And here we are again, on the cusp of another Cheltenham Festival. A week where hopes will be fulfilled and dreams will be shattered, both on and off the racecourse.
Here are some of my double figure fancies for the best four days of the year…
Giovinco (12/1) – Ultima Handicap Chase
Lucinda Russell has won the last two renewals of the day one 3m 1f handicap chase with Grand National hero Corach Rambler and she holds good claims of a third successive success with Giovinco. The seven-year-old perhaps hasn’t achieved the heights that might have been expected of him in his first season over fences but as a result gets into the race off a very workable 146 and the form of his narrow defeat to Brown Advisory fancy Stay Away Fay at Sandown in December is strong. He holds a touch of class and his easy win of a two-runner affair at Newcastle last month will have put him spot-on for a bold bid.
Wodhooh (10/1) – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
To be honest I have to say I’m surprised that 10/1 is available for Wodhooh, who has done very little wrong all season. One of the most experienced juveniles around, with five runs under her belt, she’s been on the go since September and comes to Cheltenham with an unbeaten record over timber still intact. Twice a winner at listed level, I think she comes with a far more solid profile than some of her more unexposed rivals at the head of the market and is a cracking each-way punt. There’s also the fact that trainer Gordon Elliott has won three of the last six editions of a race that is one of the few never won by Willie Mullins.
Quai de Bourbon (16/1) & Ballyadam (20/1) – Coral Cup
The market has Mullins’ lightly-raced Quai de Bourbon as favourite with some firms for the Martin Pipe but in all interviews it’s seemingly in the balance as to which race he will go, so at four times the price and with non-runner no bet in play it makes sense to take a punt he goes this way instead. Adding to the possibility, Mullins doesn’t have much else for this race, with the well-touted Sa Majeste seemingly much more likely to take the Pipe route. So what about Quai de Bourbon? Well, the five-year-old has won both starts for the champion trainer, most recently getting the better of stablemate Westport Cove at Clonmel in January, and has shaped as if this step up in trip will bring out further improvement with a mark of 140 more than fair.
Our second dart at this devilishly tough riddle is Ballyadam, who has been the model of consistency over the past couple of years and finished fifth in the County Hurdle at the 2022 and 2023 festivals. Stepped up in trip this season, he ran a blinder last time out to be third in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown behind Irish Point and will arrive at Prestbury Park off a four pounds lower mark than last season.
Harper’s Brook (12/1) – Grand Annual
We all know he’s a bit of a monkey but there’s no doubting Harper’s Brook has talent. He should be coming to Cheltenham off the back of two wins after idling in front to let Triple Trade beat him at Ascot in December before finally winning a race he really couldn’t lose at Sandown last time out when main rival In Excelsis Deo unseated at the last. A fast-run race like this might be what he needs and as long as he doesn’t find himself in front too soon he could well give Ben Pauling deserved reward for an excellent season.
C’est Ta Chance (16/1) – Champion Bumper
I wouldn’t usually be that keen on anything for the bumper but this fella looks overpriced based on the form of his short-head second to William Munny at Navan in January. The pair were well clear of the rest and his rival that day has since proved himself to be very smart with his recent win at Naas, prompting his trainer Barry Connell to declare him the best bumper horse around. William Munny skips Cheltenham – going to Punchestown instead – and with no obvious standout in this year’s race C’est Ta Chance would look to be a nice each-way option.
Sir Gerhard (10/1) – Stayers Hurdle
With Irish Point now seemingly bound for the Champion Hurdle – much to the disappointment of those on him at 16/1 like your’s truly! – the Stayers is taking up an even more open look. Sir Gerhard had a disappointing campaign over fences last season and seemed much more like the horse that won the 2022 Ballymore when switched back to timber on New Year’s Eve to win at Punchestown. Further improvement is needed to win this but we know he has the ability and reading between the lines Willie Mullins seems quietly confident of a big run.
Letsbeclearaboutit (11/1) – Plate Handicap Chase
Gavin Cromwell has enjoyed a series of successful raids to these shores this season and last year’s Albert Bartlett fourth can bring him more glory. He’s been campaigned over a range of trips from two miles to over three, but looked most suited to the intermediate distance he was running over at the start of the season which reaped a ten-length grade 3 success at Cork. That win even saw him start favourite for the Drinmore on his next start. Now back over that favoured trip and in the calmer waters of a handicap, surely he must go close.
Favour and Fortune (16/1) – County Hurdle
Eight of the last 12 winners of the County have been aged five or six, showing that novices hold a strong hand when it comes to the two mile hurdle. Alan King’s Favour and Fortune fits that profile and should sneak nicely in at the bottom end of the weights off his mark of 138. Second in the new grade 1 Formby Novices Hurdle behind Jango Baie at Aintree on Boxing Day, he was last seen giving Willie Mullins’ promising Fun Fun Fun 9lbs and just coming up short at Exeter last month.
Captain Teague (10/1) – Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
Challow winner Captain Teague is set to step up in trip at Cheltenham and the resolve he showed to keep on and win at Newbury in testing conditions indicated the Albert Bartlett challenge should hold no fears. Third in last year’s Champion Bumper, Paul Nicholls’ charge looks overpriced at 10/1 with none of the likely Irish challenge looking like superstars in waiting.
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