Cheltenham Trials Day Review
Saturday
belonged to Cheltenham. Admittedly it lacked the established stars of
yesteryear, ignoring Big Buck’s, yet it for me personally it was brilliant. It
was my first trip to Prestbury Park and I would greatly recommend it to any
racing fan, or anyone looking for a good day out. I have decided to review all
of the races in a concise fashion and highlight any key points that arose
throughout a magnificent day of sport. All roads lead back there in March.
JCB
Triumph Hurdle Trial (A Juvenile Hurdle) (Registered as The Finesse Juvenile
Hurdle) (Grade 2)
The
first race of the day saw Nicholls and Jacob team up with Vicenzo Mio, the
horse looked very well in the paddock, and as is not rare with these types,
looks every inch a chaser for the future. He went off the 11/10 favourite.
However, it was the diminutive Nick Williams trained Le Rocher who won,
notching up a first win on the day for Richard Johnson. He jumped well overall
and was highly encouraging, drawing away convincingly in the closing stages.
Nicky Henderson’s Kentucky Hyden split the pair- the Kentucky Dynamite chestnut
came off second best to Le Rocher for the second time, he looks to have
improved and could continue to do so before March. Le Rocher boasts 2 wins at
Cheltenham since arriving from France and looks a precocious, enthusiastic
sort, although small, he clearly has a lot of ability and until the other two
fill out, looks to have the upper hand. He is now 10-1 for the Triumph Hurdle,
with the other two 33-1.
Timeform
Novices' Handicap Chase
The
second race of the day was a handicap chase, a race in which Kauto Star Novices
Chase winner Annacott took the bull by the horns in a bid to double up. It was
an impressive effort by the Martin Keighley trained gelding, who led the field
a merry dance, only to be mowed down by the Donald McCain trained Indian
Castle. The latter idled in the closing stages and Annacotty dug deep again to
challenge, but due to his front running exerts, it wasn’t enough. The second is
the horse to take out of the race, his brave effort under 11-12 surely gives
him a chance in one of the handicaps at the festival. Renard D’Irlande stayed
on at the one pace to snatch third for the in-form combination of Venetia
Williams and Aidan Coleman. The winner deserves credit as he is consistent and
tough yet the eye catcher was clearly Annacotty. The horse is now 25-1 for the
RSA chase and also entered in the JLT Novices.
freebets.com
Trophy Chase (A Handicap) (Grade 3)
The 1:50 race saw Double Ross reappear and attempt
to win another Cheltenham handicap. On this occasion the additional weight
clearly took its toll yet he ran a brilliant race in defeat and was only beaten
1 ¾ lenths. Wishful Thinking has been around for what seems like a long time,
and unaided by his well documented breathing problems, doesn’t seem to win all
that often. This however was the exception. He travelled up strongly and his
wind evidently failed to inconvenience him today as he responded in a gutsy
fashion to both Double Ross’s renewed challenge and Richard Johnson’s urgings.
Tap Night stayed on well whilst hanging up the run in for the Champion Jockey,
but didn’t pose a threat to the first two. They are a class above from the rest
and showed that here. Unpredictable yet genuine, it wouldn’t be wise to bank on
Wishful Thinking come March, yet take nothing away from him here as he put his
best foot forward and gained a deserved victory in merciless conditions. He
stands at 40-1 for the Queen Mother and 33-1 for the Ryanair. Double Ross is
33-1 for the RSA and 16-1 for the JLT Novices.
Argento
Chase (Registered as The Cotswold Steeple Chase) (Grade 2)
The fourth race on the card, the Argento Chase, is
often regarded as a Gold Cup trial. It remains to be seen whether any of the
line up on this day will have the ability to win the big one. However, it was a
heart-warming success for The Giant Bolster, equipped for the first time with
blinkers; the application of headgear granted him his seemingly lost enthusiasm
and he resolutely ground out a 7 length win. Rocky Creek ran a sound race in
second, according to trainer Paul Nicholls, his aim is now the Grand National.
This seems sensible as surely on Saturdays’ evidence he lacks the speed to do
himself justice in what looks to be a vintage renewal this term. Harry Topper’s
performance was again scattered with jumping errors yet he stayed on and just
missed out on second place. Under the guidance of Kim Bailey surely he will
head to Aintree as well and take on Rocky Creek once more. It was a good
performance by the winner yet it has to be questioned whether it was solely the
blinkers that prompted such a display. I would be surprised if any of these
were good enough to come close in a Gold Cup, yet I wouldn’t blame connections
for trying. There are quotes of 25-1 for The Giant Bolster for the Gold Cup.
Neptune
Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Reg' as The Classic Novices' Hurdle
Race) (Grade 2)
The unbeaten Red Sherlock opposed Irish Raider
Rathvinden in the next. The former looked to be travelling strongly when
falling at Warwick in the race won by Deputy Dan. The race soon took shape and
it turned into a match between these two. Red Sherlock had enough in reserves
and stretched away to win from the final flight. His unbeaten record remains
intact yet credit goes to Rathvinden, who can only improve from here. The
winner is 10-1 for the Neptune at the festival (Rathvinden is double that) and
20-1 for the Supreme.
galliardhomes.com
Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2)
Spectators eagerly gathered ahead of the 3m hurdle
which promised so much. The return of the mighty Big Buck’s was near and
anticipation heightened as the race day neared its climax. Big Buck’s was sent
on at the third last by Sam Twiston Davies, a move which has been criticised by
many, yet it is a tactic that has been deployed by Walsh in previous times. He
battled bravely, having a slender lead at the final flight, and went down
fighting by approximately a length at the line. Knockara Beau set the pace in
the early stages, retreated to the tail end of the field and stayed on to fend
off the late challenge of revitalised At Fishers Cross. (The Curtis trained
gelding again lacked fluidity at his hurdles yet stayed on as we know he can in
ground he enjoys). Overall I think the ride Sam gave was perfectly acceptable
and it was down to fitness. Paul Nicholls has made it no secret that Big Buck’s
is a nightmare to get fit as he is such a gross horse and this will have put
him spot on for another crack at the World Hurdle. Jan Faltejsek and Knockara
Beau perhaps deserve more recognition, but in National Hunt racing fans latch
on to the big names and here we saw Big Buck’s show he retains his enthusiasm,
ability and guts, which has served him so well in the past. He is currently 5-2
to win a fifth World Hurdle.
Steel
Plate And Sections Handicap Hurdle
Many members of the crowd had left by the last
race; this highlights how racing needs its big stars to excite the public.
After a pretty appalling day betting wise, we decided to have Lac Fontana and
Totalize e/w in the last. It turned out to be a pretty lucky last as we got the
1-2 and Paul Nicholls and Daryl Jacob gained compensation from their not-to-be
fairytale with Big Bucks. Lac Fontana travelled much the best and stayed on
stoutly up the hill. Totalize lacked the gears to go with the winner and was
outclassed yet ran a gallant race for Brian Ellison. The winner could indeed
return to Cheltenham for the Conditionals hurdle. Although Lac Fontana won
decisively, it will be doubtful whether he can rise to the step up in class,
and the others surely have a lot to find in order to becoming Cheltenham
Festival winners.
After the racing, a Brightwells Bloodstock auction
took place which I found really intriguing. The well known David Pipe trained Notus
De La Tour sold for £18,000 and classy Irish hunter Mossey Joe for £160,000.
Donald McCain purchased 4 horses, Jonjo O’Neil also bought 2, one of which was
Young Mr Gorsky, a point to point winner by High Chaparral, for £190,000- the
most spent at the sale. With my little knowledge, I liked the look of Shantou
Bob, sold for £28,000 to Tessa Greatrex, Golan’s Choice sold for £20,000 to
Rose Dobbin and an eye catching filly, again by High Chaparral, that sold for
£170,000 to Roger Brookehouse. Previous horses that have been bought at the
sale include Beneficent and earlier placed Annacotty. I have attached some (admittedly bad) photos I took of my experience. I can't wait to return.
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