And so we have started another Cheltenham Festival. As predicted the opening day was one for Willie Mullins to take the starring role and Ruby Walsh to take the lead in the jockey’s championship (again!).
It was a day for new heroes to emerge and old timers to break records. Sadly, it was also the day we said goodbye to the wonderful Our Conor, the brilliant winner of last year’s Triumph Hurdle.
He suffered serious injuries when taking an awful tumble for Danny Mullins in the Champion Hurdle and was humanely put down by the vets at the track.
It was an awful sight that marred an otherwise brilliant day’s racing, and my sympathies go out to all connections.
I landed quite a few winners yesterday: Vautour, Champagne Fever, Trifolium, Green Flag, Jezki, My Tent Or Yours were all tipped up here as major Day 1 contenders and we managed a nice Mullins exacta with the incredible Quevega winning from Glens Melody.
The mighty mare becomes the only horse to win six straight renewals of a race at the festival and she did it with some aplomb.
So we move on to Day 2. Hopefully we can find a few more winners, though on a day littered with big field handicap races I’m not overly confident!
Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Baring Bingham) (Grade 1)
Ah the Neptune. Always a tricky race to kick off Day 2.
There are 16 runners in the field but I expect the opener to go the same way as yesterday, with Mullins and Walsh’s Faugheen to take the spoils.
The horse is unbeaten under rules and was excellent in a G3 in Limerick over Christmas and it would seem silly to punt against it. I would look at Royal Boy for Henderson/Geraghty to fill the minors.
RSA Chase (Grade 1)
Another big field (15) and much tougher to call.
Carlingford Lough is a proven chaser, Ballycasey looks likely but I can see this being a bigger price winner. I am going to go for Davy Russell’s mount, Morning Assembly, at a big price to take the spoils.
There should be a lot of movement in prices before the jump so hopefully the generous price holds up.
Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3)
28 runners in a handicap – think needles in a haystack, because picking a winner in this race will be harder than the adage.
Not one of them scream “back me”, so it’s best to look at eachway value.
I’m thinking Dunguib and Far West are the pick of them. Dunguib because the old-timer has some class, and Far West because he would be a more shorter price if he had not been a faller late in the Betfair last time out.
To be honest this one could go anywhere.
Betvictor Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
Alas no Sprinter Sacre. The equine superstar is still deemed unfit to race.
I’m a big fan of Arvika Ligeonniere and I think it will pip this, but there is quality throughout this field. Captain Conan most likely to chase home, but it’s a tight call.
Favourite Sire De Grugy has been in magnificent form and at a big price Somersby could also be in with a shout.
Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (Cross Country)
16 runners and again no real standouts in this one. I’m siding with Balthazar King and Star Neuville as my top e/w bets in the race.
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
Clarcam is the one that most takes my fancy in this 24-runner Handicap. The yard won this last year and this lad hasn’t been out of the places yet. Ivan Grozny and Arzembouy Premier for the places.
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open National Hunt Flat) (Grade 1)
I really hate big field bumpers. They are impossible to find a winner in! That said, I will do my best.
Dermot Weld knows a thing or two about these sorts of races and Vigil looks a likely sort, winning last time out in a competitive race at Leopardstown.
I really like the look of Black Hercules. It might be Mullins’ second string, but I think it could take this at a reasonably big price; a nice way to finish the day.
Yvonne Perry
Guest
thanks a million for the kind comments Luke...didnt do quite so well today what with horses falling and hampering my tips!! Landed a few ew and placed though, so still up for the day http://www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/Guide/Jumpracing/Grades.asp best guide I have to listed races. The Grand Nationals are valuable races but are handicaps - hope it helps. Here in Ireland and in the UK National Hunt racing is far more popular than flat racing, for a number of reasons, but the key one is really the longevity of the horse. Punters really get to know the superstars and can follow them for multiple seasons, for example Quevega took her sixth renewal of the mares on Tuesday, that would never happen in Group 1 flat racing, where a third season would be out of reach for most of the best sprinters. Don't also forget that lots of horses that end up in National hunt also have excellent rating on the flat before they start their Hunt careers (normally as a 4-5 year old) Its the final day of the festival tomorrow and the most Prestigious race of all the Gold Cup. Hope you can tune in for it. I will post my blog for the day later. :)
Justin Cinque
Expert
Just on the National, it's very strange for a handicap to be even graded in Europe. For example, a handicap cannot be a Group race on the flat in England. I suspect that may be the reason why it's not a Group 1 race, but someone who understands the National Hunt scene better than me, may be able to shed some more (accurate?) light. I've actually noticed the same about the number of Group 1 races. There feels like there's a lot and some them have only three or four starters line up in them.
Luke Andrews
Guest
I was just going through the list of Grade National Hunt races. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_National_Hunt_races Two things struck me; 1, The sheer number of Grade 1 races. There are 37 races listed as Grade 1. This compares to the 33 Group 1 flat races across all age groups. 2, The Grand National is only a Grade 3 race despite being the most famous jumps race in the world. The only reasoning I saw from the list is that it is restricted to horses 7+ yrs old. Anybody know any more?
Luke Andrews
Guest
Thanks guys for the helpful answers. Always good to learn new things.
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
1. A novice jumper is running his first season over the jumps. A young horse may be sent over jumps in his 1st season or come from a season of bumpers or could be a former hurdler. 2. Justin's response above sums it up. 3. Grade 1 is the same level as group 1 on the flat. 4. Most horses are distance specific ranging from 2-4miles but some horses are versatile and switch in distance and from hurdles to jumps
Justin Cinque
Expert
Hi Luke, I can answer question 2. A bumper is what we call a 'jumper's flat'. It's highweight race for jumpers without any fences.
Luke Andrews
Guest
Hi Yvonne, I don't know particularly much about British National Hunt racing, but I am impressed by your preview and day 1 success. So, I thought you would be a good person to ask about some of the terminology and how it all works. 1, What constitutes a novice jumper? 2, What is a bumper race? 3, Is a grade 1 jumps race considered as prestigious as a group 1 flat race? There seems to be a lot of them. 4, Due to the numbers and quality of hunt horses, are they as distance specific as flat horses, or distance versatile like the Australian jumpers, where you get Grand National winners lining up in the Hiskens which would be our version of the Champions? Good luck on tonight's racing.