Cheltenham Festival - Grand Annual Handicap Chase Preview

Top weights seldom do themselves justice in handicap races at the Cheltenham Festival – but French Opera may be able to buck that trend in this year’s Grand Annual Chase.

The two-mile contest rounds of the meeting once again in 2012 and French Opera could provide the icing on the cake for trainer Nicky Henderson who will be hoping that Long Run can land the Gold Cup honours earlier in the afternoon.

French Opera has been a model of consistency throughout his career for Henderson and has previous success at Cheltenham already in the form book.

Although the nine-year-old has never quite managed to hit the heights of a Grade One triumph, he has nevertheless posted some magnificent efforts in behind top class horses and that was typified by his latest run when second to potential world beater Sprinter Sacre in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

Opera was always held by his stable-mate however he stayed on relentlessly to finish best of the rest.

What was most notable about that race was the fact that Sprinter Sacre broke the course record and Henderson described French Opera as ‘not fully wound up’ in a subsequent interview.

If that is the case, then French Opera’s form must surely be too strong for this company - despite him being set to carry a punishing 11st 12lbs.

The minimum distance naturally means that such a burden takes less effect than on the saddle of a staying chaser, so French Opera may still be considered well-handicapped and can cancel out the penalty with a good, clear round of jumping.

It would of course require another remarkable effort from French Opera to win a handicap of this kind off a rating of 162, but there does not appear to be too many other dangers lower down the weights.

The main standout challenger is Astracad from the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable who is unexposed at the end of a novice campaign.

The six-year-old has turned in some good performances this campaign, finishing a highly creditable second behind Supreme Novices champion Alf Ferof on the back of a debut chase success at Perth.

Carrying just 10st 9lbs, the handicapper may well have let Astracad go considering that he finished only seven lengths behind a potential Champion Chaser at the track.

Salut Flo would be an obvious candidate for the race should David Pipe choose to run him – and the seven-year-old has already been described by Pipe as ‘the one he is most looking forward to’ at the Festival.

With 10st 1lb on his back, Salut Flo would be a major player if the race developed into a stamina test and the same also applies to Renard from the Venetia Williams yard who has been consistent in top handicap company all season.

Renard would also benefit from a strongly run race due to his fast cruising speed and is potentially on a winning mark harbouring a mere 10st 7lbs.

De Boitron from the Ferdy Murphy stable is also worth a mention whilst Bellvano will be there or thereabouts if Nicky Henderson decides to pitch another runner into the contest.

It is Henderson’s French Opera who makes the most appeal however and the final race of the Festival could supply the only top weight winner of the week.

Go To bet365

#Ad

09/03/2012     © Frixo 2024