Cheltenham fever is in full flow and as we wake up this morning we have 13 days left of our countdown. To think that this time in a two weeks time we will be rising on the day the awesome Sprinter Sacre attempts to make it back to back winning Festivals. We will also know the result of the Champion Hurdle and whether we will be seeing Hurricane Fly at his illustrious best or will a young gun come through the ranks.
I recently asked my twitter followers what race at Cheltenham they would like me to cover first, with a whole host of answers the Ryanair came out on top. So here we are now, about to preview one of the most anticipated and right now confusing races of the Festival of 2013. If you would like to influence what race I review next you can follow me on @lukeyboy1325.
without further a do we shall crack on with the preview.
Cue Card - The ante-post favourite for this race and for a while was fancied in the Gold Cup betting before his flop in the King George on Boxing day. He is one of many in the race who hasn't got a target for Cheltenham set in stone but it looks as if the Ryanair will be the choice. The fall back option is to run in the Champion Chase and re-oppose Sprinter Sacre after last year's Arkle.
He burst onto the scene with a scintillating performance in the Haldon Gold Cup down at Exeter right at the start of the season, beating Edgardo Sol by 26 lengths and Menorah by 34 lengths that day. As already mentioned he then flopped when upped in trip in the King George managing only 5th and clearly not staying, beaten 20 lengths by Long Run. Then came his latest run at Ascot where he was somewhat a fortuitous winner of the Ascot Chase, when Captain Chris made a shuddering mistake 2 out. Whether Cue Card would have still won that day, we will never know but it was clear Captain Chris was going the better of the two.
He looks to hold a good chance in the race and would be a popular winner, however 4/1 may be a bit slim for him now in an open race. One last point is that there could well be some potentially better horses in the field behind him in the betting. (4/1)
Riverside Theatre - Last year's winner of the race under one of the best rides Barry Geraghty has ever given a horse when getting up on the line. He once again looks to be Nicky Henderson's leading hope in the race in which he also has Champion Chaser Finian's Rainbow and Geraghty sure to ride.
Since his success last year he hasn't quite been the same horse, he went on to be pulled up at Aintree in the Betfred Bowl and was rightly put away for the season. He made a delayed start to his season in the King George against Cue Card, but once again ran no kind of race at all, eventually finishing 7 lengths behind Cue Card. On his latest form he is very hard to fancy and you have to question if he really was a great horse last season, or if Geraghty made him look better than he is.
By any stretch of the imagination 8/1 is far too slim for what he has done since last year, and if you were to back him it would be entirely on hoping for a revival. One to give a miss with this year. (8/1)
Menorah - Quite easily described as a horse you have a love hate relationship with if you follow him. At one point in his career he looked as if he could be the next big thing in the Champion Hurdle division, He was just short of that however. Then he was an exciting recruit to fences before finding out he made the odd race ending mistake failing to complete twice in his novice year. He then restored the hope with an excellent jumping display to win at Aintree very easily, beating Al Ferof in the process.
This year however he hasn't had many problems jumping but has just been not quite good enough once again. At Exeter he was beaten 34 lengths by Cue Card, which he was entitled to need first time out. He then jumped well when winning the Peterborough Chase (at Kempton), handing out a 3 and a half length beating to Hunt Ball in the process. Last time out he was stepped up in trip for the Denman Chase over 3 miles at Newbury. Realistically he didn't have much of a chance with Silviniaco Conti but he was 14 lengths behind The Giant Bolster, also only 4 lengths ahead of Junior. On the whole not a bad run but you'd want a little more.
As far as betting goes on Menorah, personally he isn't for me, but you could find worse 12/1 shots at the meeting this year. He wouldn't be a surprise winner but should be playing for place money at best. (12/1)
First Lieutenant - Mouse Morris is very keen to send last years RSA runner up to the Gold Cup, however Michael O'Leary wants to send him here to split up himself and Sir Des Champs. Were he to come here it would be a monumental mistake, as he doesn't appear to have the pace to stay with the more athletic types in the field. Champion Court and Cue Card look set to take them along a good clip and although he would be staying on the Gold Cup remains the best option. That is all to be said for First Lieutenant. (5/1)
Sizing Europe - Beaten last year in the Champion Chase when aiming to defend his crown by Finian's Rainbow, this race looks the ideal type for him. However it wont be confirmed whether he runs here or in the Champion Chase again until late on Henry De Bromhead has revealed. If he were to take his chance here he will be bang in the firing line, at least on the betting front if not the race itself.
Unbeaten this year in Ireland as you would expect with the kind of company he has been running against and the prices he has been going off at. He once again looks to make a successful voyage to Prestbury Park and England in general. When venturing to these shores he has won a Maiden Hurdle, a Greatwood Hurdle, an Arkle, A Tingle Creek and a Champion Chase. For an Irish horse that is some portfolio and it would comfort the punter to know that he travels over well. It also would comfort them that he can reproduce his Irish form after travelling, a classic example of a horse that couldn't do that was the late Golden Silver.
He has won 4 times this term, but like I say he hasn't been competing against much and for a competitive race and lesser exposed types we will swerve him this year. (6/1)
China Rock - I cant find a definitive answer on whether this is China Rock's main target for the Festival, but after blatantly not staying the Gold Cup trip it should be. Every time he comes to Cheltenham he seems to run his race but like I say by no stretch of the imagination does he see out the Gold Cup trip. However the 2 miles 5 furlongs of the Ryanair would appear to be right up his street.
Last year he turned down the hill going much the best of the field, others were working away around him but Andrew Lynch was motionless. Then as expected at 3 out his stamina gave way and he eventually finished a remote eighth, beaten 47 and a half length's by Synchronised. He then won the Punchestown Gold Cup against all odds with relative ease under Barry Geraghty. This time he stayed the 3 miles but Punchestown is nowhere near as demanding as Cheltenham is with its undulations. We have only seen him once this year in the Lexus when leading turning for home until fitness gave out and faded to fifth. Take a look at who finished ahead of him though and its no bad thing. Tidal Bay, First Lieutenant, Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs were those four who are all Grade one horses.
He must have a huge chance if taking up his engagement here and at 25/1 cant be ignored earning him and each way vote from me. Its worth noting that if any of the others take their chance in different races he wont be a 25/1 shot. (25/1)
Champion Court - Martin Keighley's Gelding is one you cant help but love, every race he wears his heart on his sleeve and cuts out the running. He is without a win since new years day of 2012 when winning the Dipper Novices Chase. Last year he found only Sir Des Champs too good in the Jewson but had some good horses behind him with For Non Stop in third.
This year he started off in a 2 mile 1 furlong race at Ascot when giving a stone and a half to the useful William's Wishes and only going down by 6 lengths. Realistically this race was always going to be too short for him and was probably only being used as a pipe opener for the season. After that he was the each way selection on here for the King George. Turning for home you would be forgiven for mistaking him as the winner before a mix of stamina and the bottomless ground got to him. Still, he finished a very dignified fourth and only 16 and 3 quarter lengths behind Long Run. More importantly he had Cue Card and Riverside Theatre behind him that day who may take him on once more here. You can forget completely about his last run as that wasn't his true showing at all.
I have to say 10/1 does look a tad generous and is a fantastic each way price, although he really should be in with a fantastic chance of winning here. Again if some of the others ahead of him in the betting don't take up this engagement he could go off 4/1 or shorter on the day. (10/1)
Win - Champion Court (10/1)
EW - China Rock (25/1)
I hope you enjoyed this guys, hopefully there will be more to come regarding Cheltenham, don't forget to follow me on Twitter on @lukeyboy1325 and let me know your views and thoughts.
Happy Punting
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