Cheltenham Festival Previews

Cheltenham Festival Preview

Date: Sunday 3rd March 2013

Venue: Ditcheat Village Hall, Ditcheat, Somerset.

Panel: Anthony Bromley, David Minton (Highflyer Bloodstock) & Paul Nicholls.

Once again, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Million In Mind Open Day at Paul Nicholls’ yard last Sunday and, having seen a parade of the champion trainer’s principal Festival contenders, I joined Anthony Bromley, David Minton and Paul on a panel to discuss the major races at the Festival. I have highlighted each panel member’s most interesting observations/suggestions.

Day 1 - Tuesday

ANTHONY BROMLEY
Anthony had been talking to Gordon Elliott and the Irishman believes CARLITO BRIGANTE is well treated over fences and is strongly fancied for the novice handicap chase which concludes the opening day. Look out, too, for TONER D’OUDAIRIES who holds eight entries at the Festival. The six year old was narrowly denied in last year’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap hurdle. MA FILLEULE missed an engagement at Doncaster last Saturday due to an abscess in a foot but she will run at the Festival. There is a possibility she will join stablemate Une Artiste in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle.

PAUL NICHOLLS
Ruby Walsh feels JEZKI is the one to beat in the Supreme Novice Hurdle and he is also keen on ARABELLA BOY in the Cross Country event. Paul stated there is reportedly a lot of confidence behind OUR MICK’s chance in the JLT Speciality Chase.

Day 2 – Wednesday

ANTHONY BROMLEY
Charlie Longsdon feels PENDRA is crying out for a step up in trip and has a leading chance in the Coral Cup.

DAVID MINTON
There is plenty of confidence behind TAQUIN DU SEUIL’s challenge in the Neptune NH. Expect Nicky Henderson to step the unbeaten CHATTERBOX up in trip here. He reportedly worked very well recently and is in great form at home.

PAUL NICHOLLS
Ruby Walsh feels PONT ALEXANDRE is his nap of the week. HAWKES POINT will run in the National Hunt Chase with Steven Clements on board. Considered a fair way in front of stablemate Keppols Hill, he stays and jumps and could run well at a big price. BLACK THUNDER may not be the best handicapped horse in the yard but he is likely to run in the Coral Cup. FASCINO RUSTICO has had a wind operation since finishing fourth at the Paddy Power meeting. He needs good ground and will run in the Festival bumper if conditions are suitable. The Milan gelding worked well with Wonderful Charm at Kempton last month.

Day 3 – Thursday

ANTHONY BROMLEY
CAPTAIN CONAN wasn’t suited by being held up at Sandown last time and is likely to race prominently in the Jewson Novice Chase. He is still in the Arkle though and worked well over the weekend.

PAUL NICHOLLS
DOMTALINE (needs good ground) and POQUELIN are likely to run in the Byrne Group Plate, while HARRY THE VIKING could line up in the Kim Muir provided the ground is good.

Day 4 – Friday

ANTHONY BROMLEY

Willie Mullins has reportedly been aiming BALLYCASEY at the Albert Bartlett NH all season. UTOPIE DES BORDES has a live each-way chance and will appreciate the step up to three miles. Only small, she is very tough and still improving.

DAVID MINTON

ROLLING STAR has improved enormously since his win in the Finesse Hurdle at Cheltenham in January. Nicky Henderson’s gelding did an unbelievable piece of work over the weekend ahead of his tilt at the Triumph Hurdle. LONG RUN schooled brilliantly in cheekpieces last week. Nicky Henderson is expected to have six runners in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual and he believes ANQUETTA is his best chance.

PAUL NICHOLLS

Despite failing to win either of his two starts over timber, LAC FONTANA is likely to take his chance in the Triumph Hurdle. Unsuited by the steady early gallop in the Dovecote Novice Hurdle at Kempton, he could easily run into a place granted a strong pace. The yard will have two runners in the Foxhunters’ Chase. CHAPOTURGEON finished a length second behind Salsify last year. His rider Jack Barber has improved and he is the one to beat. TRICKY TRICKSTER broke his neck at Uttoxeter two years ago but following plenty of time off and box rest, he came back and won at Huntingdon. Ffos Las came too soon ten days later but I had to run him to qualify him for the Foxhunters and he finished second. He is mad fresh now and, granted decent ground, he will go very close. SALUBRIOUS will run in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle and is in great form at home. He likes good ground, too. Ruby Walsh thinks AT FISHERS CROSS will be the one to beat in the Albert Bartlett NH. He finished behind him at Newbury’s Hennessy meeting aboard Salubrious. Ruby also thinks the better the ground, the better SIR DES CHAMPS will jump in the Gold Cup.

FESTIVAL NAPS

Paul Nicholls​SAM WINNER (Pertemps)​

Anthony Bromley​DYNASTE (Jewson or RSA Chase) & SAM WINNER

David Minton​MEGALYPOS (Fred Winter)

Before the Preview, Paul Nicholls gave his thoughts on the following during the parade of his stars:

DODGING BULLETS (Supreme Novice Hurdle): “Despite finishing fourth in the Triumph Hurdle, he struggled with his breathing last season. We therefore operated on his wind and he has improved significantly. Twice a winner at Cheltenham, he then finished third in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on ground which was too soft. He wants an end to end gallop and being, rated 156, he is higher than both Noland and Al Ferof when they won the Supreme Novice Hurdle. I think he will go very well and he is my each-way nap of the Festival.”

FAR WEST (Triumph Hurdle): “One of my favourite horses in the yard, he has won four out of four since joining us from France. Despite the fact he had been working quite well, he surprised us a bit when winning by twelve lengths at Chepstow on his first run. Twice a winner at Cheltenham, we didn’t intend taking him to Ascot last month and it was very much an afterthought. However, he overcame a slow gallop and beat River Maigue by two and a half lengths. Ruby (Walsh) was very excited afterwards and said he didn’t realise he had such a turn of foot. Similar to Zarkandar, he jumps, stays and has speed. He works with Zarkandar and makes him look slow. An exciting horse, he has a huge chance in the Triumph Hurdle.”

SAPHIR DU RHEU (Fred Winter): “Third at Auteuil in September, we bought him shortly afterwards. When we sent him to Newbury for his first run for us, he hadn’t done a great deal of schooling and got tired in the latter stages. Reappearing at Taunton in early January, he hosed up and Ruby was very impressed. We have purposely saved him for this since and he did a great piece of work on Saturday. A big scopey horse, he will make a lovely chaser one day. Granted a bit of cut in the ground, I think he will go very well indeed. We also have PTIT ZIG in the race. He was impressive at Ludlow and there isn’t a great deal between the pair, judged on their homework. I would slightly favour Saphir Du Rheu though.”

SAM WINNER (Pertemps): “A high-class juvenile a couple of seasons ago, he won twice at Cheltenham prior to finishing fourth in the Triumph Hurdle behind Zarkandar and Grandouet. We then sent him chasing but he fell twice and it resulted in him having a screw inserted into a fractured knee. He was only half fit when reappearing at Sandown in a Pertemps qualifier in December and was carrying top weight. He stayed on strongly that day and Ruby said don’t run him over hurdles again until Cheltenham in order to protect his mark. We ran him in one of those jumpers’ bumpers at Kempton and he did it nicely beating Peddlers Cross by a couple of lengths. Rated 140, I think he is on a very fair mark because it wouldn’t surprise me if he is 150+ next season and competing in the leading staying hurdles. He has got a massive chance.”

SILVINIACO CONTI (Cheltenham Gold Cup): “A wonderful horse who doesn’t show a lot at home. Unbeaten in three races this season, he won the Charlie Hall Chase in good style before beating Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. It wasn’t the plan to make the running because we thought Long Run would lead. I was delighted with his win in the Denman Chase at Newbury and he worked extremely well last weekend. He has improved physically since last season having strengthened up a lot and is a different horse now.”

ULCK DU LIN (Grand Annual Chase): “He has had a great season winning handicaps at Newbury and Ascot with his official rating rising from 126 to 146. We have purposely kept him for the Grand Annual since he won at Ascot before Christmas. Despite his rise in the weights, he remains on a workable mark. Only five, he has a bright future and is capable of further improvement. I only hope the ground isn’t too quick by the last day of the Festival because he enjoys a bit of ease underfoot.”

UNIONISTE (Jewson or RSA Chase): “A half-brother to My Will, he has done very well for a young horse winning a valuable handicap chase at Cheltenham as a four year old. The decision to run at Newbury last time was something of an afterthought and he was far from fully wound up. Despite that, he still won and has improved enormously since. The ground will determine his target – if it is soft, he could go for the Jewson, otherwise he will head for the RSA Chase over three miles. I think he is a very nice horse who will be competing in Grade 1 events next season.”

WONDERFUL CHARM (Coral Cup or World Hurdle): “We rushed him during the Autumn to run him in the Persian War Novice Hurdle at Chepstow. Even though he won, we weren’t happy with him and Ruby said he made a noise. We therefore operated on his wind the following day and he is a different horse now. He looks and works so much better. Officially rated 149, the plan was to run him in the Coral Cup. However, Georgie rode him work on Saturday and described him as a weapon and said we must run him in the World Hurdle. I am not keen to run him over three miles on testing ground because I am not certain he will stay but otherwise we are giving it serious consideration. I think he is a very good horse who will make a smart chaser next season.”

ZARKANDAR (Champion Hurdle): “Fifth in the Champion Hurdle last year, he was never right last season even though he won the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Unbeaten in three races this time, he is never flashy and only just does enough. The ground was soft enough in the Kingwell Hurdle last time but I am hoping there is plenty of ease in the ground on Tuesday because it will bring his stamina into play. I don’t think there is a great deal between the top four or five in the betting. Tactics will play there part but we will be sitting handily and I suspect Noel Fehily will be, too, aboard Rock On Ruby. He worked very well on Saturday and I couldn’t be happier with his preparation.”
 
Talking Trainers
DAVID PIPE
Stables: Pond House, Nicholashayne, Somerset
2012/13: 90 Winners from 506 Runners 18% Prize-Money £821,721

BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 7 b g Shantou (USA) – Simply Deep (IRE)
Entered in six races at the Festival, his target is either the Byrne Group Plate on Thursday. He won very nicely on his first start for us at Warwick but he needs to back that performance up, which is something he hasn’t done in the past. The handicapper has raised him twenty one pounds over fences and fourteen over hurdles, which wasn’t surprising but, having said that, we needed a big hike in the weights to ensure we got a run at Cheltenham. He appears to have come out of the Warwick race in good form but, until they run again, you never know. I have been pleased with his preparation though.

BUDDY BOLERO (IRE) 7 b g Accordion – Quinnsboro Ice (IRE)
An out an out galloper, he goes for the National Hunt Chase on Wednesday and I am expecting him to run very well indeed. Improving with every race, we adopted a slow approach with him last season and it is paying dividends. Unbeaten in two runs over fences, he could improve again for the step up in trip and, even though he has been running on soft/heavy ground, he is bred to appreciate a sounder surface. A full brother to Festival winner Finger On the Pulse, he will be ridden on Wednesday by leading Irish amateur Jamie Codd.

CLOSE HOUSE 6 b g Generous (IRE) – Not Now Nellie
He goes for the Pertemps Final on Thursday and I think he has a rock solid chance. His rating of 143 looks fair and I expect him to improve for the step up to three miles for the first time. Having finished second at the Paddy Power meeting in November, we ran him in a Pertemps qualifier at Wincanton on Boxing Day, which he duly won. We have kept him fresh since and this has been the target for some time. He has his quirks but he produced a cracking performance in the Neptune Investments NH at the Festival last season considering he lacked experience finishing fourth.

DAN BREEN (IRE) 8 b g Mull of Kintyre (USA) – Kunuz
Back over hurdles this season, he has been placed on all three starts. I thought he ran very well last time in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot finishing third. We have given him a good break and he will run in the County Hurdle on Friday. Three pounds higher than his last run, his preparation has gone well.

DOCTOR HARPER (IRE) 5 b g Presenting – Supreme Dreamer (IRE)
He could run in the Festival bumper having won both his starts at Taunton and Sandown. We will find out how good he is but he has done nothing wrong and battled on well at Sandown last time. Having travelled well, he showed a good attitude in the latter stages. He is a nice prospect for the future.

DYNASTE (FR) 7 gr g Martaline – Bellissima De Mai (FR)
Unbeaten in three races over fences this season, he has looked impressive on each occasion. He quickened up off a slow pace to win first time out at Cheltenham in November over two and a half miles and certainly doesn’t lack speed. Last time out, he proved stamina isn’t an issue either by winning the Feltham Novice Chase at Kempton by nine lengths. He worked very well on Monday and, whichever race he contests, he will take the beating.

GEVREY CHAMBERTIN (FR) 5 gr g Dom Alco (FR) – Fee Magic (FR)
He will run on Friday in either the Albert Bartlett NH or my father’s race. I am favouring the latter option at the moment even though it will be tough following a fifteen pounds rise for his win at Wincanton last time. It was a poor race and his main danger disappointed. I don’t know whether his reputation had something to do with it being a full-brother to Grands Crus but it seemed a harsh rise. Having said that, we have always thought he was a very nice horse and I think he will improve when stepping up to three miles in time. We considered taking him to Haydock last month for a Grade 2 novice hurdle but the ground was testing and I didn’t want him to have an unduly hard race so close to the Festival. He is in great form at home and I am very pleased with him.

GOULANES (IRE) 7 b g Mr Combustible (IRE) – Rebolgiane (IRE)
A winning Irish pointer, he is in a similar mould to Buddy Bolero in that stamina is his strong suit. His owner Roger Brookhouse is keen for him to go for the RSA Chase. Lightly raced, he produced a very good performance to win the Grade 2 Towton Novice Chase at Wetherby on his chasing debut. I thought it was a decent effort because Super Duty had some useful form. I am hoping the ground will be on the soft side because he wants every yard of three miles and needs a stamina test.

HIS EXCELLENCY (IRE) 5 ch g King’s Best (USA) – Road Harbour (USA)
He is entered in the Arkle and Grand Annual and it is possible he will line up in both. The Arkle is likely to be a small field which is an advantage. Bought for 30,000gns last August, he has been a good acquisition winning at Cheltenham in October and being placed on three other occasions, including in the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novice Chase at Warwick last time. Although he is effective on any ground, he is probably at his best on decent ground and there is no doubt he is a talented horse on his day.

JUNIOR 10 ch g Singspiel (IRE) – For More (FR)
This will be his fifth Cheltenham Festival winning the Kim Muir Chase a couple of years ago. He has been running well over fences this season winning the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and finishing fourth in the Denman Chase at Newbury last time. The plan is for him to go back over hurdles, because he is rated ten pounds lower, and run in the Pertemps Final on Thursday.

KAZLIAN (FR) 5 b g Sinndar (IRE) – Quiet Splendor (USA)
He ran very well in the Imperial Cup on Saturday finishing third and may have finished closer had he not made a mistake at the second last. It was his first run since having a wind operation and it was good to see him return to form. Earlier in the season, he didn’t have the ideal preparation prior to the Racing Post Hurdle at Cheltenham in November and then disappointed at Ascot in the Ladbroke Hurdle. We purposely gave him a long break after that. While he didn’t look short of speed in the Fred Winter Hurdle at the Festival last year, I have always felt he would improve for a step up in trip. I will see how he is after his run on Saturday before deciding whether he runs again this week

NO SECRETS (IRE) 9 b g King’s Theatre (IRE) – Happy Native (IRE)
The JLT Specialty or Kim Muir Chase is his target but he isn’t certain to get in. He has had one or two issues with his jumping in the past but they appear to have been resolved and he is improving. Twice at winner at Taunton and Wetherby, this represents a big step up in class but he is going the right way.

POOLE MASTER 8 ch g Fleetwood (IRE) – Juste Belle (FR)
Entered in four races at the meeting, he has been dropped five pounds since his last run over fences at Kelso. We decided to change tactics that day and hold him up but it didn’t work. He wasn’t suited by going right-handed at Carlisle on his chasing debut either. The softer the ground the better and we know he is a very capable horse when he puts his best foot forward.

PROBLEMA TIC (FR) 7 b g Kapgarde (FR) – Atreide (FR)
We have given him a couple of entries and his most likely target is the Kim Muir on Thursday. Having run well at Cheltenham’s Paddy Power meeting on his reappearance, he fell in the Becher Chase at Aintree. It took him a while to get over that and I think he was ring rusty on his return to action at Warwick last month behind Ballynagour. Plus, it was a strongly run race and he was taken off his feet. He will appreciate the return to three miles and he seems to handle most types of ground. I think decent ground is ideal though. He appears to have come out of the Warwick race well and is in good form at home.

RONALDO DES MOTTES (FR) 8 b g Rifapour (IRE) – Gemma (FR)
Goes for the County Hurdle on Friday but he has disappointed in two visits to Cheltenham in the past. An encouraging fourth at Sandown on his return to action in January following a spell on the sidelines, he disappointed last time in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. I don’t know whether it was the bounce factor or he just had an off day. Unfortunately, the handicapper hasn’t dropped him either.

SWING BOWLER 6 b m Galileo (IRE) – Lady Cricket (FR)
The plan had always been to aim her at the County Hurdle but we haven’t totally ruled out the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle on Tuesday. Quevega will clearly be very tough to beat but there isn’t a great deal between the rest of the field. The step up in trip is an unknown but I am hopeful she will stay. Successful in her first five races, she won a good prize at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day before producing a career best in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury behind My Tent Or Yours. I was delighted with her there and she is in very good form at home. She seems to handle any ground and is improving.

TANERKO EMERY (FR) 7 b g Lavirco (GER) – Frequence (FR)
Entered in the Coral Cup, County Hurdle and my father’s race, he ran very well in the Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday finishing second. A three times winner this season, his rating has risen from 112 to 141 and he appears to be still improving. We intended going straight to Cheltenham following his win at Lingfield in December but his owner Dai Walters was keen for him to run in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las. His holiday was therefore cut short and, while he ran well to finish third, he was raised six pounds as a result. The ground was very testing at Ffos Las and he gave the impression he may not have quite got home. On better ground, I think he will stay.

THE LIQUIDATOR 5 b g Overbury (IRE) – Alikat (IRE)
He goes for the Festival bumper and, while the Irish will be tough to beat, he has some rock solid form. My father won the race in 2003 with Liberman and this horse reminds me of him. There is nothing flashy about him but he is tough and will handle the hustle and bustle of the race.

THE PACKAGE 10 br g Kayf Tara – Ardent Bride
The plan is for him to run in the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase on Tuesday. It will be the third time he has contested the race finishing a head second in 2010 and fourth last season. Despite being seven pounds higher this time, I think he will give a very good account of himself. He has had another good season winning the Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton and finishing fourth in the Hennessy. That form is rock solid and he is a pound lower. Disappointing over hurdles last time at Warwick, I thought he would win that day but perhaps he didn’t enjoy the very soft ground. We considered taking him to Doncaster last week but the ground dried out too much. We know he is a very good horse on his day.

VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) 4 ch g Sabiango (GER) – Indecise (FR)
We haven’t made a final decision whether he runs in the bumper but he must be good to have won three out of three. His winning time was very similar to The Liquidator on the same card at Exeter and he is improving with every run. Whether he runs at Cheltenham or not, he is a lovely prospect for next season.

ZAYNAR (FR) 8 gr g Daylami (IRE) – Zainta (IRE)
He will make his seasonal reappearance in the Byrne Group Plate on Thursday. He has had a problem this year hence he hasn’t run until now but is fine now and we all know he is a decent horse on his day. Twice a winner at Cheltenham in the past, he has a lot of ability and has been dropped four pounds since his last run.
MY BEST CHANCES OF THE WEEK: DYNASTE
 
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