Cheltenham Festival tips: Mike Cattermole day two
Altior is set to line up in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase despite a late injury scare - and Mike Cattermoles takes him to strike.
The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase has had an odd feel to it ever since Altior was found lame with a foot infection on Monday morning. The uncertainty of the eventual line-up was clouded again when, oddly, Douvan was also declared for Thursday’s Ryanair Chase.
Anyway, Altior is now fine and fully expected to win the race that he has looked more than ready to pick up for some time. Having had a minor wind operation, his return after an absence to beat the in-form Politologue at Newbury last month could not have gone any better and the soft ground that day would have tested out any weaknesses in his breathing.
It was interesting to hear Paul Nicholls say that Politologue was not far from his best at Newbury which makes it difficult to think he might get any closer this time, admirable horse though he is.
Of course, 12 months ago, it was Douvan who lined up looking the proverbial certainty but it was soon apparent that he wasn’t right and a cracked pelvis was subsequently diagnosed. Given time to get back, Willie Mullins has reported that Douvan has been working at least as well as ever which is why this is such a fascinating contest.
The fact that Ruby rides him instead of the high-class Min speaks volumes. The ground has long gone for defending champion Special Tiara.
The exciting and highly regarded Samcro faces his toughest test yet in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle over what should be an ideal trip.
One of the Irish bankers of the week, the only time he has tackled a similar distance before, he hacked up at Navan in November from Jetz who was not beaten as far by Next Destination on his next two starts
Samcro dropped back to 2m to win the Deloitte at Leopardstown last month, by just over five lengths from the Mullins-trained Duc Des Genievres, who interestingly returns for a rematch, although Ruby prefers Next Destination. That day, Samcro eased to the front and looked like drawing miles clear but didn’t, he just kept on, suggesting that this trip will be more up his street.
Next Destination is clearly respected and should run with credit while stablemate Scarpeta, perhaps the least considered of the four Mullins-trained runners, is interesting as his very easy win in the mud at Gowran Park has worked out extremely well.
Presenting Percy is taken to land the RSA Chase to supplement his win in the Pertemps Final last year. He gave Gold Cup-bound Our Duke a good race at Gowran Park last time over a trip that would have been on the short side for both and may have just too much for Monalee who was runner-up in the Albert Bartlett last year.
Monalee is an admirable, tough horse who has a great attitude, however, and he won’t be easy to beat. Black Corton has had a wonderful season but may fall a touch short.
The Coral Cup is one of the hardest races of the week and if the ground had been less extreme, Max Dynamite would have been the selection as he has been in great form on the Flat (third in the Melbourne Cup) and retains potential over hurdles.
Red Indian has been running well, is consistent and is weighted to beat the likeable Topofthegame again on their Lanzarote form. The ground is in his favour and he offers a bit of value at 33-1.
Having won so well last year, Cause Of Causes can take the Glenfarclass Cross Country Chase for the second year running and enter the record books with a fourth successive Festival success. He is a star. The Last Samuri should give his supporters a good shout though, as he is the highest-rated chaser in the line-up.
The Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle looks a nightmare but Gordon Elliott has long had this in mind for Mitchouka whose form has steadily improved and who only went up 4lb for a Grade 3 win at Fairyhouse last time.
Mastermind, who chased him home there, is 9lb better off with him now but Mitchouka won with plenty in hand and could be underestimated.
Didtheyleaveuoutto can land the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, in spite of being rejected by Barry Geraghty. Nick Gifford’s gelding thoroughly impressed with the way he dismissed a field containing 10 previous winners at Ascot, backing up his eye-catching debut win on the Polytrack at Lingfield, when his split timings in the closing stages were outstanding.
This close relation of Denman (by the same sire and out of a half -sister to the Gold Cup winner) travels so easily but, concerned about the ground, Geraghty has got off him to ride Rhinestone because he feels that there are no such worries with Joseph O’Brien’s runner. Rhinestone chased home Blackbow (one of five for Team Mullins) last time at Leopardstown.
Keep an eye on the unconsidered Thebannerkingrebel who has hacked up at Warwick (soft) and Bangor (heavy) and offers a bit of value at around 25-1.
SELECTIONS: 1.30 SAMCRO, 2.10 PRESENTING PERCY, 2.50 RED INDIAN (EW), 3.30 ALTIOR, 4.10 CAUSE OF CAUSES, 4.50 MITCHOUKA, 5.30 DIDTHELEAVEUOUTTO
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