Two winners and three losers after the weights for the nine handicaps at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival were announced today.
The Cheltenham Festival is now only two weeks away, and after an anxious wait, the weights for the handicaps have now been revealed.
So, who were the winners and losers from the announcement earlier today? I have put five horses under the spotlight.
Hansard (County Hurdle)
Weight & Mark: 11st / 142
The Gary Moore-trained Hansard appears to have been let in lightly for the County Hurdle (his only entry).
The six-year-old won twice last season before rounding off his campaign with a fourth in a Grade 1 at Aintree. He returned with a good second in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton when up against the race-fit Rubaud before going one better in the Gerry Fielden at Newbury on his handicap debut.
He subsequently ran well in a muddling race under a big weight to finish fifth in the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot off a mark of 142, and it will be music to Gary Moore’s ears to see the handicapper has left his mark unaltered. He can be backed at a general 20/1 and is definitely a winner in terms of the weights and handicap mark.
Verdict: WINNER
Betfred
- Huge range of regular promotions
- 24/7 live chat service
- PickYourPunt builder for custom bets
L’Eau du Sud (County Hurdle)
Weight & Mark: 10st 7Ib / 135
Trainer Dan Skelton loves a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival and has won four of the last eight renewals of the County Hurdle, including last year with Faivoir, who caused a shock when scoring at 33/1 under Bridget Andrews.
His main player for this year’s race is the unexposed and improving L’Eau du Sud, who was last seen running a huge race to finish second in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. He travelled, jumped beautifully throughout, and looked like the likeliest winner.
He couldn’t hold off the late challenge of Iberico Lord but was clear of the third, and a 6Ib rise for that excellent effort is far from harsh. He will get into this race on a low weight, will be suited to a strongly-run race, and has the right profile. He is trading at 14/1 and has plenty going for him.
Verdict: WINNER
Ash Tree Meadow (Plate Handicap Chase)
Weight & Mark: 12st / 159
Gordon Elliott’s Ash Tree Meadow ran well for a long way in the Newlands Chase behind Ferny Follow on Sunday, but even though he will be fitter next month, his finishing effort was disappointing, and the handicapper hasn’t done him any favours should he line up in the Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next month.
He won the Galway Plate last year off 145, but if he’s to win this valuable race, he will need to defy a hefty 14Ib rise to a mark of 159 and have to lump 12st around. It might even be the case that connections have no option but to run him in the Ryanair Chase instead, because he has been badly treated for this solo handicap entry, from my point of view.
Verdict: LOSER
Maskada (Grand Annual Handicap Chase)
Weight & Mark: 11st 8Ib / 150
Last year’s winner, Maskada, had her form boosted when the runner-up, Dinoblue, subsequently won a Grade 1 prior to finishing second to El Fabiolo. However, she’s not been at her best in three starts this season, and her mark has been raised to 150 if she is to try and become a rare back-to-back winner of the Grand Annual.
Perhaps her handler Henry De Bromhead has deliberately been running her in those three high-quality races on home soil to try and get her mark back down, but the 16/1 chance will need another personal best, which will undoubtedly be required if she’s to succeed, and it would come as no surprise to see her tackle the Champion Chase instead.
Verdict: LOSER
Sonigino (Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle)
Weight & Mark: 11st 10Ib / 143
Paul Nicholls’ could rely on Sonigino in the Martin Pipe, who is available at 25/1. However, he ran below form when down the field at Kempton in the Lanzarote, and the handicapper has kept him on the same mark of 143.
The seven-year-old did manage to win easily at Aintree in his penultimate start off 137 and placed in the Greatwood Hurdle here in March off the same mark in November, but I assume he would need to drop a couple of pounds or so, as the handicapper might have caught up with him.
