Ryan McElligott of The Irish Field reveals his five best bets for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.
Tuesday sees the start of everyone’s favourite national hunt festival. We may be missing some of the big names and defending champions but there is no doubt, once the tape goes up on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the excitement levels will be as high as ever.
The best jumpers and chasers in Europe are descending on the Cotswolds, so here is our guide to navigating that talent-laden racecard.
Automated
Wednesday – Coral Cup
Gordon Elliott will unleash an impressive array of talent over the four days and this son of Authorized could well emerge as one of his best chances of the week.
The trainer has a noteworthy record in the ultra competitive Coral Cup having won the race twice in the last six years as well as saddling several placed horses and Automated has had this race as his target for several months.
On his last outing he won a decent two and a half miles handicap hurdle at Navan in December when coming from last under a masterful Bryan Cooper ride to deny the progressive Scoir Mear with the pair finishing 20 lengths clear of the others. Prior to that he ran well in a quality two miles event at Fairyhouse and he shaped better than his final placing would suggest when fourth to Sir Scorpion in a fair handicap at Naas in November.
Those last three runs would suggest that he has progressed into a reliable and quality handicapper while it is rather noteworthy that his trainer has kept him under wraps for a race that he has proven particularly adept at targeting.
Presenting Percy
Thursday – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Presenting Percy’s stylish victory at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago has seen the English handicapper slap him with a 16lbs rise in the ratings (only 10lbs in Ireland) for the Pertemps Final. It is long way from ideal that Pat Kelly’s charge will have to concede weight to most of his rivals but there are a couple of factors to consider.
Firstly the manner of Presenting Percy’s Fairyhouse triumph suggested that he was a good deal more than just a decent handicapper. Furthermore this year’s renewal of the Pertemps doesn’t look a vintage one and the six-year-old can go higher still despite having climbed over two stone in the handicap this season.
The ground at Cheltenham should be better than what he encountered last time and that can only work in his favour. He has yet to conclusively prove that he stays three miles but he shaped up quite nicely in both of the Irish qualifiers for this race and he comes from a stamina laden pedigree.
Another point of interest is that six horses have carried more than eleven stone to victory in this race since 2000 so weight isn’t a major barrier to success.
Forge Meadow
Thursday – Trull House Stud Mares Novice Hurdle
It was only two weeks ago that Jessica Harrington’s Forge Meadow staked her claim for Cheltenham but the manner of her victory in that Naas Grade 2 suggested that she would be playing a major role in the Festival’s newest race.
On ground that was much slower than she would like Forge Meadow registered a resounding eight lengths success over the very useful yardstick Joey Sasa. That was easily her best effort to date from her four runs over hurdles but there is no doubt that there is more to come from her.
Last season this daughter of Beneficial made two appearances in bumpers and her debut yielded a commanding success in a sales race at Fairyhouse. She met with defeat next time but showed improved form when going down to Augusta Kate in a high class good ground mares bumper at the Punchestown Festival.
The form of that Punchestown race marked her out as a likely contender for top honours in the mares division this season and that recent Naas success bears out this view. The distinct possibility of better ground next week can enable her to take another step forward.
Starchitect
Thursday/Friday – Brown Advisory & Merribelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase or Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
On his two previous visits to the Cheltenham Festival this six-year-old has come within touching distance of victory and he might just get his turn in the coming days. A former runner-up in the Betfair Hurdle and a decidedly unlucky fifth in last season’s County Hurdle, Starchitect has had his attentions switched to chasing this term and he remains open to substantial improvement in this sphere.
His debut effort over the larger obstacles at Bangor in December was a solid effort and the following month he was beaten just over five lengths into third at Plumpton by the subsequent Grade 1 runner-up Baron Alco. Starchitect was then sent to Ayr where he took advantage of a good opportunity to win easily and it is heartening to note that both the second and fourth from that race have won since.
Unquestionably this son of Sea The Stars will progress further on better ground and he could also improve for the reapplication of blinkers which he has yet to be fitted with over fences. As a hurdler he showed some high class handicap form and there is every reason to believe he will do just as well over fences which will make him a force to be reckoned with wherever he goes next week.
Djakadam
Friday – Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup
In two previous outings in the Gold Cup Djakadam has had to settle for second but there is every reason to believe that he could make it third time lucky in an especially open edition of the great race.
As a mere six-year-old he ran a splendid race to chase home Coneygree in 2015 and last year he again ran honourably to be beaten just over four lengths by Don Cossack. At the age of eight Djakadam should really be coming into his own and his last time out defeat in the Lexus Chase should not be held against him.
On that occasion he was returning to the fray just over two weeks after making a successful reappearance in the Durkan Chase. In the past this son of Saint Des Saints has given the impression that he is well suited by having his races nicely spaced out so there is a strong possibility that he found the Lexus coming too soon. Since then he has been kept under wraps for the Gold Cup and he will arrive next Friday as a fresh horse off a light season – an ideal scenario for this gelding.
A repeat of either of his previous Gold Cup efforts could well be good enough to prevail and it is worth bearing in mind that his preparation for last year’s race was a less than ideal one. A much smoother build up this time can only aid his cause.
