We take a look at the highlights on a big weekend of racing action.
Cheltenham’s two-day International meeting kicks off on Friday and the feature event on the opening day is the £45,000 Grade Three Unicoin Group Handicap Chase (1.30pm).
The market is currently headed by Southfield Theatre (best odds 5-1) who probably would have won the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton on seasonal return had he not capsized at the final fence. His trainer Paul Nicholls has only won the race once (Royal Auclair in 2005) but his last four runners have all been placed.
Favourites have a decent record in the 3m 2f contest, obliging on 21 occasions (46.7% strike rate), although the most recent market leader to triumph was Midnight Chase at 11/4 in 2010.
Earlier on the card, Emerging Force could put his RSA Chase credentials to the test once again in the 3m 2f novices’ chase – a race won by subsequent RSA hero Blaklion 12 months ago. Harry Whittington’s improving 6yo has looked the part in winning both starts over the bigger obstacles so far and it already seems certain that he will take higher rank over fences than he did over hurdles (rated 146 in that sphere). He also has the option of the Grade 2 Bet365 December Novices’ Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.
The juvenile hurdle that opens Saturday’s Cheltenham card has a rich history of throwing up high-class winners and that trend ought to continue if the likes of Defi Du Seuil, Cliffs Of Dover and Domperignon Du Lys stand their ground at the final declaration stag. An impressive win for any, especially the JP McManus-owned Defi Du Seuil - the current Triumph Hurdle second favourite, would see a major move in that ante-post market.
Nicky Henderson is unlikely to run both O O Seven and Different Gravey in the Ryman Novices’ Chase at 12.40pm but this looks set to be a most informative contest that will have a major bearing on the ante-post markets for the JLT and RSA Chase markets. The prospect of decent ground will be music to the ears of trainer Paul Nicholls, whose Frodon could easily bounce back after conditions turned against him in the BetVictor Gold Cup here last month. He still has stacks of potential but a decent surface is important to him.
Paul Nicholls is also responsible for the ante-post market leader of the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup although Bouvreuil has the best part of seven lengths to make up on Taquin De Seuil from the BetVictor Gold Cup. As a relatively unexposed 5yo with more to offer over fences, punters clearly think Bouvreuil is the one to be with this time, on 5lb better terms. Five of the first six home from BetVictor Gold Cup meet again and they dominate a wide open market.
Festival heroes Unowhatimeanharry, Blaklion and Conygree are on the roll call of recent winners of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2.25) so there can be little doubt that this race has the potential to throw up a future star, and it looks significant that Paul Nicholls chooses to pitch Anchor Man in deep after just one run under rules. He went into many a notebook when bolting up in an Exeter novices’ hurdle last month but the runner-up didn’t do much for the form at Hereford next time.
Connections of Yanworth were meant to be plotting a path to World Hurdle glory this season but owner JP McManus clearly feels he has a better prospect for that race in Unowwhatimeanharry, meaning Yanworth reverts back to two-miles in the Stanjames.com International Hurdle (3.00) in a bid to determine whether he has the class to be a genuine Champion Hurdle contender. The New One is another horse that was expected to tread a different route this season (fences) but his chasing career has been put on hold for the time being. He will surely have a say if anywhere near his best, but last season’s Champion Hurdle runner-up My Tent Or Yours heads the market and will be hard to beat if bouncing back from his rather surprising defeat at Haydock, where the combination of testing ground and a steady pace put paid to his chances.
The eyes of the racing world are diverted to Ireland on Sunday where two of Willie Mullins’ big guns are unleashed for the first time this season. 2016 Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam (best odds 15-8) bids to repeat last season’s impressive success in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown while at Cork, the superstar that is Douvan will take his record to 7-7 over fences if successful in the Kerry Group Hill Way Chase at 2.15. The 2017 Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite looks sure to go off very prohibitive odds.
