THE BALLYMORE NOVICES HURDLE – BRAVEMANSGAME
This horse has received the highest of praise from trainer Paul Nicholls, who compared him to Denman after winning at Newbury in December.
Although it remains to be seen if he will live up to that billing, his travelling ability was visible when easily opening up a 10 length winning margin to 2nd place horse, Star Gate.
Other runners in the field have extremely strong form claims and the likes of favourite Bob Olinger and Gaillard Du Mesnil definitely aren’t without a chance.
However, the ground is changing to the good side of soft may work against the Irish challengers and this horse has clear physical advantages that can’t be explained by form.
He has a huge stride but maintains the ability to corner well and has a strong turn of foot in the straight.
and unlike the previously mentioned horses in his victory at Newbury Bravemansgame visibly had some jockeys working early to keep up.
We could see Bravemansgame clinch the opener on day two.
BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES CHASE – MONKFISH
For many a nap of the meeting. Monkfish has great scope for a fence and leading form claims with an incredible victory at the Leopardstown Festival make this horse 2/5 Fav at the time of writing.
He is currently 3 from 3 over fences.
He won the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last season beating Latest Exhibition, Fury Road and highly rated staying hurdler Thyme Hill in an epic finish.
The transition to fences only appears to have brought out his strengths and the previously mentioned Leopardstown victory strengthened his form claims.
He beat Latest Exhibition again by 11 lengths at a canter. Monkfish is a strong odds on favourite for a good reason.
THE CORAL CUP – BOTOX HAS
Picked up a nice handicap victory at Cheltenham in October, reversing form with Allmankind who subsequently went over to fences.
Was then handicapped to carry 11 stone 9lbs or higher in his next three races finishing 4th, 12th and 6th. The 6th place effort was behind Craigneiche in January.
He lost by 20 lengths but only after being eased down when beaten and Craigneiche will carry 4lbs more on this occasion but Botox Has will carry 10lbs less, a net difference of a stone.
Botox Has travelled relatively well in two of these races fading late on possibly because of his handicap mark.
He will be running off a mark of 10 stone 13lbs this time round and will appreciate the good ground.
The undulating nature of Cheltenham, a place where he has good form, should also help him.
If he manages to get a good prominent position there’s no reason he won’t be in the mix late on.
QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE – PUT THE KETTLE ON
Won the Arkle last season and has since picked up another win at Cheltenham in the Shloer Chase.
She also finished a respectable 3rd at Leopardstown, 8 lengths behind eventual winner Chacun Pour Soi and nearly 2 lengths behind 2nd place Notebook.
She will carry 7lbs less than her rivals on this occasion for being a mare.
This is something we’ve seen already in the Champion Hurdle and it made a big difference.
The good ground will suit her well and could possibly frustrate her market rivals.
The favourite Chacun Pour Soi might be worth going against each way for the value and his best form has come at Leopardstown where there aren’t as many undulations.
The favourite has also never ran at Cheltenham.
Notebook finished a distant 6th behind this horse when she won the Arkle so it is possible the form could change massively and she is worth an each way shout.
GLENFARCLAS CHASE (CROSS COUNTRY CHASE) – SOME NECK
Won last time out over the cross country course in December by a short head to Defi De Carres.
His rival will carry a stone and 2lbs more this time as all horses run carrying 11 stone 4lbs.
Did have a run 1st March at Punchestown over hurdles and finished 10th, but this more likely acted as a prep run and he will benefit from the bigger obstacles and longer distance.
The favourite Easysland didn’t run well here in November where his jumping was poor.
Kingswell Theatre managed to dominate from the front on good ground.
However, Some Neck is worth at least an each way bet. He has form on similar ground and Kingswell Theatre is 12 years old so may not be able to repeat his success due to the amount of miles he has on the clock.
GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP – SKY PIRATE
Beat Amoola Gold by 21/4 lengths in January as well as beating Ibleo by 33/4 lengths at Cheltenham in December. Last outing was a brave 17 length defeat to Allmankind at Warwick in Febuary.
There is a 4lb greater difference in weight against Sky Pirate this time round compared to when he beat Amoola Gold off a mark of 11 stone 11lbs.
However, Amoola Gold can be quite inefficient when jumping which is why he has finished 2nd to some class horses.
Sky Pirate also beat Ibleo at Cheltenham by 33/4 lengths in December. There the weights worked 3lbs in Sky Pirate’s favour but here they work 2lbs in his favour.
A lot of the Irish horses in the race haven’t shown the consistency Sky Pirate has in the last few months.
If Sky Pirate can display equally efficient jumping and the same persistence in the finish on this occasion he could take some beating.
CHAMPION BUMBER – SIR GERHARD
Unbeaten in three starts, Sir Gerhard holds a high reputation racing for Chevely Park.
He is one of five Willie Mullins runners in the race with Rachel Blackmore on board who has already won the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle.
His main opposition comes in the form of Kilcruit who won impressively at Leopardstown.
Kilcruit built some solid form by beating Letsbeclearaboutit by 12 lengths, a horse Sir Gerhard only managed to beat by 4 lengths.
Ramillies was also more than 20 lengths behind in 5th.
However, last season only one horse won at both the Leopardstown Festival in February and Cheltenham festival in March and that was Honeysuckle.
So this is a tougher ask than it looks for the favourite.
Sir Gerhard still showed a great turn of foot in his victory. The finish at Navan is uphill whereas the straight at Leopardstown levels off after the final bend.
This may prove a better acid test for Cheltenham and with Rachel Blackmore on board Sir Gerhard has a great chance to win the Champion Bumper.
Hawkinsport 