Cheltenham Festival 2011 Guide - Day Four
Cheltenham Festival 2011 Guide - Day Four
1:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle Grade 1 2m1f
Nicky Henderson won this race last year with Simon Munir's Soldatino and the pair are responsible for this season's ante-post favourite, Grandouet. He took a while to acclimatise to British racing but has improved with each run and has won his last two races, both with the minimum of fuss. He is only 6-1 at the moment and there is surely more value to be had elsewhere. The Dermot Weld-trained Unaccompanied bolted up in Ireland last time and was subsequently promoted to the top of the market at around 6-1. It was a smart performance but her trainer has a shocking record at the Festival and that fact alone is enough to be put off. Both Sam Winner (9-1) and Smad Place (10-1) were beaten into third and fourth respectively by Marsh Warbler (14-1) in the Grade 1 Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in December, with Houbloun Des Obeaux (20-1) taking second. The form of that is likely to be represented strongly in this race but it may be worth leaving that formline alone, as it was run in heavy ground. Houbloun Des Obeaux followed up at Haydock in Doncaster, beating the Colin Tizzard-trained Third Intention. The runner-up looked a likely winner jumping the last but floundered in the heavy ground and was collared close home. He ran well behind Local Hero at Cheltenham over course and distance in January before that and it may be wise to give Third Intention another chance on better ground. He can be backed at 20-1, far more appealing than any of the other prices mentioned previously. There are a host of unknown quantaties, such as Celtus and Zarkandar, in the line-up, but it is impossible to rate them until the make a racecourse appearance.
Horse to follow Third Intention, 20-1 (Victor Chandler/Coral)
2:40 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (Registered As The Spa Novices Hurdle) Grade 1 3m
Bobs Worth, who is high in the betting for the Neptune, also features here, with his Cheltenham target not finalised. Leave him alone at 6-1 until trainer Nicky Henderson announces his plans. Back In Focus (8-1), who beat former ante-post favourite Court In Motion (now 10-1) at Haydock in February, holds a good chance on the basis that he is progressive and has solid three-mile form. It is hard to see how Court In Motion will reverse the form, as he will certainly find it tougher on better ground. There are a host of fancies for this race, including the Paul Nicholls-trained Join Together (10-1), who stormed clear to win well at Chepstow over 3m in heavy ground in February. He had previously finished behind the well-regarded Mossley in a Grade 2, 3m hurdle at Cheltenham over course and distance in December. It may pay to give his conquerer another chance after flopping on his latest run. Mossley beat a good field that day and the form has worked out well, as advertised by Join Together. He was sent of at 9-4 for another Grade 2 at Warwick, but failed to land a blow in awful conditions. On better ground, he is fancied to show his true colours and return to his course and distance form. He looks a big price at 25-1.
Horse to follow Mossley, 25-1 (Bet365/totesport)
3:20 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Grade 1 3m2f110y
Imperial Commander, a superb winner of this last season, heads the market at 7-2 in his bid to retain his crown. He has raced only once since that win but looked at the top of his game as he despatched a decent field with ease in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. He goes very well fresh so his absence is not a worry and he is sure to be involved at the finish. His odds do not represent value, however, and it may pay to side with a young pretender in the shape of Long Run. He was exceptional when winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton in January and could well follow up. His jumping that day was foot perfect and as a six-year-old he has plenty of improvement left in him. He is available at 13-2, which is a cracking each-way price. The old guard, Kauto Star and Denman, are entitled to the utmost respect. Kauto Star, a dual winner of this race, disappointed when chasing a fifth win in the King George but was found to have bled during the race. He is as big as 8-1, which could look massive come race day. Denman ran the race of his life when finishing behind Diamond Harry in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November, when giving the winner lumps of weight. Back at level weights and fresh from a wind operation, Denman cannot be left out of the argument at 7-1. Diamond Harry showed he can cut it with the best with that Newbury win and has been kept fresh for a tilt at this. His Cheltenham form leaves a bit to desired, however, and he can be left alone at 10-1. The Irish pair of Kempes and Pandorama have something to find with the British contingent and the ground may not be in their favour. An interesting contender at a big price is Midnight Chase at 20-1, who has improved rapidly over fences and loves the track. It would not be a big surprise to see him run well.
Horses to follow - Long Run, 13-2 (Boylesports) and Midnight Chase, 20-1(William Hill/Paddy Power) Cheltenham Festival 2011 Guide - Jockeys Cheltenham Festival 2011 Guide - Trainers Glimpses of European history with tours of Rome Washington DC, Independent Film Festival March Must Have Skirts For Spring Why Americans Should Look at Long Term Care Problem Seriously? Spend Your Cornwall Holidays at the Beach Celebrities Gossips - Celebrity Gossips - Fun-Gossips Storing Luggage Whilst On Holidays Playa de las Americas: A Purpose Built Paradise Find Out About Holidays in Tenerife Travel to black sea Turkey Carnival Imagination Cruises For Your Next Holiday