Cheltenham Festival - Neptune Novice Hurdle 2012

The Neptune Novice Hurdle is the championship race for two and half mile hurdlers at the Cheltenham Festival and this year it stands in its own right as one of the most eagerly awaited contests of the meeting.

News that potential world beater Fingal Bay would miss the race due to a setback definitely came as a disappointment to many however his absence has not taken the shine of a race which looks to be oozing class.

Boston Bob is the current favourite and has been backed significantly since triumphing in a Grade Two Hurdle at Leopardstown in January.

Trainer Willie Mullins has been unusually bullish about the chances of his horse, claiming for certain that nothing from his side of the Irish Sea will give Boston Bob a serious scare come the Festival.

The bookies also seem to agree, with Nicky Henderson’s grey Simonsig the only other horse challenging at the head of the market.

Simonsig clearly warrants massive respect going on his progress so far and it speaks volumes that Henderson is willing to pitch his charge into this race instead of contesting a rather weak looking Supreme Novice Hurdle.

The six-year-old initially caught the eye when hosing up in a Fairyhouse bumper at the end of last season, before opening his hurdles account with a bloodless success at Ascot.

Fingal Bay proved just too strong for Simonsig next time out in a Sandown Grade Two however another victory quickly in the Morebattle hurdle at Kelso – a respected trial race for the Cheltenham spectacular.

Fingal Bay’s omission undoubtedly clears the path for Simonsig and it would be hard choose any other UK runner over him to face the Irish contingent.

But Boston Bob is by no means a shoe in and a vital piece of form indeed appears to have been readily overlooked. Boston Bob’s aforementioned success at Leopardstown was impressive to say the least as he beat Lyreen Legend by two lengths on heavy going.

Nevertheless, that runner-up had been slammed by six lengths in equally desperate going at Naas by a horse named Monksland just a few weeks before and Noel Meade’s horse has not been seen on the racecourse since.

Meade commented afterwards that Monksland hated the ground and would be even better come the spring. With the going at Cheltenham likely to be right up Monksland’s street, Meade’s charge can overturn both Boston Bob and Simonsig to strike gold.

The shrewd punting public have slowly supported Monksland throughout the weeks leading to Cheltenham and it price contracted further after Lyreen Legend went on to confirm the form by dotting up at Thurles.

Monksland has now halved from 14/1 into 7/1 but that still stands out as an excellent price as he really deserves a share of the favouritism.

Batonnier is next best in the market at 8/1 with Sous Les Cieux and Make Your Mark around 12/1, whilst Prospect Wells should see some support leading up to the race as 25/1 is too big for a horse with decent each way claims.

But it is Monksland who can land the real blow and cool the heat and hype surrounding Boston Bob and Simonsig who will have to run the race of their lives to prevent the dark horse from building upon his classy success at Naas which could be the beginning of big things for Noel Meade and his stable.

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03/03/2012     © Frixo 2024