Cheltenham Festival Eyecatchers for your trackers
We pick out half a dozen horses from the Cheltenham Festival that could be worth adding to your My Stable trackers.
Ivanovich Gorbatov
From a personal perspective, it was a nightmare Cheltenham Festival. Four seconds on day one, three more on day two, and by day three I had just about had enough of it all if truth be told. I didn’t even get to enjoy Douvan at his finest having been down at Cheltenham on Wednesday, in the hope of seeing a performance for the ages. There are few more likeable than Henry de Bromhead, but even that didn’t soften the blow of seeing the most talented horse at the meeting beaten at the top of the hill.
In 12 months, I’ll be ready for battle again and reminding myself that Festival form is the best starting point. Always. Cause Of Causes, Un Temps Pour Tout, Tiger Roll, Tully East… all were there, if you wanted to see them, all on the strength of Festivals past. And so was Ivanovich Gorbatov, backed off the boards for the County Hurdle for what was his first start in handicap company having not quite cut the mustard at the top level since winning the 2016 Triumph.
I’m not sure this was a long-term plot – ultimately, options for a five-year-old who can’t quite make the transition are limited, and the handicapper had taken a cautious view of his seven defeats in seven starts since beating Apple’s Jade in the Triumph. But nor was I surprised to see him backed into favouritism under the talented J.J. Slevin, chiefly because conditions had come right in his favour and this somehow looked a winnable County, if such a thing exists.
Ultimately, Ivanovich Gorbatov paid a heavy price for sitting closest to the frenetic pace set by Wakea, and it’s to his enormous credit that he clung on for sixth. Wakea faded to 11th, beating only those who’d given up the ghost, while another prominent racer Jaleo took a tired fall at the last and Dominada, who completed the chasing group, trailed home last of 23 finishers.
In other words, had the cards fallen better for him, Ivanovich Gorbatov might just have landed this gamble and it was nice to see his hurdling so fluent back on top-of-the-ground. It bodes really well for Aintree, where the ground was unseasonably soft when he was beaten 40-odd lengths last year, and for Punchestown after that. He’s hardly a fresh horse but he looks a well-treated one and there must be an option for him somewhere. (Ben Coley)
Saphir Du Rheu
The obvious Gold Cup eyecatcher is of course Minella Rocco, who may well win it next year, potentially via this season's National, but it was fifth home Saphir Du Rheu who really caught my eye.
Paul Nicholls’ horse was going just about as well as anything at the top of the hill and stuck to his task to be beaten less than seven lengths by a really good winner, in what was by no means a weak renewal with three young, improving stayers dominating in a changing of the guard.
Saphir Du Rheu has now contested four Festival races, placing in the World Hurdle and arguably matching that form here, but the most electric performance he’s produced came when he won the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in the manner of a horse who could and should be competing for top honours over fences.
That was nearly two years ago and he’s clearly had his problems since, but a confidence-boosting Kelso win followed by this very solid fifth could set him up really nicely for the Betfred Bowl back at Aintree, a race which has been kind to Nicholls thanks to What A Friend and Silviniaco Conti.
All being well, Cue Card may head to Aintree as favourite – this on the assumption that Sizing John waits for Punchestown – but this race doesn’t always go to plan (see: Follow The Plan) and there are many in its recent history whose victories carried more than a whiff of opportunism.
Madison Du Berlais, for instance, came into it on the back of a midfield Gold Cup run and was 12/1, and I can envisage a repeat given that the Ryanair winner is unlikely to step up in trip, the other nearly horses from the Gold Cup appear less suited to Aintree, and Cue Card himself didn’t move through the Gold Cup like a horse who really is as good as he’s ever been.
I could of course be wrong and Nicholls has always appeared sweet on a National tilt, but his horse wouldn’t be a guaranteed stayer and would only be receiving 2lb from Minella Rocco, which tempers enthusiasm as to how strong a chance he might have.
The Bowl, a Grade One, is a worthy alternative and could well be a stepping stone to a National bid next year, perhaps after a spin over the fences in calmer waters. Saphir Du Rheu is only eight, after all, and one way or another there’s a big prize in him. (Ben Coley)
Un Ace
Like Ben, this year's Festival took its toll at times. Unbacked winners only included in forecasts, three decent priced each-way and place only bets finishing one spot outside the money (and usually immediately followed by someone telling me that's where each-way bets always finish - always good for the humour).
The thing that really got me was having the races of three bets ended through - as far as I can tell - little fault of their own at an early stage of the race. Of course, these things happen although I can't remember it happening quite so often as it seemed to this year.
Ballyandy looked unlucky in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle having been hampered on a couple of occasions although one colleague felt that his own jumping was to blame.
Anyway, on to Un Ace who finished some 35 lengths behind Road To Respect in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate. This is stretching a point as an eyecatcher and there is no way he would have beaten the winner who appeared to have at least a stone in hand but I do believe there was enough promise in the run to justify my faith and wager on the horse.
I think he's been crying out for good ground and a return to this sort of intermediate trip after a spell running over further and everything looked in place for a big run with the cheekpieces applied but he was taken out by the winner at the very first obstacle who jumped across him.
That looked to give him a fright as he was ponderous at the next and lost lengths but no sooner than David Bass nursed him back up to join the field, than he was hampered by a faller and that, as they say, was that.
Bass could have pulled him up but kept on and watching the head on, the pair could be seen running on steadily down the hill under hands and heels riding. I remain convinced he has a decent prize in him granted his conditions and he should be sent off at a big price on the back of this season's form.
Keep the faith. (Ian Ogg)
Calipto
This one is altogether easier to explain following his highly encouraging sixth in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual.
A talented youngster who finished fourth in Tiger Roll's Triumph Hurdle (and looked unlucky not to finish closer), he lost his way thereafter for Paul Nicholls and was allowed to live Ditcheat for just £24,000 and that looks money well spent on the back of Friday's run.
It was his first start of the season and first for Venetia Williams and only his second in a handicap chase and he ran a blinder over a trip that's possibly on the short side for him.
He handles this spring ground well and looks feasibly treated from a rating of 139 having initially been rated 149 as juvenile over hurdles and also finishing fourth in a Betfair Hurdle from 143.
His Cheltenham record is pretty good in the main as he's also finished a close third in a Grade Two novice behind Garde La Victoire and Fox Norton as well as running Tiger Roll close in a conditions hurdle.
He has time on his side after just 14 career starts, only five of which have come over fences, and has scope for further progression. Although he appreciates decent ground, he has won on heavy and conditions in the autumn should be fine.
It doesn't take too much of a stretch in the imagination to see him returning to Cheltenham for the BetVictor Gold Cup in November, a race in which the stable's excellent Ryanair Chase third Aso ran so well in earlier in the season. (Ian Ogg)
Go Conquer
I can only add to the tales of woe, I’m afraid. The best darts hit the bar and after all that hype and build-up you can’t help but feel a fool for doing your money over the 28-race extravaganza.
But the game moves on, quickly, and the great thing is there’s always the next big meeting.
That is Aintree, and while Jonjo O’Neill’s Minella Rocco caught the eye in no uncertain terms for the Grand National when running on strongly for second in the Gold Cup, one of his stablemates is on my radar for the same meeting.
The horse is Go Conquer, my first bet of the week and one who set the tone when not quite holding on for fourth in the Ultima Handicap Chase on Tuesday (funny that isn’t it Ian, all those good each-way bets, all finishing fifth? Ian. Ian?!)
He was unlucky not to be placed, however. He jumped beautifully up front under Aidan Coleman, the positive tactics working for him in one sense but against him towards the finish, when that dastardly rogue Buywise decided to start trying up the hill to pinch, rob, mug, fourth from him as he tired.
This conclusively proved that an extended three miles is beyond Go Conquer at this level, but his performance also suggested that he has a big race in him from his current mark at a slightly shorter trip.
If he can jump as well over the National fences as he did at Cheltenham then he’ll be a live player in the Topham which looks the obvious target for him at the National meeting considering his owners, mark and trip requirements. (Ben Linfoot)
Ex Patriot
There were a few that caught the eye on Friday. Ami Desbois ran a great race in the Albert Bartlett and he is going to be some novice chaser next season, especially on softer ground.
But with the next month or so in mind I’d rather follow the exploits of juvenile hurdler Ex Patriot. What a stormer he ran in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, particularly considering he got loose beforehand.
With those exploits in mind, Rachael Blackmore did well to switch him off out the back as soon as the race got under way. He remained in last in the early stages before sluicing through the field as the race progressed.
By the time they had reached the second last he was tanking along just off the lead having come widest of all. He challenged Defi Du Seuil up the rail, but while that horse moved through the gears and put the race to bed Ex Patriot was left to fight it out for the places.
He stuck on well to hold on to fourth from the rallying Landofhopeandglory, an excellent effort after those pre-race shenanigans.
This proved spring ground holds no fears, either, and after just four hurdle runs under his belt there should be more to come.
Unfashionable connections could mean he’ll be underestimated by the market wherever he goes next, with the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival one viable option. (Ben Linfoot)
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
