Cheltenham Festival Preview

With the biggest week in jump racing just around the corner, our desk jockey’s preview some of the big races and try to find a few winners for you to get stuck into. All prices are correct as of 07/03/15.

Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) Tuesday March 10th @ 1:30pm:

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the traditional Festival curtain raiser. It is run over the Champion Hurdle course and distance of two miles and half a furlong. It is open to novices aged four years old and upwards.

Willie Mullins’ Douvan heads up the betting for the opening race. Having won it the past two years, with Champagne Fever and Vautour, Douvan looks likely to make it a hat-trick for the Walsh-Mullins-Ricci combo and could quite possibly be the best horse they have ever brought to Cheltenham. Perhaps a shade inexperienced, he has loads of natural ability and every question they ask of him, he answers and answers well. Last years Gold Cup winning jockey, Davy Russell, was reported to have said he’d walk from Dublin to Cheltenham naked if he got the chance to ride Douvan at the Festival. The Irish have won nine of the last thirteen runnings of this race and only Nicky Henderson’s L’Ami Serge looks able to cause an upset this year following powerful displays at Newbury and Ascot.

Our Winner: Douvan (7/4, Paddy Power)

Watch Out For: L’Ami Serge (7/2 Ladbrokes)

Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade 1) Tuesday March 10th @ 2:05pm:

This is the Champion Chase for novices. It is run over two miles and is open to horses aged five years old and upwards. The total prize fund is £150,000.

Another race which puts the Walsh-Mullins combo right in the frame, this time with the short priced Un De Sceaux. As the betting suggests, he looks miles better than any of the opposition. Unbeaten as a hurdler, he was considered by many to be a potential dark horse for last season’s Champion Hurdle, the only blemish on his record is a fall from a novice mistake first time out over fences this season. That has served as a stark reminder that the fences are there to be jumped, and he’s been foot-perfect in his two subsequent starts at Fairyhouse. He can be quite nerve racking to watch as he storms around and takes fences where he meets them and although it’s going to be tough for him coming up that hill he has every chance to win this well. Paul Nicholls’ Vibrato Valtat looks smart performer and has already shaped into a very useful chaser, winning on his first attempt over the larger obstacles when proving too strong for Thomas Crapper at Warwick, before finding only Dunraven Storm too strong next time at Cheltenham. Those looking for some value against the favourite could do worse than give him a second glance, and it would be no surprise to see him come second. Henry De Bromhead's Smashing can fill the places.

Our Winner: Un De Sceaux (8/13 Coral)

Watch Out For: Vibrato Valtat (5/1 Paddy Power)

E/W: Smashing (25/1 Ladbrokes)

Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) Tuesday March 10th @ 3.20pm:

The Champion Hurdle is the highlight of day one of the Cheltenham Festival and the most prestigious hurdle race run all season. It is open to horses aged four years old and upwards, and will carry a total prize fund of £400,000.

Featuring previous multiple Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly and last year’s winner Jezki, this is shaping up to be one of the best and most open races of the festival, despite what the betting may suggest. Faugheen, unbeaten in eight races under rules since joining Willie Mullins, including impressive victories in the Neptune at last year's Festival and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, is the short-priced favourite with connections and punters alike convinced he’ll do the business this year. However, I’m siding with Nigel Twiston-Davis’ The New One. He was severely hampered by a faller in this last year and came to a complete standstill in running, losing the best part of ten lengths before gallantly battling back under a magnificent Sam Twiston-Davis to finish three lengths shy of Jezki. Unbeaten in five outings since, he is reported to be in the form of his life and if anything is going to destabilise the Mullins band wagon it’s him. Both The New One and Faugheen are yet to show anything spectacular this year, having mainly beaten also-rans, so a clash between the two is much anticipated.

Our Winner: The New One (10/3 Ladbrokes)

Watch Out For: Faugheen (5/4 Betfair)

E/W Bet: Hurricane Fly (8/1 Paddy Power)

OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) Tuesday March 10th @ 4.00pm:

The Mares Hurdle is run over two miles four and a half furlongs. It is open to mares only, aged five and above. The total prize fund is £85,000.

Another race that has been dominated in recent years by Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins and their incredible six-time-winner Quevega and one that could wrap up the Top Trainer, Top Jockey and Top Owner prizes before the end of day one. The Rich Ricci owned Annie Power looked likely to head to the 3m World Hurdle before fitness became an issue after a long lay-off but she looks on course to wrap this one up easily after hitting every target set for her at home since her set-back.

Our Winner: Annie Power (8/13 Betway)

Watch Out For: Glens Melody (4/1 William Hill)

Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) Wednesday 11th March @ 1.30pm:

The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle is run over two miles and five furlongs. It is open to novices aged four years old and upwards. The total prize fund £120,000.

Yet another race centred around a Closutton trained horse. Nichols Canyon is a seriously smart novice hurdler already having won two Grade One’s this season, and his only disappointing run came when he unseated Ruby Walsh at Leopardstown over Christmas. He has both speed and stamina and could potentially be the owner’s new Inglis Drever although his jumping has to remain a concern, especially in a larger field of runners. Parlour Games also boasts strong claims in the race. John Ferguson’s charge has already won over course and distance back in November when beating the smart Blaklion in taking fashion and has done little wrong in his hurdling to date, winning four of his seven starts and finishing runner-up in two others with a poor run in the Galway Hurdle his only blot on an otherwise fine record. Windsor Park looks an improving sort over timber, making his belated hurdling debut at Leoparstown when beating Royal Caviar, and showing plenty of promise on his first try over obstacles when fourth to Outlander, before improving again to finish runner-up to Nichols Canyon. A winner on better ground on the flat, he may appreciate the likely faster surface at Cheltenham come Wednesday, and it will come as no surprise to see him firmly in the shake-up on the run to the line.

Our Winner: Nichols Canyon (4/1 Paddy Power)

Watch Out For: Parlour Games (6/1 William Hill)

RSA Chase (Grade 1) Wednesday March 11th @ 2.05pm:

The RSA Chase is run over three miles and half a furlong. It is open to novices aged five years old and upwards. The total prize fund in 2015 is £150,000.

The Gigginstown owned Don Poli looks to add to the Irish tally on day two and despite Willie Mullins preferring to run him in the 4 mile National Hunt Chase connections have opted for the RSA. He’s probably the best novice chaser in Ireland but he’ll have to face Coneygree, who’s rated 15lb higher than Denman when he won it as a novice in 2007, as well as David Pipe’s Kings Palace and Neil Mulholland's The Young Master, the mount of last year’s winning jockey Barry Geraghty. There’s also the potentially overpriced Southfield Theatre from the Paul Nicholl’s yard to contend with too. Coneygree, however, may still go to the Gold Cup but remains our NRMB selection. Kings Palace has been hugely impressive this season, winning twice at Cheltenham including over the RSA Chase trip. A wind operation over the summer seems to have unlocked further potential given the manner he has breezed to victory both times, but he is perhaps better suited to bullying smaller fields than the size of field he is likely to encounter in a race such as this. The Young Master won four in a row and put in a massive performance, defying a 14lbs rise in the handicap, to beat Hennessy runner Houblon Des Obeaux in fine style at Ascot.

Our Winner: Don Poli (5/2 Ladbrokes)

Watch Our For: Coneygree (4/1 Ladbrokes NRMB)

Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) Wednesday March 11th @ 3.20pm:

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is run over two miles. It is open to horses aged 5 years old and upwards. The total prize fund is £350,000.

The Champion Chase is always a spectacular race to watch and this year's Wednesday feature is filled with intrigue as former winners Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy bid to shrug off interrupted campaigns. Waiting to capitalise are progressive pair Dodging Bullets and Mr Mole, plus another old Cheltenham favourite in the form of Champion Bumper and Supreme Novices' Hurdle scorer Champagne Fever. There was no finer sight in racing than seeing the Black Aeroplane flying home to win by 19 lengths in this race two years ago, with Nicky Henderson's charge striding out majestically and jumping like a stag. The effortless manner of his 10 straight wins was a joy to behold, and I am one of many hoping that he can recapture some of that form and win back his crown. He raced a little freely early on in his return and appeared anxious to get on with things more than Barry Geraghty was prepared to allow but was still travelling better than anything, with the possible exception of Dodging Bullets, as they turned into the straight. Hopefully he’ll be back to somewhere near full fitness now and if he has 10% of the class he exhumed before his heart scare he’ll leave the rest for dust turning in. The people’s horse, Sire De Grugy, took full advantage of Sprinter Sacre's enforced absence to clean up in the 2m division last term, including a silky smooth win here twelve months ago. It was great to see him on a day out at West Wittering beach last week and the Moore team are an easy bunch for the majority of us regular, working class racing fans to get behind. He too has had a couple of setbacks this season but was visually impressive when blowing away the cobwebs with a nice win at Chepstow recently. He’ll be wearing white plastic shoes this time out as a result of a corn. Dodging Bullets has a habit of coming up short at the highest level in previous campaigns but really looks to have come of age this winter, staying on strongly to land the Tingle Creek at Sandown, which augurs well for going up the hill here, and he also wore down Sprinter Sacre at Ascot. Trainer Paul Nicholls thinks he should be favourite which goes a long way despite the Champion Trainer not having a chase win at the festival since Kauto Star in 2009. Champagne Fever could well be the dark horse of the Champion Chase. Originally set out for the Gold Cup his stamina was called into question after the King George and a step down in trip could be all that’s required for another win a the Cheltenham Festival. Beaten by a head in last years Arkle, Champagne Fever is reported to be a different horse at home and looks to be coming good at just the right time. He represents a bit of value from a formidable yard who can never be discounted at this meeting.

Our Winner: My heart says Sprinter Sacre (11/4 Ladbrokes) but my head says Sire De Grugy (10/3 Betway)

Watch Out For: Champagne Fever (6/1 Paddy Power)

JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1) Thursday March 12th @ 1.30pm:

The JLT Novices' Chase is run over two and a half miles. This race gives the leading novice chasers an additional middle distance opportunity between the Grade 1 Arkle Chase and the Grade 1 RSA Chase.The total prize-pool is £100,000.

Surprise, surprise, it’s another Walsh-Mullins-Ricci horse that makes our selection! This time it’s last year’s Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Vautour. He was sent over fences in order to keep Faugheen to hurdles and has shaped up to be a potential Gold Cup horse of the future. He looks to have returned to his old self after a defeat in December and can take this after an easy win in January. Any concerns Willie Mullins may have had over Vautour appeared to evaporate after the trainer expressed himself ‘very happy’ with how he worked over 1m 4f at Leopardstown last week. Pitt Zig is the main concern having ran well in some valuable handicaps under big weights before finishing sixth behind Jezki in the Champion Hurdle and then fourth to The New One at Aintree last season. The Paul Nicholls charge has been in sensational form this season, notching up four consecutive victories over fences before falling at Ascot. He should learn from that experience and it’s better to have fallen there than at the Festival.

Our Winner: Vautour (9/4 Coral)

Watch Out For: Ptit Zig (7/2 Coral)

Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) Thursday March 12th @ 2.40pm:

The Ryanair Chase is run over two miles and five furlongs. It is open to horses aged five years old and upwards. The total prize fund is £275,000.

Firstly, there’s no Cue Card or Dynaste this year, which opens this race right up. Gigginstown's Don Cossack heads the betting and looks to have a fantastic chance to win the race for Ireland for the first time. Gordon Elliot’s gelding has been hugely progressive this year, winning his last 4 races in good style and beating some high class horses. He showed fantastic resolution to draw back alongside Champagne Fever going to the last at Thurles last time out and had Champagne Fever not fallen at the last fence it is still likely that he would have come out on top. He will need all of that determination and more up the Cheltenham hill in March, but the way in which he has been finishing off his races over 2m4f against decent opposition can give us a good deal of confidence that he is up to the challenge. Taquin Du Seuil has strong course form, having won the JLT Novices Chase at last year’s festival. However, he had shown much more on the racecourse at this time last year and Jonjo O’Neill has been well out of form this season and to bring him right back to his best could prove difficult. Balder Success has looked a potential contender in recent times judged on some of his best runs over the past few seasons, not least in winning a Grade One novice chase at Aintree last year after bypassing the festival. He was very impressive at Kempton last time out in a Listed Chase, beating Fox Appeal and Hunt Ball in a race ridden to suit. Cheltenham doesn’t play to his strengths however and he has fallen or unseated on his last three runs there. For those believing in horses for courses, it would be hard to put this information to one side. Ma Filleule was a fine second of 23 behind Holywell in the 3m handicap chase 12 months ago before going on to crush 29 rivals in the Topham at Aintree. She began this season with a below-par effort at Down Royal but returned to form with a close third to Sam Winner at Aintree and lost nothing in defeat when second to Balder Succes in the Ascot Chase on Valentine's Day. Trainer Nicky Henderson is confident his charge will come on again for that run and jockey Barry Geraghty has been talking about his mount in bullish terms at a couple of Festival preview nights.

Our Winner: Don Cossack (7/2 Paddy Power)

Watch Out For: Ma Filleule (11/2 Paddy Power)

World Hurdle (Grade 1) Thursday March 12th @ 3.20pm:

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is run over three miles. It is open to horses aged four years old and upwards. The total prize fund is £275,000.

A race dominated by Paul Nicholls’ Big Bucks in the past and the owner/trainer combo team up with our selection Saphir Du Rheu in this renewal. After falling over fences at Kempton on Boxing day he relished being back over the smaller obstacles when edging out Reve De Sivola in the Cleeve Hurdle and Nicholls is convinced he can get him a lot fitter for the big day. Nicholls also runs Zarkandar, a horse I rate highly but feel is more suited to Aintree despite winning the Triumph back in 2011 and finishing fifth and fourth in the Champion Hurdle and then fourth in this contest twelve months ago, when given plenty to do. An emphatic Grade One victory at Auteuil in November dispelled any stamina doubts so he should be more prominent this time but he does need to keep his head down after idling in front when collared by Reve De Sivola in the Long Walk at Ascot.

Our Winner: Saphir Du Rheu (5/1 Paddy Power)

Watch Out For: Zarkandar (5/1 Paddy Power)

Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) Friday March 13th @ 3.20pm:

The Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup is run over three miles and three furlongs. It is open to horses aged five years old and upwards. The total prize fund for 2015 is £550,000.

This is the big one and I’m going to start with my selection, and probably favourite horse in training, Silviniaco Conti. He has a record of 14 wins from 24 races, including five Grade One victories and although I’m not entirely convinced he gets 3m 3f and the Cheltenham hill, his two King George victories at Kempton are rock-solid, with runners-up Cue Card and Dynaste both Ryanair Chase winners and he also had former Gold Cup hero Long Run soundly-beaten in one of his Betfair Chase successes at Haydock. Twice he has coped with the hustle and bustle of King George day at Kempton and there is also a Betfred Bowl victory at Aintree's Grand National Festival on his CV, so large crowds and big occasions don't faze him and apart from his fall at the third last when travelling well in the 2013 Gold Cup, there are no other serious blemishes on the nine-year-old's record and he has seemed more far more mature at the obstacles this season. If he’s going to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup it will be this year. Trainer Paul Nicholls has an incredible record in this race and he has total faith in Silviniaco Conti coming home in front if nothing untoward happens this time. As do I. There are, of course, some dangers. These come in the form of AP McCoy’s mount and final Gold Cup ride Carlingford Lough, the highly respected Coneygree, Oliver Sherwood’s Many Clouds and Willie Mullins dark horse Djakadam not to mention previous winners Bobs Worth and Lord Windermere. But I’m sticking to my guns on this one despite the fact that most sceptics will undoubtedly point out his 0-3 record around Cheltenham and the superstitious will say Friday the 13th is no time to be lumping on a big-race favourite. But if you go off what you have seen with your own eyes this season, Silviniaco Conti is a cut above the rest of the Gold Cup field and can set the record straight this year.

Our Winner: Silviniaco Conti (10/3 Paddy Power)

Watch Our For: Djakadam (10/1 William Hill)

E/W Bet: The Giant Bolster

Fancy winning some big money at the Cheltenham Festival? Here's a few accumulators we've picked out for you to win big on:

Our Reccomendations:

Douvan @ 7/4

Un De Sceaux @ 4/7

The New One @ 10/3

Annie Power @ 4/7

Nicols Canyon @ 4/1

Don Poli @ 9/4

Sprinter Sacre/Sire Du Grugy @ 5/2

Don Cossack @ 7/2

Saphir Du Rheau @ 5/1

Vautour @ 2/1

Silviniaco Conti @ 10/3

A £1 e/w accumulator on our tipped horses with Paddy Power returns: £587655.09

Willie Mullins' Magnificent Seven:

Douvan @ 7/4

Un De Sceaux @ 4/7

Faugheen @ 11/10

Annie Power @ 4/7

Nicols Canyon @ 4/1

Don Poli @ 9/4

Vautour @ 2/1

A £10 e/w accumulator with Paddy Power returns: £7064.31

Willie Mullins Goliath:

Douvan @ 7/4

Un De Sceaux @ 4/7

Faugheen @ 11/10

Annie Power @ 4/7

Nicols Canyon @ 4/1

Don Poli @ 9/4

Vautour @ 2/1

Djakadam @ 9/1

A £1 e/w Goliath (£247) with Paddy Power returns: £44140.22

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