Cheltenham Festival 2024: Mid Season Assessment of the Thursday and Friday Grade 1's
In the second part of his mid-season review, @RoadCheltenham examines the antepost markets for the Thursday and Friday Grade 1's including the Stayers Hurdle and the big one - the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Turners Novices Chase
It’s boring but I expect GAELIC WARRIOR to win this race. I’d be very shocked if he lines up in one of the other novice chases – this distance is perfect for him and it’s on the New Course rather than the Old Course, meaning a greater test of stamina.
I can see Gaelic Warrior bowling off in front in Galopin Des Champs-esque fashion but he’ll hopefully still be on his feet after the final fence. If you can forgive FACILE VEGA for his effort at Christmas, then you’d have to say he is a player with a step up in trip likely to suit.
The Willie Mullins horses dominate the betting for this race and I’d be hoping that FACT TO FILE comes here as it should at least make the race entertaining. He’s clearly a very talented horse and I’d like to see him and Gaelic Warrior going toe to toe turning for home.
It was great to see BANBRIDGE receive an entry for the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton Park this weekend as it confirms his well-being and he is worth backing for the Ryanair off the back of that. For me, he ticks plenty of boxes to go very close in March.
Perhaps I’m being a tad harsh but I expected more from ALLAHO in the King George VI Chase and I feel like connections did too. Both Willie Mullins and Paul Townend suggested that he had no excuses and maybe age is just catching up with him.
STAGE STAR was disappointing on New Year’s Day but had excuses while EDWARDSTONE is likely to be stepped up after two defeats to Jonbon.
At a big price, I like JUNGLE BOOGIE for Henry de Bromhead – he’s extremely fragile but boasts plenty of talent.
I’ll be completely honest – I know very little about THELEME and a flat race as a prep run for Cheltenham isn’t ideal in my opinion. While the division is weak enough, I’d argue that there are more reliable types and a number of talented young stayers.
CRAMBO got the better of DASHEL DRASHER and PAISLEY PARK in a great battle at Ascot and Fergal O’Brien will be dreaming of a first Cheltenham Festival winner. I certainly wouldn’t be writing him off at this stage – he finds plenty for pressure and will be in the mix.
IMPAIRE ET PASSE and SIR GERHARD are intriguing types for the race but I like IRISH POINT for Robcour.
I’ve been a huge fan of his for some time now and I’d love to see him win the Stayers Hurdle, although I’d hold off backing him until his spring target is confirmed.
Are you sitting down? We’re in January and the British have the top two in the betting for the Triumph Hurdle. BURDETT ROAD, written off by yours truly at the time, has had his form franked time and time again while SIR GINO falls into the ‘could be anything’ category.
The sharks are circling in the betting beneath the top two, with five of the next six trained on the other side of the Irish Sea. Connections are sweet on KARGESE but I’d be intrigued to see her handicap mark as she’s very much on my radar for the Boodles.
STORM HEART really caught the eye at Punchestown on New Year’s Day and he would be my pick at 7/1.
Willie Mullins has confirmed the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle is his target at the Dublin Racing Festival and he’ll be a short price for the Triumph if he wins that.
This race is 12/1 the field and that says it all. HIGH CLASS HERO is the favourite and he’s not been seen since October! The good thing is, we’ll know an awful lot more about the Bartlett once we’ve had the Lawlor’s of Naas and the 2m6f Grade 1 at Leopardstown in February.
I liked STELLAR STORY for this race at the start of the season but I now feel he’s one of those horses who is always going to find one or two that are better than him. CAPTAIN TEAGUE is intriguing but you never know if Paul Nicholls is going to save one for Aintree or not…
I’ll be honest – I find this race an absolute minefield and would offer a tentative each way nod towards JOHNNYWHO. He was staying on in the Challow Novices Hurdle and connections have suggested this race is the target and that’s good enough for me.
If the GALOPIN DES CHAMPS that turned up at Leopardstown over Christmas turns up at Cheltenham in March, then the rest are probably playing for place money. Having said that, I won’t be taking him at his current price – I’d rather just let him win.
FASTORSLOW is a very likeable horse yet he doesn’t get the credit that he deserves and it would be some story if he was able to down Galopin once again. Another ding-dong battle in the Irish Gold Cup could be on the cards at the Dublin Racing Festival.
SHISHKIN has the talent but is he going to behave? Only time will tell. At the prices, he’s worth backing each way as he’ll surely be bang there if he jumps off. Don’t sleep on Charlie Hall Chase winner GENTLEMANSGAME either guys, Mouse Morris is a man with a plan.
