The Triumph Hurdle looks, as always, the trickiest of puzzles however a chance can be taken on Royal Irish Hussar for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty; the pair teaming up to win the race in both 2009 and 2010.
Royal Irish Hussar (1.30) beat subsequent Spring Juvenile Hurdle winner Guitar Pete fair and square over course and distance at the Open Meeting and despite the colt disappointing at Doncaster last time out, he can be excused having his third run inside a six weeks.
Cheltenian (2.05) can deliver Phillip Hobbs his third win of the festival in the County Hurdle, who should be able to build on his excellent run in the Betfair Hurdle. The Champion Bumper winner of 2011 was fourth but tired late on and more can be expected from a very lenient handicap mark of 137.
Briar Hill is going to be a prohibitively short favourite for the Albert Bartlett novices hurdle and at the prices he must be opposed. Willie Mullins’ Champion Bumper winner tore up the hill en route to victory and is unbeaten over hurdles but is a ludicrous price at 11/8 – do we remember what happened to Boston Bob?
The pair are closely related and Mullins’ other previously unbeaten hurdler was a well punted favourite before finding a game front-runner hard to pass and there’s another one lurking with Kings Palace (2.40) for the all-conquering team at Pond House.
He has two course and distance wins to his name and practically skipped over the hurdles last time out. The yard are clearly thriving and he looks the value at around 7/2 with BetVictor.
The best bet of the day is the reigning Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth (3.20) successfully defending his crown and defending his unbeaten record at both the festival and the track. Nicky Henderson’s 9-y-o bounced back from a poor return at Haydock to win the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown and quite frankly, he is bomb proof.
He is the best bet of the 2014 Cheltenham festival.
The Foxhunter Chase has attracted a bumper field of 24 amateurs and there is no unluckier runner than Oscar Delta (4.00), who had last year’s renewal sewn up before jinking at the last and unseating jockey Jane Mangan in the closing stages.
She can gain redemption at a track that the 11-y-o loves; third in the race in 2011 and 2012 before his unseating last year and he can seal something of a fairytale ending for both horse and jockey alike.
Horses have used the Martin Pipe Conditionals Handicap Hurdle as a springboard to greater things, with previous two winners Sir Des Champs and Salubrious going onto win honours at a much higher level and Full Shift has a very similar profile.
The 5-y-o beat subsequent Premier Hurdle winner Clever Cookie in a novice hurdle at Newcastle and that form looks strong with the latter now rated 144. Full Shift (4.40) won last month at Kempton and the well-backed third came out and hacked up at Chepstow at the weekend.
Despite a hike in the weights to 135, he still looks well in with the finish likely to be fought out between him and David Pipe’s exciting novice Vieux Lion Rouge – another exciting inmate at Pond House, likely to have a future over fences.
There are more plots than my late grandfather’s allotment in the Grand Annual. JP McManus had a 1-2 with Alderwood and Kid Cassidy and he could well have another with Mr Mole and Ned Buntline both respected novices.
The pair appeal most alongside Alan King’s Raya Star (5.15), who is the gamest of the game and has form around the track in novices’ chases earlier in the season. There must be a lovely combination forecast in there somewhere? We can but hope.
1.30 - Royal Irish Hussar
2.05 - Cheltenian
2.40 - Kings Palace (NB)
3.20 - Bobs Worth (Nap)
4.00 - Oscar Delta
4.40 - Full Shift
5.15 - Raya Star, Ned Buntline, Mr Mole
For all the latest odds go to BetVictor.com
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