Cheltenham Festival Time Review - Days 3-4 New Course

Thursday March 16 Going: good (fast side of)

• Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase.
  
  Reveillez 144, Copsale Lad 145, Tumbling Dice 137, Direct Flight 126, Turpin Green 136, Hors La Loi III 134, Cornish Sett 136, Le Volfoni (146).One of three races over the 2m 5f distance on the chase course on the day. Even though the final time was good, it was much the slowest of these races over the opening part of the race. Given a confident ride by Tony McCoy Reveillez travelled best throughout the race. When it took command after jumping three out . The result never looked in serious doubt. Time from the top of the hill (5 out) to the line was 1:32:4. From when the winner took up the lead three out 55.1secs. Time from the last to the line 16.6 secs. All those three sectionals were quicker than the winners of the other two races over the distance. Virtually impossible for something to come from behind and win. Under the circumstances therefore. the effort of Copsdale Lad in getting so close to the winner is worthy of recognition. Haven't actually measured its own sectionals. It must have done quicker figures than the winner from the top of the hill. Its time from the last to the line must have been around an impressive 16.4 secs. On fast ground it is fair to say that it needs three miles now. I believe that had the earlier pace been stronger it would have here. Depending on the handicapper's reaction to this result would have to give it consideration for the two major handicaps here before Christmas next season. Particularly the one on the new course. Le Volfoni was still travelling strongly when it fell with every chance three out. Stamina had not become an issue at that stage . It remains a matter of conjecture as to how it would have fared up the hill. Am prepared to stick my neck out and rate it as coming third. Will be cautious in opposing it, however, as it may well be 5lb or so better than my rating. No signs of problems from Turpins Green here. Personally I believe its aberration at Sandown was due to confusion on the horse's part. Having jumped the fence on the other side, the first time around. Cornish Sett ran well considering it was carrying a four penalty for dead heating in a falsely run (as usual!) Vodafone Gold Cup at Newbury.
  
  
• Ryanair Chase.
  
  Fondmort 153, Lacdoudal 152, Impek 154, My Will 147, Hand Inn Hand 143, Hi Cloy 146. A strong gallop from the outset set by Our Vic who was probably going to fast for its own good, tiring markedly in the closing stages and Impek. The latter confirmed itself to be a galloper rather than a speed horse by keeping on when headed by the winner two out, all the way to the line. Fondmort travelled very well. When it led two out, it seemed the margin of victory would be at least five lengths. It did tire quite noticeably on the run-in. Its time from the last was a relatively pedestrian 17.8 secs. Despite winning it was below par. Lacdoudal stayed on well for second without really looking like winning. Easy to say it needs 3m miles now. I just believe that this is its best course and distance. It is suited by a strongly run race. Whether it wins or not is down to the weight carried. Had this race been a handicap it would have won. Unfortunately after this it will be required to carry even more of a burden in future handicaps. My Will is consistent but looking hard to place. Hand Inn Hand ws never that good but did win a slowly run Gd1 in the past. Hi Cloy would have preferred some give. It had a hard race here in vain. Sir Oj, who fell four out, was not well in at the weights and would have found the ground too lively. Normally a safe jumper, it will be heading to Aintree for the National. The ground willl be better on a flat track. The big question is stamina? Am sure Paul Carberry will endeavour to give his mount an energy saving ride.
  
  
• Ladbroke World Hurdle.
  
  My Way de Solzen 161, Golden Cross 161, Mighty Man 157, Fire Dragon 154, Baracouda 152, Emotional Moment 151, Starzaan 145, Patriarch Express 141, Ambobo 137. Was not sure of My Way de Solzen's ability to handle the quicker ground here. Certainly had the best time but that was on desperate ground at Fontwell. One factor that would have made a difference is that the field went a decent gallop from the start. Thanks to the front running Blue Canyon pursued by Crystal d'Ainay. When the field went past the stands for the first time, they were already five seconds quicker than the handicap hurdle run later. Despite going much quicker than in the handicap, the principals still finished to some effect clocking 50.2secs from two out and the winner 19.2 from the last. Both of those times quicker than the handicap. For me the race had a controversial ending. There is no doubt that by edging in front of the runner-up Golden Cross on the run-in. My Way de Solzen prevented that rival, beaten only a head, from winning. Would still regard the winner as the better prospect for next season. Particularly if the ground was slower. Mighty Man ran the race of its life in staying on for third. As did Fire Dragon in finishing fourth. Former champion Baracouda stayed on at one pace for an honourable fifth. Slower ground would have helped. Some days after the race connections stated that the horse had been injured and would be retired.
  
  
• Racing Post Plate
  
  Non So 149, Kelrev 133, Graphic Approach 132, Roman Ark 123, Saintsaire (123). Very few horses actually got into this race. Thanks to the furious gallop set by Saintsaire which I had considered to be a hold up horse. It travelled only fractionally slower than Our Vic/Impek in the Ryanair. Only going up the top of the hill five out did Saintsaire start to slow dropping to 1.6secs off the pace of the earlier race. Stable companion Non So who was quietly ridden benefitted from the strong gallop, looking the winner at this stage. Its final rating suggests it would have won no matter how the race was run. Though I'm inclined to believe it will probably stay 3 miles on this quick ground and actually needed the stamina test provided here. Was not stopping at the line, clocking a reasonable 17.2 from the last with a bit in hand. Kelrev stayed on without threatening. An exhausted Saintsaire, who would probably have been third, fell at the last. Fortunately it got up safe and sound. After lying on the turf too winded to get up. Amazingly Ross River who I regard as a soft ground horse who needs a minimum of three miles, actually started as the favourite. It fell at the eighth. As far as I'm concerned its backers had done their dough as soon as they had beacked it. Roman Ark who kept on for a non threatening fourth, needs slower ground to be competitive. Probably only made the frame here as it couldn't go quick enough early on to be burned off.
  
  
• Letheby & Christopher National Hunt Chase.
  
  Hot Weld 111, Beantown 112+ Far From Trouble 113+ . Not a strongly run race but controversial for the wrong reasons as three horses died in the race Thankfully Ardaghey who was travelling strongly when taking a crashing fall three out, survived. Post Cheltenham the executive have expressed doubts concerning the future of this race. As the three horses that died were three of the best in the race, curiously Ardaghey would nearly have made it a full set. The blame can't be layed upon the quality of the horse involved. In all cases the riders were more than just competent. Therefore horsemanship can not be blamed. Look forward to the pathetic excuse Cheltenham may offer for dismissing the race which had so many fatalities. I say pathetic becuase the only explanation is the fast ground. I have no doubt that unless the press do their job and corner the executive on this issue. They will do anything but avoid any liability. No point in blaming frosts etc in preventing watering. The over efficient drains are to blame. It will probably require the deaths of two major jumping stars at the same festival before they will be forced to do the right thing and block them up. Or at least reduce their efficiency. From a race point of view another great ride from the front by Robert Harding on the winner. I don't believe Hot Weld is the best horse in the race yet, though its courage can not be doubted. From a time point of view it was not a satisfactory race. Obviously over this marathon trip they are going to go slower overall. Ironically thanks to the quick ground this was a course record time. Most eyecatching feature of the race is the speed at which Beantown finished the race, doing 16.5 secs from the last. With that sort of pace it should be a 130+ horse. For now the evidence suggests it was given too much to do. As was the third Far From Trouble. There is a case for arguing that both riders can be forgiven as Hot Weld's last fence finish was a more than respectable 17.5secs, which is why it just held on.
  
  
• Pertemps Final
  
  Kadoun 124. The early gallop was moderate, one would have expected the pace to pick up towards the end in a slow race. It was not dramatic. The winner, Kadoun led two out. Its time from there to the line was 51.2 secs and and 19.8secs from the last. With Olaso being fatally injured and Oulart pulling much too hard for its own good. The race probably was not as strong as it could have been. The lack of pace was simply against genuine stayers especially on the quick ground. The Pipe duo in Liberman fourth and Alikat seventh ran better under the circumstances than I am able to rate them.

Friday March 17 Going: Officially good treating as good to firm

• JCB Triumph Hurdle
  
  Detroit City 149, Fair Along 142, Blazing Bailey 141, Pace Shot 136, Afsoun 132, Turko 130, Mahogany Blaze 128, Breathing Fire 140, Mister Hight (138+). This was an above average renewal. Talk of the Fred Winter weakening this race is utter nonsense. Since when has quantity ever been better than quality? Detroit City put up a good time when winning on relatively fast ground at Sandown in early February. It had similar conditions here and revelled in them. Thanks to the strong gallop set by stable companion Fair Along a decent time was recorded, breaking the course record. Looking at the race in sections. The first part to the second hurdle in front of the stands was just over a second slower than the County Hurdle. The next circuit to what was then the last hurdle, was actually quicker by 1.4 seconds at 2:49:0. A reflection of the galloping ability of the runner-up, who was headed at the last. It was stamina rather than pace that enabled the winner to pull out a five length advantage by the line. The time from the last was 19.9secs good but not brilliant. Blazing Bailey's stamina counted in the latter part of the race. It is going to need much further than this next season on quick ground. Breathing Fire would probably have finished fourth had it not fallen at the last. Pace Shot was the marked improver in the race by finishing a highly commendable fourth. Turko is a slightly better juvenile than this year's Arkle winner Voy Por Ustedes was last season. If it can jump fences anyway near as well, will be one to follow next season.

  The top two rated for me going into the race Mister Hight and Afsoun were both below par. The former had a setback the week before and sweated up badly before the race. The latter had been jumping slightly to the right in the early stages. When Kasbah Bliss, another possible major contender, fell at the fourth. Mister Hight had to shift out to the right to avoid the prostrate horse. It seemed unsettled after that jumping markedly out to the right thereafter. Realising that his chance had gone, Ruby Walsh did not subject the W Mullins juvenile to a hard race up the hill. Possible that the it was finding the ground too quick for jumping on or its lack of courage may have been exposed by the faller in front of it. Personally am prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt on that score for the time being. Post meeting, following the results of bloodtests, the trainer stated that a number of his Cheltenham also-rans had probably been suffering from an infection. Another reason to give it the benefit of the doubt. Even in defeat showed itself a more than useful animal if making allowances.
  
  

• Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle.
  
  Black Jack Ketchum 149, Powerstation 136, Travino 132, Back To Bid 132, Shouette 123. Dream Alliance 127, Karanja 127, Zipalong Lad 125, Oscar Park 123. A fairly comfortable success for the winner, who was not inconvenienced by the ground, unlike many of its rivals. The race itself was run a decent even gallop. The circuit of the course from the sixth hurdle (in front of the stands) took 2:51:6, compared to the World Hurdle time for the same circuit at 2:49:8 not a huge amount of difference though the ground was slightly quicker on this day. Black Jack Ketchum, who led two out, was not under any serious pressure from the last. Clocking 20.3secs to the line. It looked capble of doing it a full second quicker. Powerstation stayed on but did not have the pace of the winner. Travino ran a fair race on ground that would have been to quick. Back To Bid appreciated this quicker surface. Shouette who had too much use made of her in testing ground last time, stayed on late. The restrained way she was ridden here, contributed more to her improved performance than the ground.
  
  
• totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup
  
  War Of Attrition 158, Hedgehunter 154, Forget The Past 149, L'Ami 148, Take The Stand 148, Monkerhostin 148, Sir Rembrandt 146, Royal Emperor 144, Royal Auclair 141, Cornish Rebel (150). In terms of time this was a substandard Gold Cup, however, it is fair to say that most of the principals could have run around 10lb better than the rating acheived here. Therefore will be pencilling in 168+ for War Of Attrition, when the ground is riding fast. The race looked between the first two home at the top of the hill. The fact that Ruby Walsh did not take a more positive approach by this stage on Hedgehunter is a pity. Probably reflecting the fact that the connections of the horse were possibly distracted by thoughts of the Grand National. Therefore not overly keen to give their horse too hard a race here. The winner may have found more in any case. Forget The Past is consistent, on this ground its stamina was not truly tested. L'Ami would have preferred some give. The race from a time point of view suggests that even though they were over 7 secs quicker than the Foxhunter in the first half of the race, The overall early pace allowing for ground conditions was not electric. Looking at the closing stages the time from 5out (top of the hill) to the line was a quick 1:31:4, faster than any of the previous days chases and quicker than the Grand Annual later in the day at 1:31:6. They did go fast from the start in that race. Thanks to a great leap at the last War Of Attrition clocked 16.9 to the line. The leap at the last suggested there was still something left in the tank. Of the others L'Ami would have found the ground too lively. Take The Stand didn't jump well enough. Was staying on at the end this was not enough of a stamina test. Monkerhostin made a bad mistake early in the race. Kept on at one pace. Sir Rembrandt would have found this an insufficient stamina test, was staying on. With some give in the ground for the National, where it is extremely well weighted on its best form. Could play a major role if jumping does not let it down. Royal Emperor ran its best race for a long time. Once again the ground would have been too lively . Cornish Rebel was still in contention when making a bad mistake 3out. I believe it would have finished third. The ground was much too lively for Beef Or Salmon. No point in blaming the course itself. Though the undulating nature of the track does make fast ground harder to cope with.
  
  
• Christie's Foxhunter Chase
  
  Whyso Mayo 120, First Down Jets 119, Joe Blake 118, Bothar Na 115, Savati 115, Telemoss 115, Raregem 113, Gatsby 111, Drombeag 117. Good strong race, plenty of talent for the future. The trouble is they just didn't go fast enough. The winner Whyso Mayo clocked a quicker time in a point last season. Had previously been frustrating in trying to win a hunter chase. Everything went right here on a day that mattered. Now that it has managed to get its head in front under rules. Can see no reason why it couldn't improve past 130. First Down Jets stayed on well for pressure. The early gallop was moderate which meant it was more a cavalry charge than a stamina test in the closing stages. Time from five out was a relatively speedy 1:33:7. Time from two out at 27.9 was quicker than the Gold Cup's 28.2. The furious pace was kept upto the line from the last with 16.4 secs the run-in time for the winner. In managing to make headway under these circumstances, the six year old Savati is well worth considering for the future. Most eyecatching finisher of the race was Telemoss who must have clocked a time clock to 16 secs from the last. However, at twelve the future is not so bright. This could have been an opportunity lost. Most unfortunate of the rest was Drombeag who was very badly hampered at the first. Made mistakes under pressure in the closing stages. This was not a sufficient enough stamina test for an animal who stays four miles.
  
  
• Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase
  
  Greenhope 140, Tiger Cry 139, Madison Du Berlais 142, Nyrche 138, Davenport Democrat 142, Ground Ball 143, Green Tango 141, Caracciola 140. Fast and furious gallop from the outset with the winner Greenhope remarkably up there throughout. Sections slowed in the latter stages as the effects of the early gallop took hold. The time from two out to the line at 28.1 was slower than the Foxhunter. The winner of that race was carrying 17lb more! The last to the line time of 16.9 was relatively pedestrian. This was a searching stamina test. Tiger Cry ran another brave race here. May be suited a flatter track in terms of stamina at this level. Madison Du Berlais got in close to virtually fence , losing valuable momentum. Without being given a hard time it came home from the last in 16.4 secs, finishing full of running. Had it managed to put in a fluent round would have won comfortably in my opinion. Unfortunately will not be so favourably treated in future. This was an opportunity lost. Green Tango was found out by the quick ground. It's lack of experience did not help.
  
  
• Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.
  
  Desert Quest 142, Noble Request 136, Adamant Approach 134, Pirate Flagship 121, Studmaster 137, Chief Yeoman 131. One of the more impressive winners of the day in a race officially slower than the Triumph Hurdle. Though I did actually make it 0.2 secs quicker. A quick start to the race then it was steadied slightly going out into the country. The pace was furious on the final turn. Desert Quest put in an electrifying 19.4secs from the last. Remakable because it won with something in hand. On fast ground would have to consider the horse being close to 150 in future. Noble Request could not match the winner for pace from the last. It was a fine performance nevertheless. With some ease in the ground may well have won. Dusky Warbler may have found conditions markedly different from its excellent second in the Imperial Cup. Was travelling sweetly enough when being bumped at the fourth causing Jamie Moore to nearly exit the saddle. It lost too much ground in this incident to ever have a chance of being competitive thereafter.

Next Outing

Will be aiming to put ratings up for Aintree later this week.

Ratings Pages

Need to update them, having not done them them since before the Cheltenham Festival, so a job to before the end of the month. Just snowed under. Have got a problem with my software. Therefore unlikely to have anything put up before May.

Links

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Betdaq

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