Category: Horse Racing

1 ABACADABRAS – Hurdles – 9 starts, 4 wins, 4 places

Trainer: Denise Foster Jockey: Jack Kennedy

Seems to finish 2nd consistently to top class horses. 2nd to Envoi Allen by 1^1/2 lengths December 2019. Was also 2nd by a head to Shishkin last season at Cheltenham in the Supreme and more recently 10 lengths 2nd to Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle. Could easily be in the mix late on but will it be more of the same in a top class field?

2 ASPIRE TOWER – Hurdles – 6 starts, 3 wins, 2 places

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead Jockey: Robbie Power

Consistent since taking to hurdles. 2nd by 2^3/4 lengths to Burning Victory in an eventful Triumph hurdle last season. Goshen fell at the last when well ahead. Also beat Abacadabras by 4^1/2 lengths at Down Royal in October. 2nd last time out to Sharjah by 2 lengths and has the tendency to run out front. Abacadabras also behind on this occasion by some way in 5th. He may find something has a quicker finishing gear in the finish on this occasion much like his meeting with Sharjah last December.

3 GOSHEN – Hurdles – 6 starts, 4 wins, 0 places

Trainer: Gary Moore Jockey: Jamie Moore

Interesting! Showed all the qualities of a champion in last year’s Triumph Hurdle before clipping the final flight and unseating Jamie Moore. If he replicates this performance with more composure in the finish he could beat anybody. Since, he had two efforts on the flat, one of which he finished last. Also fired a blank on his seasonal debut finishing 10th at Cheltenham last December. Silver Streak was a close 2nd here to winner Song For Someone. However, Goshen Looked back to his best romping home a 22 length winner to Song For Someone last month at Wincanton. Definite contender and probably Honeysuckle’s main threat.

4 JAMES DU BERLAIS – Hurdles – 13 starts, 4 wins, 5 places

Trainer – Willie Mullins Jockey: Daryl Jacob

French Hurdler Trained by Willie Mullins. Decent listed/graded race performer having won two grade three contests in France before finishing a close 2nd to Moises Has in a grade one contest last November. Moises Has is a horse he has beaten in the past but he has no form links with the horses from UK or Ireland and could be anything.

5 NOT SO SLEEPY – Hurdles – 9 starts, 4 wins, 0 places

Trainer: Hughie Morrison Jockey: Jonathan Burke

1^3/4 length winner at Ascot last time out ahead of well respected handicapper Buzz. It was probably his best result to date. Failed to finish the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last November when refusing the first. The eventual winner was Epatante. Was pulled up in last year’s renewal and would cause a big shock with a win here.

6 SALDIER – Hurdles – 8 starts, 3 wins, 1 place

Trainer: Willie Mullins Jockey: Danny Mullins

Best result when winning the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown November 2019 ahead of Sharjah who was 8 lengths behind this horse in 4th. Made his return in December finishing a distant 6th behind Sharjah in the Matheson Hurdle and was last by a mile in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February. Has a lot of improving to do if he is to make an impression here.

7 SHARJAH – Hurdles – 19 starts, 7 wins, 4 places

Trainer: Willie Mullins Jockey: Paul Townend

A class horse who was the runner up last year by 3 lengths behind Epatante and 8 lengths clear of Silver Streak in 6th. He has won the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown three times. He has also finished 1st ahead of Aspire Tower, Abacadabras, Saldier in the past. He finished 3rd in the Irish Champion Hurdle behind Abacadabras and impressive winner Honeysuckle. If at his best could easily be in the mix and could clinch it if some of the market leaders aren’t on form.

8 SILVER STREAK – Hurdles – 25 starts, 8 wins, 10 places

Trainer: Evan Williams Jockey: Tom O’Brien

Has been excellent so far this season. 2nd to Song For Someone by a nose in December before beating the reigning champion hurdler Epatante at Kempton on Boxing Day with a lung busting front running effort. This horse has always had a quick finish and showed that he can set a rapid pace throughout that day. He should be in the mix this year to finish at least top three based on his recent form, looks to be in the shape of his life. The scalp of Epatante is a significant one but more importantly that race showed a professionalism to this horse. He capitalised on some rare mistakes by Epatante and it was a well deserved win.

9 EPATANTE – Hurdles – 8 starts, 6 wins, 1 place

Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Aiden Coleman

The reigning champion and a definite contender if she shows up. After finishing 2nd to Silver Streak by 6 lengths, it was discovered she had a back problem. This is what was used to explain a few rare mistakes by the champion that cost her the race on Boxing Day. The last time we saw her on song was at Newcastle in November when she won the Fighting Fifth. She breezed to victory past consistent 2 mile chaser Sceau Royal. If she is fully fit she will be in the top three and could easily retain her crown but the problem may be that she is very delicate and other horses will take advantage if she isn’t 100%.

10 HONEYSUCKLE – Hurdles – 10 starts, 10 wins, 0 places

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead Jockey: Rachel Blackmore

The unbeaten Irish champion hurdler has a sparkling record so far. Her performance at Leopardstown was probably her best and left good contenders Abacadabras and Sharjah in her wake. She finished ^1/2 length ahead of Benie Des Dieux in the mares hurdle at last year’s festival and goes into this race favourite. The worry will be if she can’t gain an advantage on the final bend like she normally does. Goshen or a fully fit Epatante will be there to pick her off with a few furlongs to go. This is by far her toughest test to date but her hurdling has been made more efficient compared to last season. Providing there is nothing wrong she should easily be in the top three and could easily take the big race.

By Luke Hawkins

Recent results in the two-mile chasing division have blown this season’s renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham wide open.

 Chacun Pour Soi is the 11/10 favourite at the time of writing and it is easy to see why. Having gone three starts unbeaten since his defeat to A Plus Tard last season at Leopardstown, he has beaten the star that is Min in the Dublin Chase. He also beat smart rivals Notebook and Put The Kettle On in his most recent appearance displaying great travelling ability and efficient jumping. It would be no surprise to see him win the Champion Chase based on the opposition he has beaten and a prolific winning record. However, I don’t think he justifies such a short price in the market and the two-mile chase division looks very competitive this season. When winning at Leopardstown last time out he won by six and a half lengths, a distance that is impressive but with the final fence being bypassed, a bigger win margin might have been expected. For example, a prime Altior possibly may have opened a margin of ten lengths in the same circumstances. The biggest question mark over Chacun Pour Soi is his defeat to A Plus Tard. Unlike his victory over Min, when Min faded late, A Plus Tard grinded down Mullin’s runner in the late stages with Chacun Pour Soi tiring and tightening late on. A Plus Tard has since gone on to the three mile chase division so clearly has stamina. At the same point in the race against Min, his nearest rival was fading. Things didn’t go Chacun Pour Soi’s way and the uphill finish at Cheltenham will test his stamina. If he goes head to head with a horse that can see out the end of the race better he may have a problem.

Politologue – The reigning Champion added a second Tingle Creek to his resume in December. The expected duel between him and rival Altior never came to fruition because Nicky Henderson had concerns about the soft ground that day. Politologue put in an excellent round of jumping and a good performance against stablemate Greaneteen in second and Rouge Vif in third who impressed in a handicap at Cheltenham in October but was probably running on unfavoured soft ground on this occasion. The field may not have been the deepest in quality, but the performance was one of reliability. This Saturday just gone he then went off favourite in a field deeper in quality. He finished a hard fought second to relative newcomer First Flow. It was a gutsy run, and the pace was furious especially considering the soft conditions. More undulations, such as those at Cheltenham and Sandown would appear to work in the champion’s favour but with newcomers and plenty of competition, he isn’t a certainty to retain his crown but should be in the top three.

Put The Kettle On – She may require some patience to see where she goes as the Mares Chase at the festival is also an entry for this horse. Although she was well beaten by Chacun Pour Soi at Leopardstown when she was last seen, she had built up a hattrick of wins at Cheltenham prior including a victory in the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham festival last season. At Leopardstown she didn’t jump as fluidly as she normally does until late on in the race and the fair galloping nature of the course didn’t suit her as as well as the undulating course at Cheltenham does. She sees out the uphill straight at Cheltenham really well and perhaps benefits from the extra stamina test. This is somewhere Chacun Pour Soi is perhaps untested in far too often and when he was tested for stamina, lost to A Plus Tard who has gone on to be a prominent winner in the stayers division. Put The Kettle On would carry 7lb less than her rivals because she is a mare and is worth an each way shout providing she is confirmed as a certain entry so wait if backing her.

Altior – at 11 years old it is possible we have already seen Altior’s peak. He is a great but after finishing second to Nube Negra in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton some doubts were somewhat confirmed. After hitting his familiar flat spot, he didn’t quite come back with the same finishing speed we are used to, and he looked very tired in the straight. He was withdrawn from the Champion Chase last season due to concerns after his race against Cyrname at Ascot in November 2019. He was similarly withdrawn from the Champion Chase last season, and most recently the renewal of the Tingle Creek at Sandown. Trainer Nicky Henderson is trying to look after the horse and run him in conditions that suit him best as tough races appear to take more of a toll on the horse at the late stages of his career. It is something he has said he is keen to do for the horse’s wellbeing after the loss to Cyrname. The defeat to Nube Negra was his seasonal debut and horses in the past have been able to bounce back from such a performance on their return. He only lost by three and a half lengths to a clearly improved Nube Negra in a well-run race but the Altior of old would have found an extra gear in the straight and I think there are more appealing options as the great horse is ageing.

Nube Negra – Horses from Dan Skelton’s yard have really produced some eye-catching performances this season. Shan Blue won the Kauto Star Chase at the December meeting at Cheltenham, Roksana recently picked up a good win in a mare’s hurdle at Ascot and Allmankind remains prominent in the Arkle Chase market as opposition for Shishkin. Nube Negra however perhaps captured the biggest scalp of all at Kempton, lowering the colours of Altior in the Desert Orchid Chase. He likes soft ground but doesn’t seem completely reliant on it and this race reversed the form of his previous race at Warwick where he was beaten by Rouge Vif, who could only manage a distant fourth this time round. Rouge Vif of course would prefer better ground which may account for the swing but Nube Negra does appear greatly improved. Nube Negra showed the ability to jump efficiently and at times exuberantly. Dan Skelton’s runner is a relatively new face in regard to facing horses like Altior and has had three starts at Cheltenham in his career, none of them victorious. All his wins have come on relatively level courses with no undulations. A scruffy jump at the last at Kempton in his winning performance maybe a glimpse at a weakness that will be tested at Cheltenham as he jumped out to the right and split the birch. He may have been tired in the leg after the final turn. He shouldn’t be a mile off because he has excellent ability to travel and jump but I believe the undulations of Cheltenham will test that weakness we saw in the finish when beating Altior. It isn’t a glaring problem and he still beat a class field but Altior hasn’t been on song in recent times and I might be wrong, but with this, the lack of a win at Cheltenham and lack of experience at this top level I think he might fall short.

First Flow – Those who were leaning towards Politologue defending his crown may have been questioning themselves after last week’s Clarence House Chase. There was a blistering pace set by Politologue on soft ground, a run that would have been very testing on stamina as well as speed. First Flow took the race to Politologue with a mile to six furlongs left and took over the running. Once in front First Flow continued the effort eventually breaking the champion’s will. Politologue had nothing left in the tank and this horse ran out an impressive winner. The doubts are that even though undulating, Ascot doesn’t have as many undulations as Cheltenham. He is a horse that can put in a messy jump. On this occasion I think he showed he has the engine and he hasn’t fallen in 11 starts over fences. He has also never finished outside the top three over the big obstacles. Almost all his runs have come on soft to heavy ground and this can be explained by the fact that he is a two-mile chaser who seems to relish a stamina test. This horse wins most of his races with everyone off the bridle in behind and shows strong staying ability at the end of the race. The victory over Politologue showed great speed though and I believe you could do a lot worse than picking First Flow for the Champion Chase. He can be found at a price of 14/1 at the time of writing and proves an exciting prospect, who I think has a big chance of winning at the Cheltenham festival.

Notable mentions:

Min – Legend in his own right, recently been running over two and a half miles and is also entered in the Ryanair, last appearance over two miles a fading second to Chacun Pour Soi after a well run race and trainer Willie Mullins might not run him against the favourite.

Waiting Patiently – Consistent top three finisher, only missed out once when jockey got unseated in the 2018 King George VI Chase. Hasn’t won in five starts and has been running different distances. two miles, two and a half miles and three miles. has entries in the Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase. Produced a more competitive finish in the 2020 King George VI Chase so might go to the Gold Cup.

Galvin

OR:142

Three Mile Chaser

6yo Geld

Trainer:Gordon Elliott

The 6 year old ran out an easy winner at Cheltenham last week showing strong travelling ability with little effort, clean jumping and showed a turn of foot up the Cheltenham hill to dispatch of nearest rival Soldier of Love. Soldier of Love is a four time winner over fences and was left one paced behind Galvin, who looked like he had much more in the tank. Last season at the Cheltenham festival he finished a valent 2nd to impressive winner Imperial Aura over two and a half miles. He received 1lb from the eventual winner but ran on well in behind leaving the remainder of promising horses 9+ lengths behind. His Travelling ability and finishing ability appears to have transferred well to three miles and with no entries to note he is a horse to keep an eye on.

Minella Celebration

OR:140

Three Mile + Chaser

10yo Geld

Trainer:Katy Price

This horse put in a performance last Sunday fitting of a Grand National horse. With no entries to his name yet, he has won 10 out of 35 starts, placing 11 times but looks to have come into his own. At the turn of the year he had some poor results but since has put up a decent run in 2nd place to Burtons Well at Doncaster and wins at Uttoxeter and Aintree, the latter being on soft ground. These results on paper suggest he has great stamina. He’s now had five runs over fences at Aintree and won three finishing in 2nd once. Sametegal and Vieux Lion Rouge were on their unfavoured ground but Vintage Clouds, Joe Farrell and Activial, a faller late on, were all beaten emphatically. He won by 14 lengths and it could have been more. In the last mile Don Poli stretched the race from the front making this race a true test of stamina and this performance suggests this horse can go much further. Although a “veteran’s” handicap, this horse is around his peak at 10 years old and the profile of the other horses warrant interest in the winner. He put in big leaps over the fences, even late on and cruised in the straight with ease. He had a run over the Aintree fences before in 2019 in the Becher Chase finishing in 10th but this performance signifies possible improvement and Minellacelebration is possibly one to watch for the big race in April.

One to Avoid

Allmankind

OR:146

Two Mile Hurdler

4yo Geld

Trainer: Dan Skelton

This horse caught the eye last season after putting up a hattrick of wins before coming 3rd in a memorable Triumph hurdle after making most of the running at a furious pace before running out of steam late in the day. He made his seasonal debut at Cheltenham last week and the spark seemed to be missing. He didn’t set anywhere near the pace that he had done in previous runs and this time he didn’t even get halfway up the straight before falling behind. The nature of this loss would suggest that he can’t repeat his previous performances at this course and we may say a change in distance or possibly plans to avoid the Cheltenham festival this season.