Once again the cream of National Hunt racing will descend upon Prestbury Park for another four-day spectacular.
Tuesday, day one opens with The Supreme Novices Hurdle. After two eye-catching victories at Ascot and Haydock,
the Nicky Henderson trained 6-Y-O Amaretto Rose is expected to get stable jockey Mick Fitzgerald off to a flying
start. Any cut in the ground will suit the Seven Barrels Hurdler.
The Philip Hobbs trained Fair Along who worked well with Detroit City at Exeter carries plenty of stable confidence
in the Arkle Challenge Trophy. Highlight of the first day is the Smurfit Kappa Champion hurdle. Although Detroit City
and Irish raider Brave Inca will take the beating, the 6-Y-O Straw Bear owned by the legendary J P McManus represents
the value bet. He gave Detroit City a run for his money at Sandown, only to go down by 1æ lengths and followed that up
with an easy victory in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. Nick Gifford is hoping Tony McCoy will ride – although 10/1
has been taken he must hold a strong each way chance.
In the William Hill trophy, Nicky Henderson’s Juveigneur is expected to run well after a bloodless win at Plumpton and the 10/1 on offer seems good value.
Wednesday day two brings my favourite race of the Festival, The Queen Mother Champion Chase. Memories are made of this, the spectacle of Badsworth Boy, Pearlyman, Flagship Uberalis and many more are unforgettable. This year’s renewal should prove no exception.
Well Chief was very impressive in winning the Game Spirit Chase and a repeat of that running would make him the banker of the meeting. The 9/2 on offer was soon taken but he holds a strong favourite’s chance. Alan King’s Voy Por Ustedes rates the danger.
The Royal & SunAlliance Novices Chase provides the second best banker of the meeting in Paul Nicholls’ 7-Y-O Denman. Once again the value has gone with 11/4 quickly snapped up, but he gave Ruby Walsh a really good feeling when winning as he liked by a distance at Newbury last time. He rates this one his best ride at the meeting - this is good enough for me.
Noel Mead’s 6-Y-O Aran Concerto can provide an Irish win in the Ballymore Properties Hurdle. He was impressive when he won last time out at Leopardstown and if he runs here instead of the Supreme Novices Hurdle should prevail.
In the Cheltenham Bumper, Jessica Harrington’s Irish trained gelding Cork All Star, winner of his last three races at Cork, Galway and Cheltenham should have the Irish contingent celebrating long into the night.
Thursday, day three. If the ground comes right for Johnjo O’Neill trained Black Jack Ketchum in the World Hurdle,
he would be the one they all have to beat. However, with doubts about the going perhaps Inglis Drever trading at 5/1
9/2 will prove an able alternative.
Paul Nicholls’ 6-Y-O novice chaser New Little Bric can give a good account of himself in the Jewson Novice Handicap
Chase, if the trainer lets him take his chance here. Very impressive winning last time out at Sandown, this is a nice
long-term prospect.
Worth noting is Teranis also trained by Paul Nicholls in the Ryanair Chase, and also Rhinestone Cowboy, which holds
an each way interest in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final, after finishing a good fifth under a big weight at Haydock
last time out.
Friday, day four opens with the JCB Triumph Hurdle. Alan King has high hopes that Katchit can succeed in this
competitive hurdle. The trainer stated “he’s been there and done it and looks the ideal type”. The ante-post favourite
is a genuine sort and is expected to go close. Nicky Henderson runs impressive Kempton winner Punjabi, and he rates
a big danger. His trainer said “he is a professional and he has got speed”. This novice represents good value at around
12/1 10/1.
The final day and the highlight of the meeting, the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup heralds the appearance of long time
ante-post favourite Kuato Star. Paul Nicholls’ 7-Y-O has undoubted potential to be a true champion, but is he another
Best Mate in the making? We should know after this race. Prone to the odd mistake, he still looks something special
and granted a clear round will take a world of beating. Far better value would be the French trained L’ami owned by the
fearless J P McManus and handled by F Doumen. Trading at 25/1 represents great each way value. Although worse off at
the weights now, he made Kuato Star pull out all the stops when going down by a neck last time out at Newbury.
Johnjo O’Neill expects his charge Exotic Dancer to get the trip and to give the favourite a run for his money.
Others worth a mention for the four-day meeting are the Charlie Mann trained Air Force One in the Brit Insurance
Novice Hurdle; Tom Mullin’s Irish trained New Field in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle; Edward O’Grady’s Irish trained
Ned Kelly in the Foxhunters; and the Johnjo O’Neill trained likely favourite Gungadu in the National Hunt Chase.
The cheers of the crowd will have faded, tales of fortunes won and lost - let us hope this year’s Festival is one to remember.
