All Roads Lead To Cheltenham – Racing Review (Part 12)

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Racing Review and Cheltenham Festival 2014 Tips – With just over 2 weeks to the start of the Cheltenham Festival the tension, excitement and anticipation associated with the best four days of National Hunt racing is really beginning to ramp up.  With an eye to the Festival, the best of the past week’s racing action has been assessed here! 

 

 

 

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The breaking news that hit the racing headlines late on Sunday evening was that Sprinter Sacre will not defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown.  His trainer, Nicky Henderson, is not willing to send his stable superstar to Cheltenham when the horse isn’t 100% right.  The second piece of important news was the confirmation that the champ AP McCoy will ride My Tent Or Yours (9/2 Stan James – Champion Hurdle), and not Jezki (10/1 bet365 – Champion Hurdle), in the Champion Hurdle. 

 

Back to the racing and Activial (14/1 Coral – Triumph Juvenile Hurdle) built upon his promising British debut by pulling three and a half lengths clear in the BetBright Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.  The race winner saw his odds halved for the JCB Triumph Hurdle but trainer Harry Fry issued a note of caution about his participation at the Festival.  He finished second to live Cheltenham hope Calipto at Newbury in November, when the grey took time to build momentum but was going away at the finish.  Noel Fehily is said to have thought that Actival is 'not necessarily a Triumph horse', so a race at Aintree seems more likely, with Cheltenham perhaps coming too soon.  The race at Newbury is looking to be one of the best juvenile contests this season, which makes this horse, and the Paul Nicholls trained Calipto (6/1 William Hill – Triumph Juvenile Hurdle) noteworthy contenders.  He's got a great attitude, and looks to love to jump and gallop, so there is plenty to come from this horse. 

 

The BetBright Mobile Pendil Novices' Chase winner Balder Succes (20/1 Stan James – Arkle Chase) is set to skip Cheltenham.  Alan King's representative has easily transferred his strong hurdling form to fences and was making it two Grade 2 victories in a row after Warwick a fortnight earlier.  Wayne Hutchinson was happy to let things unfold in front of him and launched his challenge halfway down the home straight, eventually staying on a length and a quarter clear of the rallying God's Own.  He didn't seem to be ridden as aggressively as he has been which shows the horse is versatile.  Once again his jumping was electric, and he travelled well throughout the race.  Personally I’d love to see this horse in the Arkle – I think he has a real each way shout.  It seems the owners aren’t keen on going to Cheltenham though, so Aintree or Punchestown seem more likely. 

 

Nick Scholfield guided Irving (3/1 William Hill – Supreme Novices' Hurdle) to a comfortable victory on Saturday which propelled them to the head of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market.  The pair were always moving ominously well in their race and cruised effortlessly to the front before the last.  There was a very minor scare as Irving reached for the final hurdle but he was soon on an even keel and strolled five lengths clear of the Nick Williams trained Amore Alato.  This victory took his record over timber to four from four.  Despite handling the testing ground well, it seems that the horse will be better suited by faster ground and could well improve for a better surface. 

 

Wyck Hill (33/1 Coral – Grand National) gamely held off Smoking Aces to win the Betfred Eider Chase at Newcastle and provided owner JP McManus with a notable one-two.  Trained by David Bridgwater, McManus bought the winner almost a year ago to the day to run in the Kempton Park Chase in which  he was pulled up after suffering an injury.  There has only been one respectable run in that time, at the Punchestown Festival, forcing Bridgwater to search for some assistance in the form of a tongue-tie.  He travelled supremely well all the way for Tom Scudamore, and only came off the bridle after the last, when Smoking Aces plugged on but could only get within three-quarters of a length.  Ballypatrick was third with Safran De Cotte fourth.  It looks like the Grand National is the next challenge for this horse, adding another string to owner McManus’ bow.

 

The Ramblin Kid paid a compliment to David Pipe’s Red Sherlock (6/1 Ladbrokes – Neptune Novices' Hurdle) when springing a minor shock in the Betfred Goals Galore Novices' Hurdle. Beaten six lengths by the Neptune second-favourite at Wetherby, he may have been flattered there but looked to have benefited enormously for the initial experience over timber.  Venetia Williams' Panama Petrus was sent off favourite but jumped sloppily while Jonjo O'Neill's Ivy Gate appeared to have his stamina stretched, allowing Jason Maguire on Micky Hammond's 14-1 chance to come home seven lengths clear.  He's a half-brother to Riverside Theatre, and so potentially he's very exciting and looks like he could make a lovely chaser.

 

Caroline Keevil landed the biggest success of her training career as Bally Legend (20/1 bet365 – Bryne Group Plate) stayed on relentlessly to produce a 28-1 shock in the BetBright Chase.  Ian Popham's mount was being niggled a fair way out but always managed to stay in contention and swept to the front at the final fence.  The well-fancied Bury Parade kept going under pressure but could never get on terms and was a length and a quarter in arrears at the line, with front-running favourite Tour Des Champs a gallant third.  He has an entry in the Byrne Group Plate, but trainer Keevil was keen to say that ‘this race was the big plan and it might be a bit greedy going again at Cheltenham.’

 

Over in Ireland, Abbyssial (20/1 BetVictor – Triumph Juvenile Hurdle) made all to lead home a one-two for Willie Mullins in the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse.  Paul Townend's mount jumped well in the main, and the only danger going to two out was his stable-mate Adriana Des Mottes.  It seems the winner will only make a trip over to the Festival if the going is still as testing as it has been.  Otherwise, a trip over to France might be an option. 

Si C'etait Vrai (25/1 Ladbrokes – National Hunt Chase) made amends for his final fence mishap three weeks ago when taking the beginners chase at Fairyhouse, under Bryan Cooper.  He looks to be going to the four miler at the Festival, with trainer Dessie Hughes saying that he should stay the trip.  He looks a real staying type when you watch him in a race, and this race looks to be ideal for him.  Any type of ground will suit him too, so he is one to keep an eye out for come March. 

At Naas on Sunday, Mozoltov (201 William Hill – JLT Novices' Chase) survived a first-fence howler before predictably proving a different class to his two opponents in the Woodlands Park 100 Club Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase at Naas.  His Festival aim seems to be the JLT Novices' Chase, but his jumping is a concern.  The small field and lack of company in the race could be a valid excuse, however the Cheltenham track is very demanding and any jumping frailties will be punished.

Hot favourite Twinlight was a bitter disappointment as Days Hotel successfully defended his crown in the Paddy Power Your Local Betting Shop Chase.  The Willie Mullins trained Twinlight was strongly fancied to bounce back from a poor showing behind Captain Chris at Kempton in January, but he put in a similarly flat as he trailed home a well-beaten last of three under Ruby Walsh.  Henry de Bromhead's Days Hotel was last seen finishing fourth behind the now Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Sire De Grugy in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.  He jumped well for jockey Andrew Lynch and stayed on dourly in the testing conditions to score by five and a half lengths. 

 
 
 

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Thatsbettingtips Staff

Thatsbettingtips Staff

Content Contributor at Thatsbettingtips.com
The team behind the betting tips, offers and promotions at tipster website thatsbettingtips.com.

Thatsbettingtips Staff

The team behind the betting tips, offers and promotions at tipster website thatsbettingtips.com.