Cheltenham Festival Day 1 - Part 2

Here is the second of our three part guide to the opening day of action at Cheltenham.

The third race of the afternoon is the difficult to predict Festival Handicap Chase which as of writing most bookmakers still not priced up. Those that were had the Donald McCain trained Our Mick at the head of the market ahead of Cantlow. This is a nightmare race for punters and bookmakers with the best way to play this race to look at the key stats of previous races and see if this can find a runner or two at bigger EW prices. Firstly horses aged 11+ are 0-40 in the placing since 1997 so immediately discount the older ones. In addition six of the last ten race winners won last time out so it might pay to side with a horse showing form. This still leaves quite a shortlist though the one I am going to recommend you side with is the Sue Smith trained Cloudy Too who has won the last two. The horse has won over this distance before and I think it would go off at half the price if it came from one of the more fashionable yards. This looks worth an EW interest.

The big race of the day is the Champion Hurdle which for some is considered to be the best race of the whole week. Nine runners are scheduled to compete in the renewal this year. The market is currently headed by Hurricane Fly who was available at around 9/4 (general) at time of writing this. The Willie Mullins trained runner won this in 2011 and on best form could beat anyone. Fly is in good form this season with three wins from three runs and looked good when seeing off Thousand Stars at Leopardstown last time out. The price on Hurricane Fly though is much too short to attract interest and as such it might pay to look around at other options.

Paddy Power might be the place to go if you are looking to take on Hurricane Fly as the Irish bookmaker are offering money back on all losers if the Fly wins. Zarkander at 7/2 (general) is expected to provide the closest challenge. At some three years younger this horse may have the advantage if comes to a chase on the hill. The Paul Nicholls mount was won each of the last three including a victory at Cheltenham in December. He also won at the festival in 2011 before coming fifth in this race in 2012. He finished behind Hurricane Fly that day and it becomes a question of how much improvement has been made since then. I think at those prices though he looks worth a little interest.

Rock on Ruby won this race last year and is 9/2 (general) to repeat that victory this year. This looks a decent price considering the way he beat the two market leaders last year . Although he was beaten here in December by Zarkander and Grandouet, he did look somewhat back to best when seeing off Countrywide Flame at Doncaster last time out. You can not argue with experience and at this price he looks worth an interest.

Others expected to be in the mix are Grandouet who finished second behind Zarakndar and ahead of Rock on Ruby at Cheltenham in December, a top three place looks very possible. Binocular will also have some supporters though the Horse is not the same one who won this in 2010 as injuries have taken their toll.

Cinders and Ashes, Countrywide Flame, Khyber Kim and Balder Success are the others who complete the field.

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BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Zarkander to win the Champion Hurdle
SILVER: Rock on Ruby to win the Champion Hurdle
Both with paddy Power who will refund losing bets if Hurricane Fly wins
BRONZE: Cloudy Too, EW in the Festival Handicap Chase, best available price

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12/03/2013     © Frixo 2024