Cheltenham Festival Day Four
Day 3 was another decent day at the festival in terms of selections running well, a much less profitable day than the first two but nonetheless some small profit was made on the day. Onto the fourth and final day.
13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle -
2 Selections -
BROUGHTON - 0.75 points EW @ 15/2 = Unplaced
ROYAL IRISH HUSSAR - 0.75 points EW @ 8/1 = Unplaced
Starting with the former, John Ferguson's 4 year old has acquitted himself very well since switching codes from the flat & in his 2 hurdles races so far has established himself as one of the big players in this season's novice division. On debut he ran a good close second (beaten a neck) at Doncaster (good ground) over today's trip in a grade 2, towards the line he was getting there with every stride but just couldn't get up in time. The manner in which he stayed on there gives the impression that he shouldn't want for stamina here. Last time out he was an easy winner of his trial race up at Musselburgh, he didn't beat a great deal that day so not too much more was learnt. Overall this gelding is still very much unexposed & with further improvement not unlikely he looks worth the EW bet here. Moving on, Nicky Henderson's ROYAL IRISH HUSSAR was perhaps the leading contender in this division until his shock odds on defeat last time out at Doncaster (same race as Broughton). However, he did give Ferguson's horse 6lb & can be forgiven that below par run considering he brings good looking course form to the table which is a big plus. His grade 2 win over C&D at the November meeting was impressive, particularly the strong manner in which he stayed on up the hill. Ultimately if he able to reproduce that November C&D form he looks in with a shout at a decent price.
14:05 County Hurdle
4 Selections -
CHELTENIAN - 0.75 points EW @ 9/1 = Unplaced
ALAIVAN - 0.5 points EW @ 14/1 = Unplaced
LYVIUS - 0.5 points EW @ 33/1 = Unplaced
DEEP TROUBLE - 0.25 points EW @ 40/1 = Unplaced
Starting with the Phillip Hobbs runner CHELTENIAN, not only is his name particularly fitting for this meeting, he also offers up some good form. Of that form the most notable has to be when he won the champion bumper over C&D back in 2011, staying on really well to go clear up the hill. Since then he has been lightly raced making just 4 appearances. Last time out he ran a creditable 4th in the grade 3 Betfair hurdle in very heavy ground at Newbury and the return to better ground may well see him progress further. Looks a smart prospect & if repeating the form he showed when winning the champion bumper he can run a big race. Moving onto ALAIVAN trained by Jonjo O'Neill. Shows some decent previous form at Cheltenham, particularly when finishing a close 6th in this race in 2011 and when running a good race to finish third in the 2010 Triumph Hurdle. Had a long injury setback which saw him off the track for over 900 days, since returning he put in a respectable performance to finish 2nd in a 2 mile handicap at Wincanton. Built on that by finishing 6th in the Betfair at Newbury (heavy). Should be seen to better effect on better ground and a repeat of that form shown previously would give him a shout at a very backable price. LYVIUS is another who has got some useful course form to offer up. Finished a solid second in a C&D handicap in December if able to build on that in first time blinkers he could be in with a shout of hitting the place money for jockey Barry Geraghty who has already enjoyed a successful week. Lastly, DEEP TROUBLE is one at nice big odds who could go well. Ran well to finish second in a big field handicap over C&D back at the November meeting, then followed up by winning a listed hurdle at Sandown. Can be forgiven poor run in the betfair (heavy ground) & if showing some of his early season promise here he could potentially go well at a big EW price.
16:40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle -
2 Selections -
THE SKYFARMER - 0.75 points EW @ 14/1 = Unplaced
UNE ARTISTE - 0.5 points EW @ 20/1 = Unplaced
It's another of the Phillip Hobbs' runners that gets the bet here. THE SKYFARMER has done very little wrong this season, notching up a treble from his first 3 starts, including an impressive handicap hurdle win around Cheltenham. That course win did come over the shorter trip of 17f but given the manner in which he drew clear up the hill the step up to 21f today shouldn't pose too many problems. Can be forgiven a below par effort in a grade 2 at Ascot last time out given the heavy ground. Back at the course which seemed to suit well last time he was here & back on better ground this 6 year old looks capable of going well for a trainer who has been in good form this festival. The mare UNE ARTISTE for Nicky Henderson is another horse who has some really smart Cheltenham form over the shorter trip (17f). She looked a smart sort when winning the grade 3 Fred Winter Hurdle at the 2012 festival & followed that up with another comfortable course win in listed class. Has won some less competitive events over today's trip, combined with the fact she has handled Cheltenham well before gives the impression she can go well over this longer trip. Jeremiah McGrath takes off a useful 3lb, overall looks potentially well handicapped and is another who can run well at bigger odds.
17:15 Grand Annual Chase -
NED BUNTLINE - 0.75 points EW @ 8/1 = PLACED (2nd)
Noel Meade's gelding has shown a decent level of form in Ireland since he went chasing & having travelled over for this, NED BUNTLINE looks to have a decent chance. Yet to finish outside the first 3 on his 3 chases to date (finishing 3rd, 1st & 2nd), probably most impressive of which was when finishing 3rd behind Ballycasey who ran a respectable 4th in the RSA (grade 1) on Tuesday. Has run on a variety of ground including good to yielding so shouldn't be a problem there. Realistically its hard to quite match up his Irish form to that of the British contingent, but this gelding was once a narrow runner up to recent Champion Hurdle winner Jezki, so some class could certainly be there. The negative would have to be that this will be his first run in Britain and more importantly his first at Cheltenham. However, he looks worth taking a chance on for the EW punt since he is unexposed over fences and should be able to run a good race if handling the course.
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