Cheltenham Festival tips: Mark Howard Portfolio March 1
Cheltenham Festival tips: Mark Howard Portfolio
Happygolucky to win Ultima Handicap Chase at 12/1 (Hills, bet365)
It has been a fine season for Kim Bailey with 47 winners on the board, including a Grade 1 victory for First Flow. The Clarence House Chase winner, along with leading Ryanair Chase hope and previous Festival winner Imperial Aura spearhead the yard’s Festival hopes next month.
Bailey has trained a handful of Cheltenham Festival winners, including Betty’s Boy in Ultima Handicap Chase in 1999. Vinndication ran a blinder in fourth off top weight twelve months ago and the stable are targeting the three miles one event with their progressive novice HAPPYGOLUCKY. Rated 147 having won two of his three races over fences this winter, the Jeremy gelding looks tailormade for the race.
Novices have won seven of the last 17 renewals and he will arrive fresh (95 days) having not raced since winning a three miles one furlong novices’ chase on the New course at Cheltenham in December. It was the first time he had tackled three miles under Rules, although he was runner-up in his only Irish point when handled by Francis Flood. David Bass’ mount jumped well and was in control soon after the home turn. Despite idling on the run-in, Happygolucky was good value for the three and three quarters of a length winning margin.
Earlier in the season, he beat subsequent winners Paint The Dream, Black Kalanisi (twice), Thomas Macdonagh and Earth Moor (twice) by upwards of six and a half lengths on his chasing debut at Stratford in late October. Runner-up next time at Fakenham, he was outpaced by Getaway Trump around the tight Norfolk venue before returning to winning ways at Prestbury Park.
Happygolucky has only raced eight times during his short career with his form figures at Cheltenham reading 341. A staying-on fourth in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle off a mark of 137 at last year’s Festival, he was placed behind Thyme Hill in Grade 2 company (on the Old course) earlier in the same campaign.
Given the time off, it is worth highlighting his first time out record – 211 – which adds further still to his case.
Venetia Williams is currently responsible for the top weights in the Ultima, namely Aso and Cepage, who are each rated 158. If either or both of those line up shouldering 11st 12lb, Happygolucky will carry 11st 1lb, which is a nice racing weight in such a competitive handicap.
The seven-year-old holds alternative entries in both the National Hunt Chase and Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase but his trainer has indicated that Happygolucky is most likely to contest the Ultima, for which he is available at 12/1 with bet365 (NRNB) and William Hill.
Preview posted 1000 GMT on 01/03/2021
Already advised:
- Mark Howard Portfolio (Feb 22) - Gentleman De Mee to win any race at the Festival at 16/1
- Mark Howard Portfolio (Feb 15) - Southfield Harvest in Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at 25/1
- Mark Howard Portfolio (Feb 8) - Gentlemansgame in Albert Bartlett at 14/1
- Mark Howard Portfolio (Feb 1) - Brandy Love in Champion Bumper at 16/1
- Mark Howard Portfolio (Jan 18) - Dickie Diver in National Hunt Chase at 16/1
- Mark Howard Portfolio (Jan 11) - The Last Day in Grand Annual at 50/1
- Mark Howard Portfolio (Jan 4) - Fury Road in Stayers' Hurdle at 20/1
