Mike Cattermole previews the weekend action at Cheltenham
Mike Cattermole previews the weekend action at Cheltenham and fancies Benatar to taste big-race success.
Festival form put to the test
Although Rather Be has a swing of 9lb in the weights for the head beating he received from Mister Whitaker at the Festival last March, I am not convinced he is a good thing to turn the form around in a super renewal of the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Rather Be has been off the track since and bids to give champion trainer Nicky Henderson just his second winner in this great chase, after Fondmort triumphed under Mick Fitzgerald back in 2003.
Meanwhile, Mister Whitaker, whose training is part supervised by Henrietta Knight at Mick Channon’s, has been out already this term and won nicely at Carlisle. It has been reported that connections were keen to take the freshness out of him and he is now the winner of four of his six chase starts and is also unbeaten in two visits to Cheltenham.
Not easy to pick between them, is it? Or am I over-complicating things?
Interestingly, the Kerry Lee-trained mare Happy Diva chased home Mister Whitaker at Carlisle in a race where her rider, Richard Patrick, was unable to claim his allowance and now is 4lb better for just over the two lengths she was beaten.
Progressive last season, she appeals at the prices as a bit of value, being a general 16/1.
However, with respect to the above trio, there are plenty with claims, including the Neil Mulholland-trained Kalondra who may just be well treated.
On his last start, he faced a tough task at the weights against some smart types (set to give the 158-rated Sub Lieutenant 7lb) at Galway in August but was in the process of running a huge race when falling at the second last.
Who knows what would have happened but on his previous start he had run third in the Grade 2 Silver Trophy on the New Course here in April behind Traffic Fluide.
Travelling strongly in the rear, he was produced too soon if anything and expect Noel Fehily to ride a very cool race this time and leave it as late as he dares in what should be another honestly run race. Kalondra has been well supported all week.
Banking on Benatar
The faster they go, the better it should also suit Benatar, who is also likely to be doing his best work at the finish.
I didn’t envy Jamie Moore choosing between him and the ultra consistent and admirable Baron Alco, also trained by father Gary, but this has to be considered a positive sign.
I was amazed that Benatar still managed to finish third in the Grade 1 JLT Novices’ Chase here last March as he was tanking along for most of the race. He looked a spent force jumping the last but somehow managed to find more to hang on for third and also reportedly finished lame (West Approach was sixth).
This horse, winner of three of his five chases, has a mass of talent but needs to settle and the heavy ground at Newton Abbot would not have been ideal for him on his reappearance when well held in fourth behind Beggar’s Wishes.
Let’s hope he has had his share of freshness taken out of him too and, at 14/1 in places, he still represents a bit of value.
His stablemate Baron Alco was runner-up to Road To Respect in the Stable Plate here at the 2017 Festival and shaped well when chasing home the smart Charbel at Chepstow last month.
Of the rest, Guitar Pete, winner of the December Gold Cup here last year, limbered up with a good second on his reappearance at Wetherby and 25/1 looks a little big.
Spot the difference
This fine three-day meeting gets under way on Friday with the Markel Insurance Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase and the line-up is littered with weighing room talent.
For example, Patrick Mullins has his first ride for Jonjo O’Neill on board the in-form Sky Pirate, Jamie Codd is on Station Master for Kim Bailey, while Derek O’Connor has been booked by JP McManus and Philip Hobbs to partner For Good Measure.
This brother to the stable’s former stalwart Balthazar King very much caught the eye on his reappearance when fifth in a Class 2 Chase behind Relentless Dreamer. He has been dropped 2lb for it and with the stable in such good form, he looks set to run a big one in this Class 3.
That said, The Young Master and Sam Waley-Cohen represent a formidable duo, having won at Chepstow and being raised just 5lb to 135. The runner-up Traffic Fluide won a big pot at Ascot next time and The Young Master is still well treated on his best form when he was rated 150.
It is good to see the Hobbs team back in much better form following a virus-plagued season and if they do win the first then they could double up with JP McManus in the following Swanee River Novices’ Handicap Hurdle with Dostal Phil.
Dostal Phil chased home a potentially smart sort in Tokay Dokey at Uttoxeter on his first start since having a wind operation. A mark of 120 could underestimate him.
Mike Cattermole's selections
12.40 (Friday) - FOR GOOD MEASURE
1.15 (Friday) - DOSTAL PHIL
2.25 (Saturday) - BENATAR
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