Jack Milner previews Cheltenham Festival 2024 with a few fancies at huge prices in the handicaps.
Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle (1.30)
Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival kicks off with The Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle but without a Liam nor a Noel anywhere in sight. To the likes of you and I, it’s The Neptune and a 2m 5f contest for arguably the best novices having their debut season over hurdles.
I’ve been fortunate to witness some wonderful performances in this race, with the likes of Simonsig, Faugheen, Yorkhill, Samcro, Envoi Allen et al setting tongues wagging and Ballyburn (1.30) should do likewise for the formidable partnership of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
The gelding had his Cheltenham race rearranged at the last minute, having been the long-time favourite for the festival curtain-raiser but shouldn’t have any problem with the step up in trip. Owned by the esteemed Ronnie Bartlett, he will no doubt have his sights set on The Cheltenham Gold Cup 2026, with the 6yo almost certainly sent over fences next season.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2.10)
Team Mullins have Fact To File in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase but I much prefer the chances of Stay Away Fay (2.10) who should be right at home on the likely testing ground. The selection was a winner in similar conditions when landing The Albert Bartlett at the festival here 12 months ago, but was always going to be a chaser.
Connections started the gelding’s chase career at Exeter when battling well to make a winning debut over fences and followed-up on Sandown’s Tingle Creek card in The Esher Novices’ Chase. He was far from disgraced running as a novice in open company on Trials’ Day in The Cotswold Chase and can maintain his excellent festival record with the assistance of first-time cheek-pieces.
The Coral Cup (2.50)
The Coral Cup will be a usual fiendish puzzle, with 25 declared and no shortage of plots. Last year’s winner Langer Dan is well-handicapped to give another strong account, having returned to the same mark he won from 12 months ago for Dan and Harry Skelton – a welcome winner too given the publicity from his recent BHA case.
Trainer Gordon Elliott has a good record in the race, Diamond King was always a much-loved horse of mine when scoring here in 2016 under Davy Russell, and I think Beacon Edge (2.50) can run into a place at a big price. The trainer and connections won this race with Commander of Fleet two years and this 10yo boasts a similar profile.
He was soundly beaten in the same race 12 months ago in a first-time tongue tie but has improved since leaving the yard of Noel Meade, winning on debut for his new yard at Thurles in October and second last time out at Navan behind Hiddenvalley on heavy ground.
I’m not sure he’s handicapped to win, but he was a very classy animal on his day and 33/1 looks too big with Danny Gilligan good value for his 3lb claim.
Jonbon for the Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30)
Horse racing is often a sentimental sport where form and sanity go out of the window, and whilst El Fabiolo should win The Queen Mother Champion Chase I have to side with Jonbon (3.30) at his price of 7/2 for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
He was unlucky to finish second last time out in the rearranged Clarence House Chase when jockey Sean Bowen was lucky to stay on after a shuddering error down the back. He has 5lb to find on official ratings with the Mullins hotpot but the combination of heavy ground and an enterprising ride could see him turn the tables on his familiar sparring partner.
Going Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival (4.10)
The Cross-Country Chase isn’t something I get too involved with however, Galvin (4.10) was an excellent second here under Davy Russell 12 months ago and looks too big at 13/2 to continue Keith Donoghue’s phenomenal record in the race.
Donoghue has ridden 4 of the last 8 winners, including being aboard last year’s winner Delta Work and Tiger Roll’s 3 successes – he knows how to ride over the ‘cheese wedges’ as it were.
Madara in the Grand Annual
It’s very strange to see The Grand Annual run on a Wednesday afternoon – for me it would always bring the curtain down to the festival in Friday’s finale! Harry Cobden was quickly snapped up by trainer Evan Williams for antepost favourite Libberty Hunter who is up 7lb for an impressive victory here on New Year’s Day.
I’d be wary of backing him in a bigger field however, having beaten just four rivals on his both chase successes, and I much prefer Madara (4.50) who landed a touch when scoring at The Dublin Racing Festival.
Sophie Leech’s stable star made the trip worthwhile when justifying favouritism to score impressively last month at Leopardstown and has the services of James Reveley once more. A 10lb rise seems fair and, with course winning form to his name already, he looks sure to be competitive once more.
The Champion Bumper To Finish
Patrick Mullins has opted to partner Jasmin de Vaux in the closing bumper, which could be a tip itself with his father saddling a record niner runners in Wednesday’s finale. The 5yo looks skinny enough in a wide-open renewal, and I’d prefer to throw a couple of darts on those at bigger prices instead.
Gordon Elliott’s main two fancies Jalon D’oudairies (5.30) and The Yellow Clay (5.30) have G2 form and have form tied into last month’s Dublin Racing Festival. The former gets the nod from stable jockey Jack Kennedy and this £420,000 recruit from the pointing fields can go a long way to paying back his expensive price tag.
Selections
1.30 Cheltenham – Ballyburn
2.10 Cheltenham – Stay Away Fay
2.50 Cheltenham – Beacon Edge
3.30 Cheltenham – Jonbon
4.10 Cheltenham – Galvin
4.50 Cheltenham – Madara
5.30 Cheltenham – Jalon D’oudairies and The Yellow Clay
Be Lucky
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