13:20 – Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered asthe Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) – Sixandahalf
THIS mare has been the antepost favourite for this race for a while after she blew away the field in her maiden and finished 12 lengths ahead of her nearest rival Qualimita. The runner-up has yet to win since her debut, but finished just 4 lengths behind Only By Night in a bumper and regularly runs well while placing as she did here. To have blown her out the water deserves credit.
The 3rd horse was a similar margin back again and had won 3/3 on the flat in France. Sixandahalf also showed qualities that suit running at Cheltenham. Quick in the air and makes gains when running and jumping uphill and she also more than dealt with the testing pace, pouring it on late and still seemed to have some left. Galileo Dame regularly finishes 2nd to opponents of a high quality and carries 10lb less than most of her rivals here for being under the age of five so I would expect her to repeat this here. Karoline Banbou has yet to finish outside the top 2 including an absolute romp to victory at Fairyhouse last month, eased down late. She’s a very nice jumper and her travelling ability should see her in the picture late.
14:00 – Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2)
(Registered as the Golden Miller) (GBB Race) – Insurrection (Each Way)
CONSIDERING his brave performance in a close defeat to the top weight here, springwell bay, at Chepstow where both carried 11st 5lbs 33/1 at the time of writing looks a bit big so is worth a small amount each way. A couple of disappointing runs in November and December were followed by an emphatic win last month ahead of Asta La Pasta in a small field at Musselburgh. The win feels like a bounce back to form and the previous form behind Springwell Bay compared to his current standing in the handicap doesn’t make sense so he seems like good each way value. Firefox has been consistently placing in graded company and considering what he has achieved under slightly more weight he should be in the mix here. Moon D’orange after a recent spike in form, carrying a low weight and with Sean Bowen in the saddle is hard to ignore for a place.
14:40 – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) – Will The Wise (Each Way)
THIS horse had shown plenty of promise before breaking his maiden over hurdles. Beat recent grade 3 hurdle winner Jacobs Ladder by a narrow margin in a bumper, followed by a slightly distant 2nd place finish to Irancy, who ran in yesterday’s Supreme and holds form in 3rd behind Ballyburn and Firefoxfrom a maiden in December 2023. Will The Wise now sees himself bidding for a hattrick after stepping up in trip and winning a qualifier for this race last time out while showing good stamina. Catch Him Derry feels like he may have gone under the radar for the Skeltons. He was very consistent last season and despite finishing 6th here behind stracken in January, he reversed the form last time out at Exeter to win which makes me think he might be back in good order and could be in the mix. Feet Of A Dancer runs for the same yard that trained Mrs Milner to win this in 2021. She’s been running in good company and placed every time she has done this season so would expect her to come somewhere similar again.
15:20 – Ryanair Chase (Registered as the Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) – Fact To File
LAST year’s winner of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase returned in style when he beat current odds on favourite for the Gold Cup Galopin Des Champs in November. It was over a distance of two miles and four furlongs and despite not winning since, both runs that followed were placed behind Galopin Des Champs over the longer trip at Leopardstown. Mullins’ dual Gold Cup winner has been invincible there in his career so far so the form is a big positive in defeat. Protektorat will look to defend his title here and looked back to his best self last time out at Windsor, leaving a field including Djelo 23 lengths behind and showing his relentless engine. It’s very possible he wins but I slightly prefer Fact To File. The King George VI runner-up Il Est Francais completes my top three in 3rd. If on song he could be a massive problem for these and he will be expected to go out front and make the running. He is an incredible jumper but has had problems with bleeding in the past, so purely due to potential risk the other two mentioned get first pick but all of these three have great chances.
16:00 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) – The Wallpark
(Each Way)
SINCE impressing in a Pertemps Hurdle qualifier here in October, this runner was bought by J P McManus Gordon Elliot stepped him up straight up to grade 1 company when this horse finished 4th in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. His jumping was a bit laboured and cost him quite a bit of ground but he still showed an engine and an impressive finishing gear for a stayer to get back up and finish 4th as Crambo defended his title. Providing the jumping has been polished up, the speed this horse has at the end of 3 miles I think is unmatched here and he has been gambled in from 12/1 to 11/2 overnight which may be a clue. Teahupoo the returning champion was last seen well beaten by an exceptional Lossiemouth who won the Mares’ Hurdle yesterday. He hasn’t been seen since so has been saved for this race and having won both Cheltenham and Punchestown Stayers’ Hurdles last season he has obvious claims and should go close. Gowel Road finally broke a run of four 2nd place finishes when winning the Cleeve Hurdle here in January. He always seems to be involved late on in high quality races and this will be his 7th consecutive start at Cheltenham which has got to count for something.
16:40 – TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) – Jagwar
If the previous two picks went as planned, there’s a good chance Jagwar will complete an impressive hattrick for owner J P McManus. The six-year-old has been extremely consistent this season with three wins and a 3rd in four runs. The loss came behind Jinko Blue who has taken to fences very well and boasts a solid record. He beat some decent opposition last time out here over course and distance and should be able to repeat the success under a very fair
10st 10lbs. Path D’oroux goes for Gavin Cromwell and won a novices’ chase here over two miles ahead of Jazzy Matty who won yesterday’s Grand Annual.
Path D’oroux was last seen finishing runner-up in a grade 3 at Fairyhouse running on well late on so the step up in trip may suit and ground any description of good will also be a plus. Masaccio finishes off the places here, with solid form just a few lengths behind the selection here in January and previous good placing form behind star novice The Jukebox Man early in the season.
17:20 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) – Midnight Our Fred
Midnight Our Fred is in very good form, finishing in the top three in his last six outings. The most recent of those was a 2nd-place effort in a listed race at Leopardstown in December in a massive 27-runner field ahead of what you would say are some of the Irish hopefuls for next month’s Grand National. His jockey, Noel McParlan also has previous winning experience at the festival after winning this race eight years ago, a valuable bit of experience. AFTER the emotional success of Marine Nationale in the Champion Chase yesterday,
Nine Graces could be in the picture as the yard’s runners have been in good form, with William Munny running a screamer to finish as runner-up in the Supreme earlier in the week and Marine National winning the Champion Chase yesterday. Wiseguy didn’t look out of place up in trip last month and with good going of some description and off a low weight could improve on the last run for a place.
Hawkinsport 