Finding winners proved tricky this afternoon but there were a few mentioned in last night’s preview, including the big race winner Imperial Commander.
Tomorrow’s card looks the strongest of the 3 day Cheltenham meeting with the Greatwood Hurdle the highlight at 2.20 which seems a good place to start this evening.
The race has been won by some top class performers in recent years including Rooster Booster (pictured below) in 2002.
There are plenty with chances but I am going to put forward a short list of 7. Blue Bajan was a classy type on the flat and once ran Maraahel to a head at Chester. He won the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May and was an eyecatching 3rd on his latest start behind Sentry Duty at Ascot. He hurdles well, has a good turn of foot and gets on very well with his jockey Graham Lee whose record aboard him reads 1113. The problem could be the ground as Blue Bajan is a real good ground horse and if the going is testing it will suit others better.
Much was expected of the ex South African flat horse Rippling Ring but he was most disappointing on his reappearance at Aintree last month. It seems he may have had a bit of a bug that day but I see that he wears blinkers for the first time tomorrow which just puts me off him.
Alan King has 2 runners who both come into the race in good form. Squadron ran 2nd to the highly rated Crack Away Jack and then caused something of an upset when he won at Aintree. He is probably below top class but if this turns into a test of stamina he could be one to prosper. King’s Revenge was 2nd behind Sentry Duty (Blue Bajan was 3rd) at Ascot. Blue Bajan and King’s Revenge are closely matched on that form which makes the Alan King runner decent value as he is twice the odds of Blue Bajan at the moment. David Pipe is also double handed with Ashkazar and Mamlook. Very talented on the flat Ashkazar won Sandown’s Imperial Cup last season and just failed to collect at Cheltenham in the Fred Winter when beaten by Crack Away Jack. He has a good chance if reproducing that sort of form as does his stable companion Mamlook who has plenty of stamina as he showed when finishing 3rd in the Cesarawitch. Aigle D’Or has winning form at Cheltenham, although he disappointed at The Festival. This is a very difficult one to call. I like the David Pipe pair but the stable has not really got going yet so I will give my selection to Aigle D’Or, a listed winner on the flat, from the in form Henderson yard.
Paul Nicholls had a miserable time of it today but can hit back with Tatenen in the Cheltenham 1.10. I am not sure that Straw Bear will be quite as good over fences as he was over hurdles and I’m So Lucky and Crescent Island could pose more of a threat to Tatenen.
I am going to put 4 horses forward for your consideration in the 2.55. No Panic put in a solid run when 3rd to Hell’s Bay at Chepstow. My worry would be the ground as he seems best on a sound surface. Nicky Henderson saddles the top weight Punchestowns who won 2 of his 3 starts last season and has scope for improvement. Qlinton, a winner on the flat in France won over hurdles in heavy ground at Plumpton last season and was then only beaten a head by Ouzbeck. Balydub is an ex Irish points winner who won on his only start over hurdles for Hobbs at Newbury in soft ground. Given quite testing ground I would narrow this down to Qlinton and Ballydub.
The unbeaten Diamond Harry has shaped like a very good horse so far and he will be hard to beat in the 3.30. Howard Johnson’s Door Boy won at Kelso in a race where the 21nd and 3rd have both won since and he could provide the biggest threat.
Lindeman, a relation of Denman’s is my fancy for the closing bumper at 4.00.
Otage de Brion could be very good over fences and I make him my best bet at Fontewell. He runs in the 12.55.
The big race in Ireland is the Grade 1 hurdle which is the Punchestown 2.15. The enigmatic Harchibald (pictured below) and former Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace line up here but may have to give way to the younger pair Jered and Sizing Europe. With the benefit of a recent run my selection goes to Jered.
The pictures today are courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller. For more examples of her work see links.
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