Cheltenham Festival continues on Thursday, March 13, with plenty of punters looking to place their bets on the third day of one of the most-anticipated horse racing events of the year
As we enter the second half of Cheltenham Festival and move on to the New Course, there are some good things to put your cash on.
Having earned a rating of 94 on the Flat, SIXANDAHALF (1.20) is the class act in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Gavin Cromwell’s lady made a sparkling debut over timber at Fairyhouse in January, when she was never out of third gear yet hosed up by a dozen lengths.
On the New Course, there are only two flights in the last seven furlongs, which will place less emphasis on jumping. The inaugural running of the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase takes places over two and a half miles.
FIREFOX (2.00) was third in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at this meeting, and Gordon Elliott’s creature was an excellent third in a Grade One affair at Leopardstown over two miles on February 1. This longer trip will suit and I’m sure he is much better than his initial mark of 150.
In 2021, Wexford trainer Paul Nolan sent out a mare called Mrs Milner to snare the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle over three miles, so I’m hoping another lady, FEET OF A DANCER (2.40), can waltz home this time.
This mare finished third of 20 at Leopardstown over the festive period. That was job done so she could run in this race, and she looks well-treated racing off a ledge of 136.
It’s going to be wonderful to see IL EST FRANCAIS (3.20) take off like a scalded cat and wing over the fences as he tries to make all in the Ryanair Chase over two miles and five furlongs.
Past winners of this race like Uxizandre, Vautour and Allaho (twice) have all employed front-running tactics and it was a cracking run when the French raider was just beaten in the King George Chase over three miles at Kempton Park on St Stephen’s Day.
We haven’t seen TEAHUPOO (4.00) for 102 days, but that’s because Elliott has decided that his horse is best caught fresh.
Jack Kennedy kept him wide when he bolted up by nearly four lengths in last year’s renewal of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle over three miles, and it’s great to see the talented jockey back in the plate after a long spell on the sidelines.
The trickiest race to solve at the four-day jamboree is the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.
JAGWAR (4.40) obliged off a rating of 132 over course and distance in January, so the assessor has been very fair in only raising JP McManus’ improver to a ledge of 139.
Jonjo O’Neill’s trainee won very easily last time so snap up the 5-1 each-way with a layer offering five places.
Derek O’Connor rode the winner in last year’s Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase and can steer JOHNNYWHO (5.20) to victory this time.
McManus’ beast has surely been laid out for this having been running in Grade Two Novice Chases over shorter trips on his last three spins.