Tuesday
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| Quevega image: racingpost.com |
1.30pm Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1
There is plenty of local interest in the opening race of Cheltenham 2012. Irish trained horses have a good record in this race, winning six of the last ten renewals and there is a strong chance of a seventh. Willie Mullins saddles three and Midnight Game seems to be his leading hope. Jockey bookings for his horses were not available when going to press but it may be significant that Ruby Walsh has elected to ride Prospect Wells for Paul Nicholls and Davy Russell has chosen Gigginstown House Stud’s Trifolium over Midnight Game. Galileo’s Choice was an impressive winner at Fairyhouse last time and Dermot Weld’s gelding was second to Sous Les Cieux in a Grade One at that track before Christmas. Distatn Memories represents Tom Taaffe. Steps to Freedom is unbeaten over hurdles for Jessica Harrington and won the Aintree Bumper last season. As a course and distance winner, he has an edge over some of his rivals and could get Kildare off to a flying start.
Allure of Illusion 40/1
Midnight Game 10/1
Simenon 33/1
Steps to Freedom 6/1
Galileo’s Choice 7/1
Distant Memories 50/1
2.05 Arkle Novices’ Chase Grade 1
The only locally trained horse in this race is Willie Mullins’ Blackstairmountain. Ruby Walsh will not be on board Blackstairmountain as he has chosen to ride Paul Nicholls’ Al Ferof who is the biggest threat to the favourite, Sprinter Sacre. Blackstairmountain has won twice over fences but was well beaten by Flemenstar at Leopardstown last time. Better ground should bring an improvement but he is probably not good enough to win.
Blackstairmountain 14/1
2.40 JLT Speciality Handicap Chase Grade 3
The only local horse with an entry in this race is Magnanimity. Dessie Hughes’ gelding was only a length behind Bostons Angel in the RSA Chase last year and while he hasn’t quite returned to that level of form this year, the better ground he will get here should bring an improvement but he has been given 11-1 to carry.
Magnanimity 14/1
3.20 Champion Hurdle Grade 1
This race is all about Hurricane Fly. The defending champion is the best hurdler since Istabraq. He had an interrupted early part of the season but a stunning performance in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the end of January confirmed he is as good as ever. Despite the apparently rejuvenated Binocular in the field, the race looks his to lose.
Stable companion Zaidpour takes his chance and will be ridden by Paul Townend. He is a talented horse and unbeaten this season but this is a huge step up in class for him.
Jessica Harrington runs Oscars Well who beat Zaidpour in a Grade One last season. He was unlucky at last year’s Festival and has been running well without winning this term. He chased home Hurricane Fly last time out and the better ground and faster gallop will help him. He has place claims.
Hurricane Fly 4/5 fav
Zaidpour 33/1
Oscars Well 12/1
4.00 Glenfarclas Handicap Chase
There is little to choose between the Willie Mullins trained pair of Scotsirish and Uncle Junior. They head the weights and the betting. Uncle Junior has won around this track and Scotsirish has won at Punchestown. Both have beaten Garde Champetre who won this race in 2009 and has a good record over banks. At the time of going to press jockey bookings hadn’t been finalized.
Scotsirish 5/2
Uncle Junior 4/1
4.40 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle Grade 2
What can you say about Quevega? The stellar mare is bidding for her fourth win in this race in a row. She just turns up at the Festival and without a prep run and obliterates her rivals. Stable companion Dare to Doubt also runs. She won a chase on her last start and will be ridden by Paul Townend. Peter Fahey’s Shop DJ has been mixing races on the flat and over hurdles and fences with success and she was victorious on the level at Dundalk last time out. She will be ridden by Davy Russell. Arthur Moore’s What a Charm won the Fred Winter at last year’s Festival and if she recaptures her sparkle she could run into a place but it looks like second is the best any of these girls can hope for!
Quevega 1/2 fav
What A Charm 25/1
Dare to Doubt 20/1
Shop DJ 16/1
5.15 Pulteney Land Investments Novices Handicap Chase Listed
Another one for Dessie Hughes, White Star Line is the sole local representative in the last race today. He has yet to win over fences but was third to Hidden Cyclone on his last start. He has some top class novice hurdle from last season, finishing second to both Sir Des Champs and First Lieutenant but has a lot of weight to carry for what he has achieved so far. Davy Russell is on board.
White Star Line 14/1
Wednesday
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| Jezki (left) makes a winning debut image: irishracing.com |
1.30 Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase
Most horses are running over four miles for the first time in this race for amateur jockeys. Carlow’s Willie Mullins has two entries - Allee Garde and Soll. Both horses are prominent in the betting. Allee Garde will probably be ridden by Patrick Mullins. Soll has never been out of the first two in two point to points and three track races. Daffern Seal for Dermot Weld represents Kildare. He hasn’t run since August but has won two of his four starts. He is likely to be ridden by Robbie McNamara.
Allee Garde 7/1
Soll 15/2
Daffern Seal 25/1
2.05 Neptune Investments’ Novices Hurdle Grade 1
Willie Mullins has two top class horses entered in this. Make Your Mark is a lovely horse who looks to have a bright future ahead of him. His sole defeat in three races was at Leopardstown when he finished third behind Boston Bob on very testing ground that didn’t suit him. Sous Les Cieux came from France with a big reputation and won the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December but disappointed at Leopardstown at Christmas. He just failed to catch Benefficient in the Deloitte Hurdle last month and he cannot be ruled out.
Make Your Mark 12/1
Sous Les Cieux 8/1
2.40 RSA Chase Grade 1
Three representatives for Willie Mullins in this - Call the Police, Lambro and Sir Des Champs. Sir Des Champs is a hugely exciting horse. He won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle at the festival last year. He is unbeaten in his five starts for Mullins and he is highly thought of. Even if Grands Crus runs he has a great chance. Lambro has some good form to his name. He beat Shinrock Paddy in a Grade Two at Naas in November and since then has been placed behind Flemenstar and Last Instalment. Call the Police is inexperienced as he has only run twice over fences and finished second to Last Instalment in the Grade One PJ Moriarty at Leopardstown last month.
Sir Des Champs 4/1
Lambro 25/1
Call the Police 25/1
4.00 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle Grade 3
The handicaps can be notoriously difficult to predict and there are huge entries. At the time of going to print cards hadn’t been finalized. Many of the Irish horses have been penalized by the handicapper so it may be hard to get many Irish winners. Final Approach won a Festival handicap last year – the County Hurdle but has won only once since. He has been running in good races but still the handicapper’s decision to allot him 11-6 is steep. Dessie Hughes’ Stonemaster carries 11-2 despite not winning for a year. Thomas Mullins has Alderwood in the JP McManus colours and he is set to carry 10 -10. Prince Erik holds multiple handicap entries. Dermot Weld’s grey was fancied for last year’s Irish Grand National but only managed 12th. He’llberemembered will need a few of those above him in the handicap to come out if he is to get a run but with a light weight on his back he could be competitive. He won at Naas in October and since then has been placed in some competitive handicap hurdles for Nurney based Paul Fahey
Final Approach 25/1
Stonemaster 50/1
Alderwood 25/1
Prince Erik 33/1
He’llberemembered 33/1
4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Grade 3
Three local possibilities for the four year old handicap hurdle. Argocat for Tom Taaffe has run three times over hurdles and was victorious last time out in Thurles two months ago. He will carry 11-8. Gorgeous Sixty has not shown her best form since coming from France but if she were to regain that she would have a small chance for Willie Mullins. Chill is Dessie Hughes’ representative and has just one win from six starts over hurdles but has been keeping good company.
Argocat 16/1
Gorgeous Sixty 20/1
Chill Dessie 25/1
5.15 Champion Bumper Grade 1
Willie Mullins has become synonymous with this race and Pique Sous and Champagne Fever will bid to give him his seventh winner in the race. Champagne Fever disappointed slightly at Leopardstown at Christmas but has been disputing favouritism for this race since an impressive Fairyhouse win in January. Pique Sous showed a turbo charged turn of foot under Patrick Mullins to land a Leopardstown bumper last month. Jezki has won both his bumpers and Jessica Harrington’s charge is one of Ireland’s main hopes of taking the prize across the Irish Sea.
Champagne Fever 8/1
Pique Sous 12/1
Jezki 16/1
Thursday
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| Sir Des Champs and Emmet Mullins victorious at last year's festival image: sportinglife.com |
1.30 Jewson Novices’ Chase Grade 2
Willie Mullins has Call the Police, Lambro and Sir Des Champs all entered for this as well. If Sir Des Champs runs here he has a fantastic chance of winning. In the absence of their stable companion Call the Police and Lambro may have place claims.
Sir Des Champs 4/1
Call the Police 9/1
Lambro 14/1
2.05 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final Listed
Dessie Hughes Rick ran well behind Mourad and Mikael D’Haguenet on his last two starts but hasn’t won since he beat Blackstairmountain in January last year. For all that, his weight of 10-12 is a heavy enough burden. Willie Mullins Sergeant Guib’s has finished third on both his Irish starts but again his weight of 10-12 seems harsh for what he’s done over here. Jessica Harrington has Jetson, a half brother to Jezki entered in this race. He stayed on well to win the qualifier at Leopaardstown over Christmas. Jetson was allotted 10-4 and off a nice enough weight he could run well but he needs a couple to come out. This is another handicap hurdle that Prince Erik is entered in.
Prince Erik 25/1
Jetson 16/1
Rick 25/1
Sergeant Guib’s 20/1
2.40 Ryanair Chase Grade 1
Willie Mullins’ Blazing Tempo is an admirably consistent mare. The Galway Plate winner has been on the go since May and has won four out of her six races in that time including beating Noble Prince at Fairyhouse last time out. Admittedly that was over an inadequate trip for Paul Nolan’s charge who is a lot shorter in the betting for this race. The Ryanair is a hot contest this year but on her form Blazing Tempo is entitled to take her chance.
Blazing Tempo 20/1
3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle Grade 1
Willie Mullins has four contenders for this - Mikael D’Haguenet, Mourad, Thousand Stars and So Young. Thousand Stars is running here instead of the Champion Hurdle and he has fantastic place claims. Big Bucks’ is going for four in a row and is unbeaten in fifteen starts and will be a tough nut to crack. Oscar Whisky has never run over three miles before. Thousand Stars is a festival winner and ran Oscar Whisky to a head in a Grade One at Aintree last April and then went on to win the Grade One French Champion Hurdle over three miles two furlongs. He has since added a second Grade One He is a lovely consistent horse and over this longer distance he may be the one to rain on Big Bucks’ parade. So Young is unbeaten this season but this is a step up in class for him. Mourad has been placed in this race before and beat former festival winner Mikael D’Haguenet at Navan last time out.
Thousand Stars 8/1
So Young 14/1
Mourad 16/1
Mikael D’Haguenet 25/1
4.00 Byrne Group Plate Grade 3
Tom Taaffe’s Finger Onthe Pulse is the sole Kildare entry in this race. He beat Barbers Shop in the Jewson four years ago but is an 11 year old now. He won the 2010 Galway Plate but JP McManus’ gelding has only won once in his eight starts since that victory. He hasn’t been seen on track since falling here in December.
Finger Onthe Pulse 33/1
4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Willie Mullins has Up the Beat entered in this but he has top weight and is just a novice and his jockey Patrick Mullins thinks this will be a difficult task for him. That hasn’t stopped the bookies from making him favourite.
Up the Beat 9/1
Friday
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| Boston Bob (left) carries Carlow's hopes today image:irishracing.com |
1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle Grade 1
Willie Mullins has two runners entered here - Ut de Sivola and Darroun. Ex Aga Khan horses have a good recent record in this and Darroun comes from that sphere. He was second on his Irish debut at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve and then beat Hisaabat at Leopardstown at the end of January. That form makes him one of Ireland’s leading hopes. Ut de Sivola beat Hisaabat at Punchestown in January but that one made a bad mistake at the last. He then disappointed behind the Weld horse when he could only managed seventh in the Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown. Dermot Weld’s Hisaabat ran up a sequence of good performances in defeat with three seconds on the bounce. He finally got the win he deserved in that Grade One at Leopardstown. He is one of Ireland’s leading contenders. Tom Taaffe’s Argocat is entered in this too. Denis Cullen has Dysios, who won on his second start at Navan less than two weeks ago.
Ut de Sivola 22/1
Darroun 12/1
Hisaabat 16/1
Dysios 66/1
Argocat 66/1
2.05 Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3
Final Approach won this in a thrilling finish last year but despite winning just once since he has gone up in the weights. Citizenship is chasing a €100,000 bonus in this race. Jessica Harrington’s horse was an impressive winner of the Boylesports.com Hurdle at Leopardstown at the end of January and the sponsors put up the bonus if the winner of that race could manage to win a race at the Festival. Citizenship has a very low weight but needs lots of horses to come out of this race if he is to get in. If he gets a run then he is definitely one to keep an eye out for. His stable mate The Bull Hayes is also entered in this race and could be one for rugby fans to follow! Thomas Mullins’ Alderwood is entered in this race too as well as earlier in the week. Sabrina Harty’s Kalann won at the track in October and has since run well, including two good second places. He is entered in the Champion Hurdle but if he runs here he could go well at a big price.
Final Approach 20/1
Kalann 25/1
The Bull Hayes 25/1
Citizenship 9/1
Alderwood 33/1
2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1
Boston Bob is the horse everyone wanted to talk about at preview nights. He has been exciting everyone in the yard since coming from Howard Johnson’s in the summer. He has won all three starts for the Mullins team. He won the Grade One Navan Novice Hurdle from the highly rated Mount Benbulben before Christmas and then defied a Grade One penalty in the Grade Two Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown a month ago in terrible conditions. He is stepping up in trip here but is a highly talented horse and looks to have a great chance of winning this race. Felix Yonger made the same journey as his stable companion to Closutton. He too has raced three times for the yard. He was second on his first start before racking up two wins, including a Grade Two at Naas late last month.
Boston Bob 9/4
Felix Yonger 25/1
3.20 Gold Cup Grade 1
Willie Mullins has two entries in this Quel Esprit and The Midnight Club. This year’s race seems more open than previous years. Defending champion Long Run hasn’t set the world alight and there are doubts over Kauto Star since it emerged he fell while schooling. Quel Esprit had jumping issues last season and he fell while leading the RSA Chase last year. The team have worked on his jumping and he won the Irish Hennessy on his last start. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he ran a big race and was placed.
Quel Esprit 12/1
The Midnight Club 100/1
4.00 Christies Foxhunters Chase
Boxer Georg is the mount of Patrick Mullins in the amateurs’ Gold Cup. He won his only start this season last month in Clonmel and will be a shorter priceif his connections have a good week. Merchant Royal could represent Dermot Weld. This horse has some good form going into the race, having won his last three starts. Merchant Royal will probably be ridden by Robbie McNamara.
Boxer Georg 14/1
Merchant Royal 14/1
4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Another handicap entry for Dermot Weld’s Prince Erik. He was given 11-4 which is a lot of weight for what he’s achieved. Citizenship is also entered and has 11-0 but the County Hurdle earlier in the day is his preferred race. If he doesn’t get into that he could still chase the bonus here. He’llberemembered has an entry here too and is on 10-11. Ted Walsh is another local trainer with an entry in this race. He could run That’Ll Do Me. What A Charm is entered in this but she ran earlier on Tuesday.
Citizenship 14/1
Prince Erik 25/1
What A Charm 16/1
That’Ll Do Me 25/1
He’llberemembered 33/1
5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Grade 3
Arthur Moore’s Free World in the Kauto Star colours is the only local runner in this race and his recent form is unimpressive. Though he is set to carry just 9-13 he is surprisingly short in the betting. If Clive Smith’s legend wins the Gold Cup earlier on the card there could be a sentimental plunge on this horse.
Free World 16/1
* This article first appeared in The Nationalist 13 March 2012
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