13:20 – JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) – East India Dock
JAMES Owen’s yard specialise in juvenile hurdlers and East India Dock is his standout horse this season. He has won two graded trials for this race in November and January and although the likes of Stencil and Torrent went into the Fred Winter Handicap instead, the performances were brilliant. He excelled on the undulations of Cheltenham and he is incredibly efficient at his hurdles. Stencil and Torrent have finished behind this horse in those results and although they ended up in the Fred Winter, it doesn’t take anything away from this runner’s cruising speed and finishing. Lulamba contests favouritism at the time of writing and was just as impressive when winning a juvenile hurdle at Ascot in January. His form probably holds more substance than the
East India Dock form with Mondo Man who lines up here finishing in 2nd on that occasion. However, having seen the way East India Dock cruises and jumps over this course and distance sticks in the mind and the fact he comes from a yard that specialises in this division I just favour James Owen’s runner. Lulamba of course gets 2nd place on the verdict but this feels like a proper 50/50. Personally I can’t see beyond the top two in this race but for 3rd spot in the verdict I would look at Blue Lemons after Rachael Blackmore went on a winning spree yesterday.
14:00 – William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) – Kargese
ON seasonal debut looked to retain her ability but something was off so possibly she wasn’t sharp. She travelled well late into the race as usual and got fought off by Take No Chances. This result has since been boosted in my opinion, considering Take No Chances finished 3rd in the Mares’ Hurdle earlier in the week. Now Kargese has had a run she should be a bit sharper and she can continue the Mullins team’s winning ways. McLaurey takes 2nd spot here and would have been the original pick due to his recent winning form, including his last run ahead of Storm Heart in a listed hurdle last month. Last year’s winner Absurde is still producing good form and comes here after winning the listed Chester Stakes in August and a 5th place finish in the Melbourne Cup last time out so should make a place despite carrying 11st 8lbs.
14:40- Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Registered as the Liberthine Mares’ Chase) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) – Dinoblue
SIMILARLY to Jonbon, clearly a class horse but it hasn’t gone right for her yet at Cheltenham in both the Grand Annual and the Mares’ Chase, having finished 2nd in both. Also similar to Jonbon, it could be argued that some notable challengers are absent or out of form, in this case Impervious and Limerick Lace respectively. However she has stepped into serious grade-level races and never looked out of place when chasing home some of the better horses Irish racing has to offer. She also beat one of the contenders in this field,
Allegorie De Vassy, last time out by a neck. There is a slight weight advantage going against Dinoblue but Allegorie De Vassy has a tendency to jump out to the side at times (potentially reduced here due to the left-handed course) and the way she tired in the final stages in last year’s renewal has put me off a bit. Shecouldbeanything completes the verdict in 3rd for her toughness and ability to surge late on, regardless of how she is jumping on the day.
16:00 – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) –
Galopin Des Champs
WILLIE Mullins’ superstar has won the last two renewals of this race and is bidding to become the first horse since Best Mate to win three on the bounce. He was his typical dominant self at the Dublin Racing Festival where he confirmed impressive form over Fact To File when running over a trip of three miles. The conversation building up to the festival has been that this might be the best horse Willie Mullins has trained and a third Gold Cup would surely confirm that. The other positive is that the opposition possibly isn’t as testing as his previous two wins on paper, with a small field of nine runners confirmed. The biggest danger here is probably Banbridge who won the King George VI Chase in December, hunting down Il Est Francais and showing smart jumping late on. Monty’s Star completes the top three as the presumably strong pace will suit and he can pick up the pieces in the closing stages behind the front two.
17:20 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) – Woodhooh (Each Way)
GORDON Elliott has been very quiet so far and had no winners at the time of writing. The Stayers’ Hurdle went horribly wrong for him with Teahupoo and The Wallpark battling each other to the line until Bob Olinger swooped over the top to steal the prize. Woodhooh could finally give him a win in the final race. She will concede weight to most rivals here but she is rated highly for a reason. Those who finished in the top four behind her in a mares’ hurdle here in December all went on to produce grade-winning form in their next run.
Take No Chances also gave a great account of herself in the Mares’ Hurdle earlier this week, finishing 3rd and she kept on well. The last time we saw Woodhooh was also impressive because of the way she stayed on the bridle and cruised home in front of tough opposition, which makes me think she an defy the weight she is carrying. Taponthego, although distant, finished 3rd behind Supreme Hurdle 2nd William Munny last time out and goes for
Henry de Bromhead whose runners have started performing. Meanwhile,
East India Express won a competitive handicap at Kempton with Samuel Spade in 3rd going on to win next time out. East India Express is also carrying a relatively low weight so these two can make the places. Nurse Susan should be considered as well despite a 13-month-layoff to overcome. Her record is consistent and Dan Skelton has been too quiet this festival so far, so might just spring up with something in a handicap like this.
Hawkinsport 