Racing Chat - Thursday 17th March (Cheltenham Day 3)

[The Brigadier]

Day three and the we now switch to the new course with fresher ground and the conditions just on the slow side still.

 

Cheltenham 1.30

Only four go to post for the Turners Novices’ Chase run over 2m 4F but we have an effective match between two of the best novices seen this season in Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs. The former is two from two over fences for Henry De Bromhead and will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore. Not everyone has been impressed with his jumping but he’s done little wrong to my eyes and can give the Willie Mullins trained Galopin Des Champs a race. He’s been impressive in winning both his chases at Leopardstown and like his main rival won at the Festival last season (he won the Martin Pipe whilst Bob Olinger took the Ballymore). Official ratings have Galopin a 3lb better horse and he may take this but it’ll be close. The other pair Busselton and El Barra are 19lb and 21lb inferior and can battle it out for the third prize money.

 

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS 2 points win @ 5/4 Boylesports

 

Cheltenham 2.10

A maximum field of 24 will go to post for this year’s renewal of the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle run over three miles. Top weight Sire Du Berlais has been trained for this having won it in 2019 and 2020 and with top amateur Mr R James booked should be on anyones short list. Local trainer Fergal O’Brien’s Alaphilippe has also been trained for this and must have a big chance although he certainly could of done with more rain. Winter Fog is one of several Irish challengers with chances and trained by master plot trainer Emmet Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend is another horse with a big chance. Gordon Elliott’s Dunboyne looks another Irish horse to have been plotted up for this and has crept into the bottom of the handicap here. A tough race and although he could do with some rain, the fact that the race is run on the slower new course should help Fergal O’Brien’s Alaphilippe who ran 5th in the Albert Bartlett last year and ran a race full of promise on his re-appearance at Warwick which he was, surprisingly, dropped a couple of pounds for. Paddy Brennan take the ride and he’s the each way selection.

 

ALANPHILLIPE 2 points each way @ 7/1 1/5th 1234567 Bet365

 

Cheltenham 2.50

The Ryanair Chase run over 2m 4F 127 yds is next up and should be an Irish victory with last year’s very easy winner Allaho in the line up of only nine. He looks better than ever this season winning both of his starts in good fashion and looks the days banker for Messrs Mullins and Townend. Irish gold Cup winner Conflated represents the Gordon Elliott camp and runs here in preference to the Gold Cup on Friday. This is a drop in trip for him and he may struggle to live with Allaho’s pace. Dan Skelton saddles Shan Blue who’s not been seen since crashing out three from home when clear in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby last October. Hard to put up a bet here as Allaho is so short but he really should be winning this comfortably if bringing his A game.

 

Cheltenham 3.30

Ten runners assemble for the Stayers Hurdle run over just short of three miles on the new course. Last years victor Flooring Porter is back to defend his title and should be thereabouts for Gavin Cromwell and Danny Mullins. The 2020 winner Lisnagar Oscar and 2019 winner Paisley Park are also present with preference for the latter who ran an extraordinary race last time here when planting himself at the start but coming through late to beat Champ on the run in. Klassical Dream is the most interesting to my eyes. Willie Mullins 8 year old won the Supreme here three years ago and was very impressive when stepping up in trip at Punchestown last April. He continued his progression when beating Flooring Porter at Leopardstown over Christmas when gifted an easy lead. He bombed out last time but if back to his previous form will take the beating here. He is a bit of a hard pulling front runner and Paul Townend will need to be at his very best to get the most out of him today. Royal Kahala won the race that Klassical Dream got beat in at Gowran Park last time and the mare also has claims. Another tough race with slight preference for Klassical Dream.

 

KLASSICAL DREAM 1 point win @ 4/1 Bet365

 

Cheltenham 4.10

A big field of handicap chasers go to post for the Plate Handicap Chase. Philip Hobbs’ Celebre D’Allen maybe ten years old but doesn’t look that badly handicapped on his Warwick victory last month and has claims. Fergal O’Brien’s Imperial Alcazar impressed when winning over course and distance at the January trials meeting by ten lengths and although he’s been pushed up 8lb for that also should be thereabouts. Alan King, fresh from winning the Arkle on day one with Edwardstone, runs his eight year old mare The Glancing Queen. She also has claims although is better on soft ground which she may not get today. Gordon Elliott saddles three here with the most interesting being novice Grand Paradis who will be ridden by Davy Russell. Adrimel is two from two since fitted with blinkers and his trainer Tom Lacey is in excellent form. He could run well but is ideally suited by very soft ground. A tough handicap with the selection being Alan King’s The Glancing Queen who brings some decent novice form to the table and although ideally suited by slower ground may just get away with it here on her handicap debut.

 

THE GLANCING QUEEN 1 point each way @ 11/2 1/5th 123456 Bet365

 

Cheltenham 4.50

Yet another big field of twenty two mares go to post for the mare’s novices’ hurdle. Willie Mullins runs seven with Dinoblue a very interesting runner. She looked very smart when winning on her racecourse debut ten weeks ago at Clonmel coasting home by 15L. That win was on heavy ground so she has to prove that she can handle better ground but such was the impression she made that day that she is the selection here with Mark Walsh riding for his retained owner JP McManus. Mullins also saddles Brandy Love who looked very wayward last time out when jumping violently out to her left. Obviously this course will suit but she may have her quirks. Grangee fell in that event two out when only a 3/1 chance and is yet another Mullins runner with a chance. Gordon Elliott relies on just the two in outsider Say Goodbye and Party Central who won a valuable handicap hurdle at Leopardstown last time. Dinoblue made a big impression on me when winning and is the bet here.

 

DINOBLUE 2 points win @ 5/2 Bet365

 

Cheltenham 5.30

A maximum field of twenty four assemble for the finale on day three - the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase for amateur riders run over 3m 2F. Gordon Elliott has four declared with top weight Frontal Assault to be ridden by the useful Mr R James claiming 7lb a big player. He’s only raced three times over fences and will appreciate the step to this longer trip today. Smoking Gunn is the mount of Jamie Codd and was a winner over 3m 5F at Fairyhouse last November. He’s more exposed than Frontal Assault but the jockey booking could be significant. Henry De Bromhead saddles another interesting novice in Ain’t That A Shame who will be ridden by Mr Ben Harvey claiming 3lb. He’s lightly raced and has bumped into the likes of Stattler and Galopin Des Champs this season, he’s one for the shortlist. Noel Meade has his string in fine form and can take this however with his School Boy Hours who was last seen winning the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Thought good enough to be a serious Grand National challenger (probably next year as he’s too low in the weights to get in this year) he has the services of one of the best go to jockeys in the amateur game in Derek O’Connor. This looks to be going to the Irish although I must give a word to novice Come On Teddy who was placed over hurdles at the Festival last year for local trainer Tom George.

 

SCHOOL BOY HOURS 2 points each way @ 8/1 1/5th 123456 Bet365

[black rabbit]

mighty blue   4 50     1/4 pt win    28/1   

nurse  susan  4 50  1/4  pt win    25/1

pileon   2 10   1/6 pt  ew   50/1   

 

 

P/L  + 122 pts

Edited March 17, 2022 by black rabbit
adding selections