GORDON Elliott almost won the first novices’ hurdle race of the week yesterday, only for Shishkin to deny Abacadabras in the Supreme, but the latter’s run must be a huge pointer to the chances of his stablemate Envoi Allen in the Ballymore today.
For me, he’s the banker of the week, and the market support which came yesterday only adds to the huge confidence behind him.
Gordon had been keeping his options open for Envoi Allen right up until the weekend, with the Supreme not ruled out before then.
I can see why. He beat Abacadabras in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse over two miles in December, so he clearly has speed, as he also showed when winning the Bumper here last year. Darver Star was back in third in the Royal Bond and he didn’t do the form any harm with his run in the Champion yesterday.
Darver Star also finished a good second to Honeysuckle on his last run before Cheltenham and that one went and won the mares’ hurdle yesterday, so the formlines look absolutely bombproof.
I think they’ve chosen the right race for Envoi Allen today and he can keep his unbeaten record over hurdles and get favourite backers off to a winning start. Altior’s withdrawal from the Champion Chase is such a shame for racing purists.
It has taken a bit of a shine off what was shaping up to be a thrilling three-way battle with Defi De Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi, but you have to do the right thing by the horse and if he’s not right he’s not right.
There are no shortage of options between now and the end of the season for him to get back to winning ways. It pretty much leaves it as a two-horse race and I’m going to side with Defi De Seuil on the strength of his course form.
Chacun Pour Soi is clearly very talented, although he has had a blip or two in his career so far. He did get the edge over Defi De Seuil in their meeting at Punchestown at the end of last season, but Punchestown is not Cheltenham and Chacun’s lack of experience at the course might just be his undoing today.
Defi De Seuil has no such problems when it comes to Cheltenham, having won the Triumph Hurdle two years ago and then the JLT last year. He also won here in November so he clearly loves the place and I can see him making it three successive Festival wins today.
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THE RSA Chase, the second race on today’s card, looks a bit more open than the first and a lot of focus will be on Champ, as he tries to go one better than last year, when he was runner-up to City Island in the Ballymore. He’s gone straight over fences this season but so far he hasn’t looked a natural.
I do think he’s the best horse in the race, but his jumping lacked fluency on his first two runs and his class meant he was able to get away with it. He wasn’t so lucky last time, though, when he fell two out at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, and coming straight into this race from a fall must be a concern.
The main hope for those backing him is that sometimes making mistakes and falling can focus a horse more next time out and if he avoids those lapses in concentration he will be bang there, but it’s a big if at the price.
Minella Indo would be my idea of the winner. Henry de Bromhead has given him a light prep for this today, but that’s a good thing in my book as he did likewise last year and had him ready to win the Albert Bartlett. He was no match for Laurina on his chase debut at Gowran, conceding 7lb, in November but he jumped nicely to win at Navan, and although he hasn’t mixed it at graded level over fences, he’s clearly got lots of class, jumps well and stays well, so he’s perfect for an RSA.
Allaho is the leading contender from the Mullins yard and you’d have to respect him, but Minella Indo has his measure from their meetings over hurdles at the end of last season.
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I DIDN’T manage to increase my lead over Richard Johnson in the jockeys’ title race from my Sedgefield rides yesterday, but maybe Panic Attack can do that for me in the Champion Bumper today, my first ride of the meeting.
I only got the job last week but I’m excited by the chance to ride her, even though I don’t know much about her.
David (Pipe) was in touch with my agent last week to express an interest in booking me and it’s a hard one to turn down as the betting suggests she is well-fancied. I was at Market Rasen when she won on her only racecourse appearance for Willie Mullins and you would had to have been impressed.
Going straight into the Champion Bumper is a big ask but she’s getting 15lb from the rest of the field because she’s a four-year-old filly so that will certainly help her cause. It would have been nice to have sat on her before today but the Pipe stable is over 300 miles away from my base so it was difficult to arrange at short notice.
Luckily I managed to tip a winner (The Conditional) in one of the handicap chases yesterday and maybe Recent Revelations can continue my luck at a price in the Fred Winter today for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell. He has had a bit of experience over hurdles, winning at Cork two runs ago, and he’s been OK on the Flat too. A
