Bobs Worth In Reynoldstown Bid En Route To Cheltenham

February 16, 2012 Leave a Comment

The Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase that takes place at Ascot on Saturday looks the type of race that might reveal a few answers to the outcome of a couple of the championship races at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The race which has traditionally been a good one for favourites, which should bode well for the Nicky Henderson trained, Bobs Worth, who is sure to be a major market fancy. Henderson in fact has saddled the winner of this race for the last two years, Burton Port in 2010 and Master Of The Hall 12 months ago and believes that it is the perfect warm up race before Bobs Worth goes to Cheltenham for the RSA Chase.

Last seen out when third behind Grands Crus and Silviniaco Conti on Boxing Day in the Grade 2 Feltham Novice Chase at Kempton Park, Bobs Worth will improve for that experience. However he will have Silviniaco Conti against him again on Saturday who is one of two highly rated young chasers from Ditcheat in the race. The other Join Together is a dual winner of two novice staying chases this season and who should take the step up in class with comfort. Stable jockey Ruby Walsh has elected to ride Silviniaco Conti in preference to Join Together, which should inform punters which of the two to be backing.

The Alam King trained, Walkon is an interesting entry whose blunders last time out in a Novice Chase over 2m2f at Newbury in December cost him what would have been a decent victory. That race in fact was won by Cue Card who had been an original entry in this but will now go straight to Cheltenham. Before that Walkon had made a successful debut over fences by winning a decent looking Novice Chase at Exeter where he had the once highly regarded, Zaynar 6 lengths behind. King also intends to run his 6 year old Invictus in the race.

Others worthy of consideration is the Pam Sly owned and trained, Helpston, as well as Emma Lavelle’s Penny Max. Helpston has shown great consistency in a range of Novice Chases, winning twice so far this season before finishing a creditable second behind According To Pete in the Grade 3 Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Meanwhile Penny Max has won twice this season , firstly in a Novices Limited Handicap Chase and secondly in the Plymouth Novice Chase at Exeter last month. Both will be stepping up in class, but both come to Ascot in good form and well prepared for big runs.

Another runner who has won his last two starts is the Ian Williams entry, Baile Anrai, which came in Novice Chases at Towcester at Christmas and at Leicester last month. Before that the 8 year old took on Silviniaco Conti in a Grade 2 Novice Chase at Wincanton and was in with chances before he fell three from home. He clearly did not suffer for the experience coming out to win twice and would have a squeak of a chance in this with a clear round.

Filed under Ascot, Cheltenham, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Grand National Trial At Haydock Should Provide Some Useful Aintree Pointers

February 15, 2012 Leave a Comment

Le Beau Bai will be hoping to repeat his Welsh National success in Haydoock's Grand National Trial.

With the weights having being revealed for the 2012 Aintree Grand National, particular attention will be paid to the Betfred Grand National Trial over 3m4f which takes place this Saturday at Haydock Park.

After the five day declaration stage made on Monday, 23 runners stood their ground with Neptune Collonges from the Paul Nicholls stable topping the weights with 11-12 with Grand National favourite, Junior, from the David Pipe stable set to carry 11-6 in the race.

This will be the first run of the season for Junior, who demolished his rivals in the Kim Muir Fulke Walwyn Challenge Cup over 3m2f at the Cheltenham Festival last March and then subsequently ran at Royal Ascot where he failed in his attempt to win back to back Ascot Stakes on the flat. The style of his Cheltenham Festival win however, is the principle reason why he is the antepost favourite for the Aintree Grand National in which he will carry 11-2. He won the ‘Kim Muir’ by a staggering 24 lengths looking a very commanding horse in the process and clearly one who has a lot more to come and the handicapper looks to have given Junior a huge chance ahead of the Aintree feature.

Up against him on Saturday is Welsh National winner, Le Beau Bai from the Richard Lee stable who is likely in fact to go off as the favourite should the going remain heavy. He finished third in this race 12 months ago behind Silver By Nature but never went on to run at Aintree. After a mediocre start to the season, this 9 year old has come on leaps and bounds with the Welsh National victory his biggest success to date. He is an absolute mud lark and the worse conditions the ground is in the better and if they turns in to an extreme test of stamina, you can be assured that Le Beau Bai will be in the shake up at the end.

Topping the Irish challenge is the Charlie Swan trained, Start Me Up, who comes to the race with only one win in a Beginners Chase but the form of that run has worked out well and stable optimism for a big run is high.

Cappa Bleu third behind Le Beau Bai in the Welsh National will be representing the Evan Williams yard who will expect him to improve considerably for his Chepstow run. A former winner of the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the ten year old is an excellent jumper and a very thorough stayer.

Neptune Collonges is still looking for his first win since taking the 2011 Argento Chase and will have the burden of top weight, although that did not hamper him too much last time out when he was a very creditable second place behind Hold On Julio in the 32Red Handicap Chase at Sandown in January but the weight may way hold him back from winning this.

Giles Cross, second in the Welsh National is slightly better weighted to reverse form with le Beau Bai and trainer, Victor Dartnell, was a little frustrated by a second successive second in the Welsh National but is sure to be confident that his 10 year can make the frame at the Lancashire track on Saturday.

All in all, this is a very open Grand National trial with a host in with chances. One to possibly watch out for who is well handicapped is Evan Williams second entry, Deep Purple. This 11 year old looked a very decent Gold Cup prospect a couple of years ago after winning both the Grade 2 Charlie Hall and Peterborough Chases. However his form evaporated after efforts in the 2009 King George Vl Chase and the 2010 Ryanair Chase failed. However, he returned to winning ways in December, when taking the London National over 3m6f at Sandown, when carrying top weight. This race is altogether a higher quality but with only 11-7 to carry this time, the odds 16/1 look decent each way value for a horse with proven quality.

Whatever the outcome, this Grand National Trial should provide a number of useful pointers ahead of the big race on 14th April.

Filed under Racecourse, Aintree, Haydock, Paul Nicholls, David Pipe, Alan King, Grand National Tagged with , , , , ,

Indecision Over Grands Crus Festival Target Leaves RSA Chase Picture Wide Open

February 13, 2012 Leave a Comment

Last Instalment has emerged as a leading RSA Chase hope following Leopardstown win

With still no clear indication from the David Pipe stable as to where Grands Crus will be aimed at the Cheltenham Festival, the betting remains somewhat confusing for anybody looking to untangle the RSA Chase in hope of finding some antepost value.

Grands Crus was due to run in the Reynoldstown Chase at Newbury last weekend but with that race being cancelled and excluded from the rearranged card for this coming Friday, it is unlikely that the seven year old will have another run before the Festival and as it stands, connections are non-committal as to their preference as to which race, the RSA Chase or the Cheltenham Gold Cup they wish him to enter, leaving punters to hold their bets for either race.

Currently Grands Crus is the 2/1 favourite for the RSA Chase, with Bobs Worth from the Nicky Henderson yard next best at 4/1, while Sunday’s PJ Moriarty Novice Chase winner, Last Instalment, is rated an 8/1 chance alongside First Lieutenant. In the Gold Cup market, Grands Crus is the 7/1 third favourite, behind Long Run and Kauto Star.

Whether Grands Crus runs in or not, the RSA Chase remains an eye-caching race, particularly now that Last Instalment, confirmed his likely presence in the field following his very impressive front running victory in the ‘PJ Moriarty’ over 2m5f at Leopardstown at the weekend. Trainer, Phillip Fenton, confirmed that the seven year old, who is now unbeaten in four starts over fences this season, will head for the RSA and represents one or Ireland’s best hopes for Festival success.

In winning at Leopardstown, he held off the challenge of the Willie Mullins pair of Lambro and Call The Police, seeming to have improved from his last run when winning the Grade 1 Fort Leney Novice Chase over 3 miles also at Leopardstown in December. In that race he had First Lieutenant, also a major RSA player well beaten six lengths behind and he looked every bit a Cheltenham Festival good thing.

Tony Martin’s Bog Warrior also attracted attention of punters as a potential Cheltenham Festival winner at the weekend, with his bloodless 11 length victory in the Opera Hat Novice Chase at Naas over two miles. This win put the eight year old back on course for Cheltenham after falling in his previous start in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase over 2m at Leopardstown at Christmas. Before that of course he spectacularly won the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase over 2m4f by 31 lengths a race where First Lieutenant was pulled up. The win has earned Bog Warrior a 12/1 quote from Ladbrokes for the RSA Chase and a 16/1 quote from the same Bookmaker for the Arkle Challenge Trophy but much like Grands Crus, a decision to which he will run in has yet to be made.

Filed under Arkle, Cheltenham, David Pipe, Gold Cup, Latest Racing News, Leopardstown, Nicky Henderson, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Europe Cuts Big Zeb Down to Size

February 7, 2012 Leave a Comment

Sizing Europe sent out a chilling warning to his Queen Mother Champion Chase rivals on Sunday with an emphatic 15 length victory over Big Zeb in the Grade 2 Tied Cottage Chase over two miles in heavy ground. It has to be pointed out that Big Zeb’s jockey Robbie Power did ease his horse up once he had realised that he was beaten, but that should take nothing away from the emphatic nature of Sizing Europe’s victory.

The win marked a continuation of the excellent form the Champion Chaser showed when winning the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase also over two miles at Sandown back in December where he had a number of ‘Queen Mother’ rivals well beaten.

Big Zeb of course is a major scalp but the nature of his defeat was the biggest concern for his trainer, Colm Murphy who made no excuses, clearly accepting that he was beaten by a better horse on the day. Big Zeb as we all know won the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010 and was runner up to Sizing Europe last year. He bounced back from that defeat just a few weeks later in the Boylesports Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival where he gained revenge by finishing ¾ length in front of Sizing Europe and at the same time putting doubts into the minds of racegoers as to which one of the two is the better horse.

However, Sizing Europe laid down the gauntlet on Sunday making it absolutely clear that he is the one to beat at Cheltenham on March 14th which is why Bookmakers across the board have cut his price into 6/4 from 5/2 to win back to back, while Big Zeb has been eased out to 7/1 with Nicky Henderson’s Finian’s Rainbow just ahead of him in the antepost market for the Queen Mother with odds of 6/1.

Certainly looking at the likely runners in this year’s Queen Mother it is hard to look beyond the three principles. Those in behind them in the current antepost market all look set for alternative races, horses such as Somersby, who will head for the Ryanair, while Al Ferof will probably line up in the Arkle Challenge Trophy. Trainer, Donald McCain is undecided about his Peddlers Cross, while Gauvain from the Nick Williams stable looks a better jumper over a longer distance. Should there be a host of defections then the case for backing Sizing Europe now is a very strong one!

Sizing Europe’s win has increased the belief that there could be as many as four current Cheltenham Champions heading for further Cheltenham glory this season. To that end Bookmakers have created an interesting market with odds of 20/1 for Sizing Europe, Big Bucks in the World Hurdle, Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle and Long Run in the Gold Cup all to retain their crowns. Of course Quevega, who also looks unstoppable in the mares hurdle, could also be added to that list making the bet even more interesting provided a Bookmaker could be found to lay it.

Filed under Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Latest Racing News, Leopardstown, National Hunt Races, Queen Mother Champion Chase Tagged with , , , , , ,

Hurricane Fly Picks Up Where He Left Off In Leopardstown Seasonal Debut

January 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

Following his hugely emphatic win on his much delayed seasonal reappearance in the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday, Hurricane Fly has been shortened to around the 4/5 odds on mark to retain his Champion Hurdle title at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Willie Mullins eight year old looked as impressive as ever defeating his four rivals with consummate ease and chalking up a seventh success win in the process.

Mullins had earlier in the season expressed concerns with the ‘champion’s’ progress at home which prompted him to withdraw him from his two intended earlier season starts. However, whatever was troubling him then certainly isn’t now and he looks a sure fire banker for the Festival. Should he win at the Festival he will emulate the back to back wins of Hardy Eustace in 2004 & 2005 and will have a chance next season to equal the three straight wins of the great Istabraq from 1998-2000.

Bookmakers have reported some support for the likes of the Nicky Henderson pair, Grandouet and 2010 Champion Hurdle winner, Binocular as well as Paul Nicholls, 2011 Triumph Hurdle winner, Zarkandar. However, they are well behind the favourite in the market and based on Hurricane Fly’s latest run they will be well behind him too at Cheltenham.

Zarkandar, the half brother of course to the great ‘Arc de Triomphe’ winner, Zarkava, has yet to be seen this season, but he is the lime up for his reappearance at Newbury in a fortnight’s time in the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle over two miles. The five year old in fact is the 8/1 favourite to win at Newbury but he will need to run well and get close to a mark of 151 if he is to have any chance against Hurricane Fly at Cheltenham for which he is also an 8/1 chance.

Unaccompanied, who was second behind Zarkandar in the 2011 ‘Triumph’ has progressed nicely so far this season. The Dermot Weld five year old won a Listed event back in November over two miles and followed that up with a decent win in the Grade 1 Istabraq Hurdle on 29th December. In that race he had the Willie Mullins trained second string for the Champion Hurdle, Thousand Stars nearly two lengths behind, although he was in receipt of 10lbs. Unaccompanied can be backed at anything between 16-25/1 for the Champion Hurdle.

Binocular of course having missed the Cheltenham Festival last year has been struggling of late but returned to winning ways with a workmanlike performance to win a second successive Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park last month. In that race he proved just too strong for the improving Paul Nicholls trained Rock On Ruby, although he too would appear to have the Champion Hurdle as his Cheltenham target.

Grandouet, who is the 11/2 second favourite for the Champion Hurdle, bounced back from his fall at Wincanton in November to win the first Betfair Hurdle at Haydock, defeating Marsh Warbler by eight lengths in the process. He then followed that up by taking the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham, this time by four lengths from the very ebullient Overturn from the Donald McCain stable.

Filed under Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Latest Racing News, Leopardstown, Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Pearl Swan & Grumeti Confirm Triumph Hurdle Credentials After Event Cheltenham Battle

January 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

In terms of tactics Ruby Walsh rode a master class of a ride on Pearl Swan in the Triumph Hurdle Trail at Cheltenham on Saturday which sadly for him, was marred by the horse hanging to the right and bumping into the leader Grumeti coming up the hill. Although Walsh still managed to get his horse in front at the line by a short head he was later demoted into second place after the Stewards Enquiry confirmed the contact affected the result.

Nonetheless it was a very revealing trial for the Triumph Hurdle itself in March, for which neither of them have been made the favourite. Indeed the Bookmakers found it difficult to split them in the market quoting the pair at around the 8/1, with Sadler’s Risk from the Phillip Hobbs stable holding sway at the top of the Triumph Hurdle market with odds of 7/1.

Walsh held the Pearl Swan up at the rear of the field until unleashing a furious attack two from home managing to pick off the leader Grumeti on the line, crossing a short head in front. It was not a great way to lose a race of course, and it also led to a 3 day ban for Walsh, but despite his hanging, the manner in which he completed the last half mile of the race was extremely impressive. Moreover, trainer Paul Nicholls believes he will improve hugely for the run and believes he is a very real contender to win the ‘Triumph’.

Grumeti had gone off in the Trial as the 7/4 joint favourite and while he justified the betting, Baby Mix, who he had shared favouritism ran poorly, finishing last of the six runners. Baby Mix had previously ran over course and distance back in December and won in cracking style by 7 lengths and had many pundits believing that he was the Triumph Hurdle winner designate. However, Tom George’s charge failed to maintain the pace and faded rapidly from two out and finished like a horse way out of his depth. Notwithstanding, the plan is still to run him in the ‘Triumph’ at Cheltenham for which he now has odds of 20/1.

Sadler’s Risk rose to prominence with an outstanding performance in a competitive Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton Park a fortnight ago winning as he pleased by 17 lengths. He will of course need to confirm his potential by stepping up to graded company but on the evidence of his Kempton Park run, then he should be able to take that step comfortably.

Surprisingly bookmakers are reporting plenty of support for the Dessie Hughes trained Minsk, who has yet to race over hurdles, but who has been a good winner on the flat taking the honours by over five lengths in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh back in October. Hughes intends to debut him over hurdles in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown in 12th February, a race won in 2011 by the Dermot Weld trained, Unaccompanied, who went on to finish second in the Triumph Hurdle behind Zarkandar. Currently Minsk is a 10/1 shot to win the 2012 Triumph Hurdle.

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, Trainer, Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson, Phillip Hobbs, Ruby Walsh, Latest Racing News, Triumph Hurdle Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Argento Chase Can Provide Useful Gold Cup Pointers

January 25, 2012 1 Comment

Grands Crus can confirm he's a serious Gold Cup contender in the Argento Chase

It looks like it will be a cracking renewal of the Grade 2 Argento Chase at Cheltenham this coming Saturday with the David Pipe Cheltenham Gold Cup hope, Grands Crus, heading the betting market at odds of 2/1.

The race formerly known as the Cotswold Chase is run over an extended 3m1f on the New Course and has had a host of decent past winners, including the late Exotic Dancer in 2007, See More Business in 2001 and 1998, and One Man in 1997. It is a well known trial for the Gold Cup and there will be a number, in addition to Grands Crus, in the race this year that harbour Gold Cup hopes.

However, it is Grands Crus who has continued to look like a top class horse of the future certainly looks the one to beat and although a novice his jumping prowess already looks superior to most of these rivals on Saturday. He has been out three times already this season, winning them all, including a very impressive 2¼ length victory in the Grade 2 Feltham Chase over 3 miles at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. In that race he had the highly regarded Bobs Worth from the Nicky Henderson stable over 5 lengths in arrears in third place, which prompted trainer David Pipe to suggest that he may now take his chance in the Gold Cup against Long Run and Kauto Star. Interestingly, he is already the favourite to win the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

To win on Saturday he will have to overcome some very useful opposition, which includes 2010 Hennessy Gold Cup winner, Diamond Harry. The 9 year old has had only one run since that victory which came in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November where he finished fourth behind Kauto Star and Long Run. There is no doubt that he needed the run that day but he should be a much stronger candidate in this which explains why his trainer, Nick Williams is very keen on his chances and also why the Bookmakers have him disputing second favouritism with odds of 11/2.

Also at 11/2 is Paul Webbers Time For Rupert last seen also being beaten by Kauto Star and Long Run but this time in the King George Vl Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. He was no match for the big guns at Kempton, but Webber has been finding it hard to hide his confidence in him currently. He claims that ‘Rupert’ has been working better than ever at home and is now ready, having learned some valuable lessons to live up to the hype he received after his second place behind Big Bucks in the 2010 World Hurdle.

Captain Chris from the Phillip Hobbs stable is also currently at 11/2 and he is another who needs to confirm the potential he showed when winning the Arkle Challenge Trophy at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. He followed that win up of course with a great win in the Ryanair Chase over two miles at the Punchestown Festival to end what was a fantastic season for him. However this season he has done nothing but disappoint, unseating on his reappearance at Exeter in the Grade 3 Haldon Gold Cup, won by Medermit and then he finished third but over 18 lengths behind Kauto Star when trying three miles for the first time in the ‘King George’. It is clear that Hobbs will use Saturday’s race as a yardstick as to which of the Cheltenham races he will target. Currently the 8 year old has entries in both the Ryanair over 2m5f and the Gold Cup.

Now trained by Champion Trainer, Paul Nicholls, Tidal Bay will be running for the second time this season after being given a spin in a three mile hurdle race earlier this month in which he finished a creditable third. It was his first run since his doomed Grand National attempt last season, but it is worthwhile noting that he finished second in this race last season and possibly would have won had he made his challenge earlier. It will be very interesting to see how he performs for his new handler in the Argento.

Filed under Argento Chase, Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Trials, David Pipe, Latest Racing News, Paul Nicholls, Phillip Hobbs, Racecourse Tagged with , , , ,

Sizing Europe and Big Zeb Bid To Join Elite Champion Chase Club

January 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

When last year’s winner Sizing Europe lines up for this season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, trainer, Henry De Bromhead and connections will be will hoping that he can join a highly illustrious group of just ten horses that have won this very prestigious race twice. That same wish of course will also be made by trainer Colm Murphy and the connections of Big Zeb who won the race back in 2010.

The two head the antepost market for the race that decides who will be the season’s champion two mile chaser; but even the best of racing tipsters would not necessarily be able to split them at this stage in the build up.

Both have been out this season, with Sizing Europe having his first spin in the Grade 2 PricewaterhouseCoopers Champion Chase over 2½ miles at Gowran Park back in October. He won that race by just under two lengths from Coolcashin but he had to be grateful to the final fence fall of subsequent Grade 1 John Durkan Chase winner, Rubi Light. The 10 year old followed that up with a second place behind Quito De La Roque in the Grade One, JN Wine Chase at Down Royal, but that was over three miles which is not his favoured distance. However he made amends for that defeat when returning to the two mile trip in the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park which he won in great style by 8 lengths. The win encouraged the Bookmakers to clip his odds into 9/4 favouritism to retain his crown.

Big Zeb meanwhile has been seen out twice this season, winning firstly the Grade 2 Fortria Chase over 2 miles at Navan, beating last season’s Arkle Trophy Chase winner, Noble Prince by a couple of lengths. That win was followed up by victory in the Grade One Paddy Power Dial A Bet Chase over 2m1f at Leopardstown towards the end of December, where once again the now 11 year old proved too good for Noble Prince, winning this time by 1¼ lengths.

These two wins by Big Zeb if nothing else has showed that he retains the zest that was very apparent in his final race last season when he made some amends for his Cheltenham reverse by defeating Sizing Europe in Boylesports.com Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival. A race considered by the sport as the Irish National Hunt’s equivalent of the ‘Queen Mother Chase’. He is considered a best price of 9/2 to regain his champion chaser crown.

In the past it has proven much easier to win the race back to back rather than miss out a year, a feat which has been achieved by only Royal Relief in 1972 & 1974 and the great Moscow Flyer who won in 2003 and 2005. The other eight dual winners all did so in consecutive years, the most recent being Master Minded, winner in 2008 & 2009. This might count against Big Zeb of course who also could be making his attempt without his first choice jockey, Barry Geraghty on board. Geraghty has not ridden him this season so far due to his commitments as retained jockey to Nicky Henderson who at present is undecided whether or not his Finians Rainbow runs in the ‘Queen Mother’. Effectively if Finians Rainbow runs, then it will be Geraghty on board, if not the ride will once again go to substitute jockey, Robbie Power.

Should 6/1 shot Finians Rainbow run then he would have to be considered a decent enough threat to the big two, particularly as he appears to have progressed significantly this season. However he did finish second at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival behind Noble Prince, who, as pointed out above, is held by Big Zeb, a fact which would mean that Finians Rainbow would have to improve even more to become the champion chaser this season.

Others which might yet influence the market once final declarations are made could be the Paul Nicholls pair of Al Ferof, winner of two chases over two miles this season and Kauto Stone, although the latter is likely to go for the Ryanair Chase.

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, Latest Racing News, Queen Mother Champion Chase Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Join Together Could Be The Darkhorse In RSA Chase

January 17, 2012 Leave a Comment

The RSA Chase is widely recognised as one of the major races at the annual Cheltenham Festival and is a leading Novice chase at the meeting aimed at producing the best staying novice chaser in the country.

It is run over a slightly extended three miles and for reasons that are not always obvious the race has produced a fair amount of shocks, with favourites, at least until recently not really justifying themselves.

Possibly and even more significantly perhaps is that only very few winners have gone on to bigger and better things which in some ways downgrades the overall value of the race although this could be a tad unfair. However, it is interesting to note that not one of the last three winners, Bostons Angel in 2011, Weapons Amnesty in 2010 and Cooldine in 2009 have won a race since. Indeed, Bostons Angel has failed miserably in two starts this season, Weapons Amnesty has not run since his win and Cooldine simply never progressed.

That said, it is not all doom and gloom, the 2008 winner, Albertas Run for instance has come back to the Cheltenham Festival to win the Ryanair Chase over 2m5f in both 2010 and 2011, while Denman who won the RSA in 2007 became the first horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following season since Looks Like Trouble 2000. In fact only seven past RSA Chase winners have ever gone on to win National Hunts most prestigious prize which considering the aim of the race is a very surprising fact.

The antepost market for the 2012 renewal has the David Pipe trained Grands Crus as a relatively short priced favourite with odds around the 7/2 mark. However, it is known that the owners, Roger Stanley and Yvonne Reynolds are in favour of taking their chances with him in the Gold Cup instead and Pipe does not disagree with them. Should that be the case then the race will become a very open affair, with the Nicky Henderson good thing, Bobs Worth the likely favourite.

Bobs Worth of course was no match for Grands Crus when the two met in the Grade 1 Feltham Novice Chase on Boxing Day, but proved a very tenacious sort when holding off the challenge of Cue Card in Grade 2 London Pride Novices Chase at Newbury over 2m4f at the end of November. He has already proven his staying credentials by winning the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle over three miles at the 2011 Festival and providing Grands Crus does defect to the Gold Cup then Bobs Worth with odds currently of 5/1 certainly looks the one to beat.

Irish challengers have usually performed well in the RSA Chase, with fifteen past winners, including the last three mentioned above and they have a very lively raider this year in the form of Last Instalment. Trained by Phillip Fenton, this 7 year old has progressed beautifully this season winning all of his three starts over fences. These included a terrific performance when defeating First Lieutenant by six lengths in the Grade 1 Fort Leney Novice Chase over three miles at Leopardstown at the end of last year, a win which marked him down as a big player this year. He is currently around the 8/1 mark.

Paul Nicholls who has saddled two winners of the RSA Chase and has an interesting entry this time in the form of Join Together, who is a very clear staying type who has won his last two starts over fences. Certainly his 12 length success in the Rymans Stationer Novice Chase in December had Nicholls purring and which forced bookmakers to shorten to around the 10/1 mark to win the race. He could be the one to monitor as the race draws ever closer.

Filed under Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Latest Racing News, Paul Nicholls, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase Tagged with , , , , , ,

Fingal Bay Looks The One To Beat In Early Neptune Picture

January 11, 2012 Leave a Comment

The Grade 1 Neptune Investment Management Novice Hurdle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival looks set to be one of the more competitive races of the meeting.

Raced over 2m5f on the Old Course, the antepost betting currently has the Phillip Hobbs trained, Fingal Bay installed as the 5/1 antepost favourite, with a host of others queuing up behind him. Hobbs has good reason to be sweet on the chances of Fingal Bay who is unbeaten after five starts, which includes a bumper, three Grade 2 races and most recently the Grade 1 Challows Novice Hurdle over 2m5f at Newbury. He would appear to go on all ground and the 2m5f would seem his ideal trip.

In the Challows Novices Hurdle he had to battle quite hard on the run in with the Tim Vaughan trained 25/1 outsider, Ballyrock, but he never really looked like losing and proved that in the heat of battle he can rise to the occasion. Ballyrock in fact has been quoted at 20/1 to win the race which might be a price that would attract each way backers!

Next best in the betting, with odds of 12/1 is the Willie Mullins trained Make Your Mark also unbeaten after three starts, but has so far only had one spin over hurdles. That came at the end of last year in the Madigans Maiden Hurdle over 2½ miles at Leopardstown, which he won in hugely impressive style by ten lengths. He clearly took to jumping extremely well and although the ‘Neptunes’ will be a big step up in class there is little doubt that he has the ability to race at the top level. Mullins of course knows what it takes to win this race having saddled the winners in both 2008 with Fiveforthree and 2009 with Mikael d’Haguenet.

Mullins in fact also intends to saddle Boston Bob, the winner of the recent Grade 1 Navan Novices Hurdle on soft ground over 2½ miles at Navan. In that race he gave a 4½ length beating to previous Grade 2 Hurdle winner, Mount Benbulben, trained by Gordon Elliott, who had gone off as the 5/6 odds on favourite. The win earned Boston Bob a quote of 14/1 to win the ‘Neptunes’.

Also at 14/1 is the Nicky Henderson trained, Simonsig but he would have to find almost three lengths and possibly better ground than good to soft if he is to reverse the form with Fingal Bay, who beat him in the Grade 2 Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle Trial at Sandown at the beginning of December. Henderson however does believe that he will come on for the run and he is likely to have one more run before Cheltenham.

Monksland trained by Noel Meade also jumped into contention the other day when he won the Grade 2 Slaney Novice Hurdle over 2½ miles on soft to heavy ground at Naas the other day. He had won his maiden back in December and looks a very lively prospect although he might not get the soft ground which he would prefer at Cheltenham. Nonetheless the Bookmakers have deemed it prudent to include him in their markets with odds of around the 16/1 mark.

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Latest Racing News, Neptune Novices Hurdle, Phillip Hobbs, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

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