Andy Holding takes a look at the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival and picks out two runners.
The opening race of the Festival has rather an odd look to it at this stage of the season than in previous years, in the sense that there’s only one horse currently priced up below 10-1 and it isn’t trained by Willie Mullins. The horse in question is Angels Breath, and while it can’t be argued that Nicky Henderson’s was quite a taking winner on his rules debut at Ascot, the fact that he’s only jumped four flights of hurdles in public (hurdles in home straight dolled off) and has yet to beat anything of any great significance points towards him being priced up a little on his reputation rather than his overall form (Danny Kirwan and Seddon wouldn’t be anywhere near Supreme class). That said, his time figure was pretty useful at the Berkshire track and he did show a willing attitude off the bridle, so he remains one to monitor very closely from a trainer that guided Altior to land the curtain raiser three years ago.
At this stage, owner Dai Walters appear to have a strong hand, not only having Angels Breath running in his silks, but the Welshman also has another potentially smart novice under his banner in the shape of Al Dancer. More exposed, but equally promising, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gelding has risen through the ranks this season and his latest success in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham not only proved that he handled the track (albeit the New Course), but he has the ideal blend of speed and stamina. Set to go for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury for his next outing, were the son of Al Namix to come through that encounter with flying colours then one would imagine he would be a strong choice to go to Cheltenham as one of the main fancies back among his own novice category.
The Betfair Hurdle has become one of the key trials for the Supreme in recent times and even though the big handicap at the Berkshire venue has yet to supply the winner of the two-mile championship race at the Festival, the likes of My Tent Or Yours, Ballyandy and Kalashnikov have all gone on to be big players a month later.
As mentioned, Al Dancer is one of this season’s chief fancies due to run at Newbury and another that could easily make his mark and parachute himself into the Supreme picture as a result is GETAWAY TRUMP (best price 33-1). A smooth winner of a red-hot novice event at Exeter back in December, the way he quickened up off a strong pace suggested he could be worth a crack in much better company, and so it proved. Although beaten in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury next time, the way the six-year-old cruised through that contest at the Berkshire venue suggested it was only the 2m 5f trip on testing ground that prevented him from flooring the hot favourite, Champ, and it makes total sense for connections to drop him back down to the minimum distance for the foreseeable future on the evidence of that display.
Having won the Betfair Hurdle before with Zarkandar before he went on to run well at Cheltenham and narrowly fail with similar type Movewiththetimes two years ago (missed Cheltenham due to late injury when one of the leading fancies), the Ditcheat handler certainly knows the time of day when it comes to preparing the right horse for both races. Moreover, the ex-champion trainer is one of only two handlers to land the Supreme with a former point-to-point winner in the shape of Al Ferof, (Willie Mullins being the other with Champagne Fever) and providing his improving gelding comes through his next encounter with positives vibes, presumably all roads will lead to the Festival and the two-miler.
Despite not appearing to have his usual superstar in this division at this stage, Willie Mullins does have a couple of above-average novices at his disposal and if anything, they still look to be underestimated. QUICK GRABIM (best price 14-1) and Aramon are the two names in question and of the pair, the former has to be worth more than a second look at this stage based on the fact he easily accounted for his stable companion in the Royal Bond earlier in the campaign. Not wanting to get caught out like he was previously at Navan when only fourth behind Aramon, Ruby Walsh decided to grab the race at Fairyhouse by the scruff of the neck and make the running and as it turned out, those different tactics ended paying off in decisive fashion. Quickening up smartly after touching down two out at the Co Meath venue, the son of Oscar left his rivals for dead in the latter stages and that performance went a long way to vindicating the impression that he was an unlucky loser the time before. Unbeaten in his last four starts on all types of ground, the seven-year-old has also proven that his hurdling can stand the test of a well-run affair as his victory in a Grade 3 at Tipperary over Triplicate back in October testified. Although Captain Cee Bee was the only seven-year-old to win the Supreme in recent times, it’s not as if this chap has been over raced with only six hurdle runs to his name and with the likelihood that he will be asked to put his Festival credentials on the line at Leopardstown’s two-day Winter fixture, a positive display in his chosen race should set him up nicely for a tilt at the opener on day one in March.
Aramon himself has gone on to boost the Fairyhouse form with an improved effort at Leopardstown recently and although that contest might not have been the greatest Grade 1 ever staged, the speed figure he posted at the Dublin-based venue at least proved that he’s capable of holding his own in a championship environment when the pace is strong.
Of the rest, Elixir De Nutz has quietly and efficiently gone about his business without creating a massive stir and it would be dangerous not to include him in your thought process as he has quite a few things in his favour. Firstly, he has all-important Cheltenham form, with two wins and a second already this season, and he also holds Grade 1 winning status courtesy of his game victory in the Tolworth at Sandown last time out. Going down the same route as last year’s winner, Summerville Boy, who arrived at Cheltenham with a similar profile, Colin Tizzards’s gelding is arguably the most reliable of the main fancies at this stage. Mister Fisher is clearly going the right way on account of his latest success at Kempton, but he would need to improve significantly to provide his handler with his fourth Supreme winner, while the big talking horse from the Willie Mullins yard, Annamix, failed to rip up any trees on his eagerly-awaited seasonal bow at Limerick last time out and looks hard to fancy on the evidence of that performance.
