IT’S 21 YEARS since I fell in love with the Cheltenham Festival as a student. Life would never be the same subsequently.
With just over a week to go before the racing world descends on the Cotswolds, here are five value antepost tips to mull over.
All of these will win – obviously; I make the accumulator 28,729/1 and that is just the win part of the bet.
Jokes notwithstanding, Cheltenham is tremendous fun for little accumulators, lucky 15s and so on; you could just strike it lucky.
For race guides, expert opinion, tips and specials, and promotions, visit BoyleSports Cheltenham Festival Hub here. All prices correct at the time of writing.
Marine Nationale (Arkle Chase, Tuesday, 9/4)
Marine Nationale would be little over even money for the Arkle had he not run at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The weather forecast is good between now and Cheltenham and the way he floored Facile Vega here 12 months ago must not be forgotten.
He is a superb jumper of a fence and I am willing to buy trainer Barry Connell’s excuse about the ground at Leopardstown last time out. There is clearly no star among the remainder so it rests on his returning to form.
Do not be afraid to wait until the day to back him: the layers will likely be keen to get favourites beaten on day one to encourage custom.
Milan Tino (Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Tuesday, 7/1)
A really fascinating horse and hardly the archetypal plot owned by JP McManus – at least if you are to believe trainer Tom George. Indeed, Milan Tino made the running last time.
“He’s a lovely horse and a chaser of the future and I wasn’t really that keen on going to Cheltenham,” George told the Racing Post.
“But then I asked the handicapper what they were going to reassess him on and he said they were going to drop him 10lb and that was what interested me.
“He was rated 136 because of his French rating but on his runs in Britain he’s been rated 126. These horses that run in France tend to have more experience and I’d like to think he should have a good chance.”
He went too hard at Cheltenham last time behind the awesome Sir Gino but still ran a more laudable race than Burdett Road, who was a strong Triumph favourite.
I really like his chance given the likelihood of ground that will not place as much emphasis on speed as a normal renewal of the Fred Winter.
Foxy Jacks (Cross Country, Wednesday, 12/1)
Note Mouse Morris’s comments after this son of Fame And Glory won here at the November meeting.
“How was he 20/1 earlier? That was an insult to a horse like him… He’s a good horse on his day and was very tenacious out there… We’ll be back in March for the big one and, hopefully, he’ll have a great chance.”
He may not have a “great chance” with Minella Indo, Galvin, Delta Work and Coko Beach lining up against him. However, Foxy Jacks won off 149 in November so he is a very good horse on his day over these obstacles and, for a previously wayward horse, that effort was most reassuring – as was his subsequent run in a strong handicap hurdle.
Positives are plenty, including his price.
Envoi Allen (Ryanair Chase, Thursday, 4/1)
This horse’s Cheltenham record is 11F31 and the fall was an early one as a novice chaser when he was sent off 4/9.
A bit like Foxy Jacks, I love how he’s been kept fresh for the Ryanair, in which he beat Shishkin (impressive in completed starts since) pretty readily 12 months ago.
He did all bar win at Down Royal and one must consider oneself quite fortunate to be able to avail of an each-way price about a horse with so much ability in what looks a run-of-the-mill renewal.
Gentlemansgame (Gold Cup, Friday, 16/1)
One more for Mouse Morris! Perhaps I’ve a soft spot for my fellow Galwegian but how could one not?
Speaking to him for the Irish Field’s Cheltenham magazine lately, he reckoned Gentlemansgame had as good a chance as anyone bar Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup – and perhaps he is right.
Morris remains an exceptional target trainer and he deliberately skipped Leopardstown with a view to the Gold Cup, even though the lightly-raced Gentlemansgmae has not run since overpowering Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall in early November.
Remember that he hammered I Am Maximus as a novice at Leopardstown, and what I like is that he has more potential upside, a rare enough thing in the Gold Cup.
He jumps and stays exceptionally well, such that his trainer believes he will relish Cheltenham on his first visit.
For race guides, expert opinion, tips and specials, and promotions, visit BoyleSports Cheltenham Festival Hub here.
