The Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle (4 p.m.) is the highlight of the first day of the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon. There appears to be growing confidence behind the Irish challenger Brighterdaysahead after her demolition of a decent field at Leopardstown late in December.
Trainer Gordon Elliott’s exciting six-year-old mare has a career record of seven wins from eight runs, her only defeat coming a year ago at the hands of Golden Ace, who is also in today’s field of just seven runners. However, both talented mares will probably be running for place money if – admittedly a big if – Constitution Hill really is back to the form he showed when winning the Champion Hurdle in a near-canter two years ago.
Handler Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old gelding is unbeaten in ten starts and should make that 11 today but I wouldn’t dream of getting involved, betting wise, at best odds of 8-13 so this is very much a race for me to watch and enjoy. There are only two places on offer due to the seven-runner field so each-way betting makes no appeal.
The late switch of Lossiemouth from the Champion Hurdle to the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (3.20 p.m.) has understandably annoyed those who backed her for the former race, particularly as her trainer, Willie Mullins, was insistent as late as Friday that the Champion Hurdle was her target.
However, bearing in mind Lossiemouth took a heavy fall last time out and with 11 runners making each-way betting attractive, I am happy to take her on at odds of 8-13 on. I put up July Flower some time ago each way at 11-1 when Lossiemouth looked Champion Hurdle bound and I am happy enough with that bet.
However, the horse that now looks overpriced to me is JETARA from the Jessica Harrington stable in County Kildare. The days are long gone when Harrington, now 78, came across the Irish Sea with plenty of runners and plundered lots of Festival races too. This year, in fact, Jetara will be her only Festival runner.
I liked the way this seven-year-old mare battled to win last time out at Haydock over three miles and so her stamina will not be in doubt today. An official rating of 146 makes her only the fourth highest rated horse in today’s field – after Lossiemouth, Jade de Grugy and July Flower – but the 33-1 offered by almost all bookies is surely too big. She could even be a bigger price come the off.
But back her 1 point each way at 33-1: emotional scenes are guaranteed if Jetara wins because it was only relatively recently that ever-popular Harrington – to use her own delicious words – ‘kicked cancer in the arse’.
The opening race on today’s card is one to savour too: the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.20 p.m.) named in honour of the talented young jockey who won this race two years ago but who sadly died last month, aged just 24, after a racecourse fall.
Once again, there is an odds-on favourite in the shape of Kopek Des Bordes, who was mighty impressive when beating a decent field at Leopardstown early last month. Willie Mullins’ five-year-old gelding is three wins from three starts. However, his possible downfall could be his temperament as he can be highly-strung.
Even if he is on his best behaviour, he is likely to face stiff competition from the likes of Romeo Coolio, Salvator Mundi and Workahead. I had expected to put up the latter on the basis of his impressive win at Leopardstown in late December when he beat WILLIAM MUNNY by seven lengths at level weights.
However, that was William Munny’s seasonal debut and his last two runs have been much better, particularly his most recent win when at Punchestown less than a month ago. He ironed out previous jumping errors and a tendency to be too keen on that occasion. Back William Munny 1 point each way at 8-1 with bet365, William Hill or Betfred, paying three places.
Once again, there will not be a dry eye in the winner’s enclosure if William Munny wins – his trainer/owner Barry Connell mentored O’Sullivan early in the jockey’s career and gave the rider his first Festival winner, in this race, on Marine Nationale in 2023.
The My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (2 p.m.) is another race for me to pass on betting wise. At the current odds and with just five runners, I don’t want to take on the favourite Majborough who, at 8/15 on, will probably prove too strong for the rest of the field, although L’Eau Du Sud is a big danger.
I have a strong fancy in the Ultima Handicap Chase (2.40 p.m.) but I have already put up Whistle Stop Tour each way at 14-1 to win a race that Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell and her partner Peter Scudamore love to target with an improving handicapper chaser. The support for Whistle Stop Tour’s well-handicapped stablemate, Myretown, over the past 48 hours is interesting as he seemed unlikely to make the cut until the weekend. However, I will stick with just my one selection in an open race.
It’s a similar situation with the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (registered as the Fred Winter, 4.40 p.m.) in which I put up Liam Swagger two months ago each way at 33-1. I will stick with that horse, who is now down to 12-1 after heavy support since the weekend.
Finally, in the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase (5.20 p.m.), I am already double handed in the race having put up, first Haiti Couleurs win only at 8-1 and, later, Transmission each way at 12-1. Those two horses now head the market at roughly half those odds along with Now Is The Hour, from the Gavin Cromwell yard, who looks to be a big threat. I think the market has got this race spot on.
So, unusually, that’s just two horses to add to the ante-post portfolio on day one. However, for loyal followers of my tips, that still leaves seven horses running today with a chance of returning some money. Here’s hoping…
I will be back tomorrow morning with my thoughts on day two but enjoy the wonderful fare on offer today. At the end of the day too remember that, with our thoughts for the family and friends of Michael O’Sullivan very much in mind, the welfare of the riders and their horses is always more important than the mere race results.
Last weekend: – 4 points
1 point each way King William Rufus at 20-1 for the Imperial Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Ooh Betty at 12-1 for the Imperial Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. – 2 points.
Also previous weekend 10p in the £ reduction on Saint Segal bet should have been + 0.8 points not + 1 point.
Pending:
1 point each way William Munny at 8-1 for the Supreme Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way July Flower at 11-1 for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Jetara at 33-1 for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Whistle Stop Tour at 14-1 NRNB for the Ultima Handicap Chase, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Liam Swagger at 33-1 for the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
2 points win Haiti Couleurs at 8-1 for the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase.
1 point each way Transmission at 12-1 for the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Sixmilebridge at 16-1 NRNB for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Latenightpass at 16-1 for the Cross Country Chase, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Walking On Air at 14-1 NRNB for the Kim Muir Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Djelo at 16-1 for Ryanair Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Ahoy Senor at 50-1 NRNB for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Path d’Oroux at 25-1 NRNB for the Jack Richards Novices’ Chase, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Path d’Oroux at 16-1 NRNB for the TrustATrader Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Galileo Dame at 16-1 NRNB for the Triumph Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Wendigo at 14-1 NRNB for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Our Champ at 66-1 for the County Hurdle, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Kandoo Kid at 33-1 for the Grand National, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
2024-5 jump season running total: – 38.46 points.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
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