MADE ME ⭐
1:20 – Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB) (Class 1) (4yo+) 2m1f (2m179y)
Gavin Cromwell has enjoyed a stellar week, and it could get even better with Sixandahalf. A high-quality flat horse – she was third in last year’s Irish Cambridgeshire off a mark of 88 – she hurdled brilliantly when slamming Qualimita and Kimi De Mai by 11 lengths on her debut at Fairyhouse, eased down in the final half furlong. She’s light on hurdling experience but was incredibly slick on her debut and has been professional enough to deal with the hustle and bustle of an Irish Cesarewitch, so today’s field is no concern – and Keith Donoghue has already proven himself time and again at navigating Cheltenham. All being equal, she will take a serious amount of beating.
The market has adjusted in the last two weeks, with juvenile Galileo Dame the correct second favourite. Second in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival (a big step forward from her debut at Leopardstown over Christmas), she now takes advantage of the 10lbs 4yo allowance, which could be crucial here (ignore the 0-8 record of 4yos, all of whom were 20-1 or bigger with six as no hopers), and as a strong stayer on the flat the New Course might well suit.
Willie Mullins has to be respected here although the percentage call is to take on his squad. Maughreen, whose dam is a half-sister to dual Festival winner Faugheen, has won a bumper and a maiden hurdle at Punchestown with relative ease but she’s achieved much less in her hurdle win than Sixandahalf and Gaileo Dame have, and whilst improvement is coming, she has much more to prove than either of those contenders.
Stablemate Aurora Vega bounced back from a blip in October to take back to back wins at Fairyhouse including a Grade 3 in January, when her stablemates bombed out. She hit the line well on both occasions and could be suited by the new course so looks and each/way player. Talented French bumper horse Karoline Banbou improved from her Irish debut (beaten ½ length by Baby Kate) to win easily at Fairyhouse, but this test is much harder and the ground will be very different. She’s respected but improvement is mandatory.
Magic McColgan and Karamoja both won last time out, which Magic McColgan impressing more considering how she jumped left at the last two flights. Both will need to step up
Venusienne had a subsequent Irish maiden hurdle winner just behind when runner-up at Auteuil in September 2023 (2m2f, very soft) and it’s notable that she starts out here for connections, but the form isn’t compelling and she will surely be better for this.
The home challenge is intriguing. Diva Luna beat Jubilee Alpha in the Grade 2 bumper for mares at Aintree last April, but has arguably been outperformed by Jubilee Alpha over hurdles, considering that the latter mentioned horse was third in a Listed hurdle on debut and has since won twice in impressive style.
Just A Rose is a fascinating contender, having bolted up at Taunton on her rules debut, although she was left with nothing to beat when the favourite bombed out. Nevertheless, she goes straight here which speaks volumes to her reputation and she clearly has an engine, even if untested.
2:00 – Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) 2m4½f (2m4f127y)
Race planners have been rewarded with an uber competitive race filled with a strong level of quality and two from the top of the weights stand out. Firefox danced every dance as a novice hurdler and has run creditably in the Drinmore, Racing Post Novice Chase, and Irish Arkle. 150 is a very fair rating and with a clear run he’ll be bang there.
Springwell Bay leads the weights but deservedly so, having finished a hugely creditable second to Arkle winner Jango Baie over that horse’s preferred trip (gave 8lbs), before romping to victory in a Premier Handicap here on New Year’s day. His 9lbs rise for a nine length win (possibly had even more than that in hand) is very fair and he can be seriously involved, with those two likely to take the beating.
Trials Day winner Moon D’Orange, Answer To Kayf, Pic Roc and Caldwell Potter all made the most appeal of the others.
2:40 – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) 3m (2m7f213y)
Plenty of plots but not that many jump out. Will The Wise is arguably improving fastest although he was walloped for his Naas qualifier win and will need to have improvement under the bonnet if he’s to deft that rise. Win Some Lose Some beat a competitive field at Leopardstown’s Christmas festival including the consistent Feet Of A Dancer and he eed to be taken seriously along with Catch Him Derry, the winner of the Exeter qualifier in clear cut style last time. 6lbs for that seems reasonable when compared with some of the other qualifiers.
At a bigger price, Doddiethegreat is interesting. He’d been disappointing for a year but was back to form when chasing home One Big Bang at Haydock, and with a first-time tongue-tie here he could step forward again.
3:20 – Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) 2m4½f (2m4f127y)
The presence of this race has been under scrutiny for many, but we do have a fascinating renewal here with leading contenders from Ireland and France heading the market. Fact To File’s peak performances, including a game win in the John Durkan at Punchestown in November, give him a standout chance but he’s finished weakly over 3 miles the last twice, with his latest effort in the Irish Gold Cup perhaps a little disappointing given that he’d settled much better off a slower gallop compared to the Savils Chase (well ahead of Heart wood), and despite that was still beaten by Grangeclare West.
He would want to finish more strongly here to justify short odds, especially given that Il Est Francais is sure to attempt to make this a major test. On his best form – namely his two brilliant efforts at Kempton over the last two years – it’ll be some effort to catch him but he needs to handle Cheltenham and show his best under pressure – he has suffered high profile blowouts at Auteil twice in the last year and if tested early that would be a worry.
Protektorat is a veteran now but he was brilliant when beating Envoi Allen last year and has been coming to his best over the season, improving for his first two runs (carried monster weight in Ryanair; didn’t go right handed when second to Djelo in Peterborough, giving 6lbs) before smashing Djelo in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor in January. Repeating that form – which was a near match with his performances in the spring of last season – would put him right in the thick of things, and with no worries over his suitability for this test, he makes strong value appeal here. What’s more, following Harry Skelton’s winner yesterday – Star Sports have boosted him to 13/2 – which is generous given his reliability.
Djelo has to be respected – he bounced back to take the Denman Chase at Newbury, albeit a weak renewal – and Jungle Boogie is a fascinating contender here on the form of last year’s Gold Cup win and his easy Ascot win in December.
Envoi Allen was a cracking second in this last year and showed he still has it when he landed a ninth Grade 1 in the Down Royal Champion Chase, so has to be respected for all that Protektorat had his measure last season. Master Chewy doesn’t appeal at this trip and Hang In There doesn’t look good enough.
4:00 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) 3m (2m7f213y)
Last year’s winner Teauphoo sets the standard here, although it is not insurmountable on ratings and he may want slightly more cut in the ground. He’s the horse to beat though and it’s hard to put anyone off him – if you think he’s too good, then betting without him is recommended, in what is an open looking race.
The big each/way value has gone from The Wallpark – he’s now a best of 9/2 at the time of writing – but everything else is very much in his favour here and the return to Cheltenham, especially The New Course, should be a huge benefit for JP McManus’s charge.
Rapidly progressive in handicaps, he gave 4lbs and a two and a half length beating to Gowel Road (since second to Lucky Place in the Reelkeel and a game winner of the Cleeve Hurdle) before his fourth in the Long Walk Hurdle, when he flew home off a slow pace where the gallop only lifted after the fourth last. Eight coming into the straight, he did well to be beaten only three and a half lengths at the line, and the longbusting finish on the New Course – and hopefully a more even gallop – should give him a fine chance. He’s worth supporting to possibly upset his stablemate.
Lucky Place, a game winner of the Reelkeel Hurdle last time, looks like the biggest threat. He was strongest at the finish then and shapes as if he’ll improve for it, and is marginally favoured over Home By The Lee, who has looked better than ever this season at the age of 10.
Rocky’s Diamond and Nemean Lion are best of the outsiders here and look overpriced at current odds. Rocky’s Diamond has taken a huge leap forward up in trip this season, finishing third behind Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger in Grade 1 Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m7f, yielding) in December before he won the Grade 2 Galmoy at Gowran Park (3m, soft to heavy) in January. He improved his jumping between those two starts and has only had six runs, four of them at this trip, so a big step forward would be no surprise.
Nemean Lion has been thriving all season and made it four wins in this campaign when he battled hard to take the Star Sports National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell last time, once again finding bundles for pressure and hitting the line hardest/ He’s worth a crack at this trip, is as reliable as they come and should be keeping on when others have cried enough.
Bob Olinger looks likely to be outstayed here, Crambo didn’t go on from the Long Walk Hurdle one again.
4:40 – TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) 2m4½f (2m4f127y)
Sure to be fast and furious, although none of the contenders’ leap of the page. The way Jagwar won on Trials Day was incredibly impressive and he’s sure to go well although runner up Billytherealbigread disappointed at Newbury afterwards, he’s closely matched with Masacio and there’s no value in his price.
Thecompanysergant is well liked and has been well planned here although the market has now found him too. Stablemate Path D’Oroux is of interest at a decent price stepped up in trip, but the best chance may belong to Jordans, who has been a rapid improver for Joesph O’Brien since arriving from France, winning a Grade 3 in October and then finishing a creditable second in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Ann Peann Dearg was very impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival and has coped with this trip well in the past, albeit in lesser company.
Gemirande was so impressive in the December Gold Cup but has disappointed twice since given that he was well treated for that victory and a couple of veterans – Fugitif and Shakem Up’Arry – look better outsiders. Fugitif loves it around here even if he’s not dropped quickly down the weights and Shakem Up’Arry led them a merry dance in this season and is just 2lbs higher, albeit after not showing much since.
5:20 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (Spon By Thames Materials) (GBB) (Class 2) (5yo+ 0-145)3m2f
The percentage call is to take on favourite Walking On Air, who has been backed into 10/3 favouritism. He was running a great race when falling at the last in the Great Yorkshire Chase but he needs to back up that run here and is going 2 furlongs further. Johnnywho’s jumping is a concern here even if he has potential and a decent engine, whilst Sa Majeste must be given a decent chance for Willie and Patrick Mullins, but the best form here is Midnight Our Fred’s Paddy Power Chase second.
The winner that day Perceval Legaollis was one of Ireland’s most consistent handicap chasers beforehand, fourth Nick Rockett has won a Thyestes and Bobbyjo since, Will Do was second in the National Trial and third in the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday whilst Three Card Brag broke his chasing duck at Navan and was third to a pair of stablemates who ran in the Brown Advisory.
He has to be backed on that form – and he’s also a proven course performer to boot – whilst Yeah Man is also picked for the Cromwell team. He was a slight disappointment in the Thyestes but he was a fine third in the Troytown on his seasonal debut and was going well when unseating in the Grand National trial. Forgiving that is easy at this price and he’s worth an each/way cut at 16/1.
The others on the shortlist were Git Maker and Nine Graces, both of whom should be involved.
RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Sixandahalf to win the 1.20 at Cheltenham 2pts at 11/4 (⭐
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BACK Firefox to win the 2.00 at Cheltenham 1pt win at 7/2 (⭐
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BACK Springwell Bay to win the 2.00 at Cheltenham 1pt each/way at 13/2 (⭐
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BACK Protektorat to win the 3.20 at Cheltenham 1pt each/way at 13/2 (boosted from 11/2) (⭐
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BACK The Wallpark to win the 4.00 at Cheltenham 1 pt at 9/2 (⭐
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BACK Midnight Our Fred to win the 5.20 at Cheltenham 1 pt at 5/1 (⭐
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BACK Yeah Man to win the 5.20 at Cheltenham 1 pt each/way at 12/1 (⭐
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PROFIT/LOSS (MAR 2024): -6.06 POINTS
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