Cheltenham Tips: JP McManus Festival Treble

Cougar - 16/1

The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, run over an extended two miles, has been a rewarding race for legendary owner JP McManus in those famous gold and green silks, who has won two of the last three renewals, including last year with Brazil who beat Gaelic Warrior. 

While Tekao is undoubtedly going to be the owner’s main hopeful, being the current favourite with the right sort of profile for the race, I wouldn’t give up on the well-regarded COUGAR, at double-figure odds, trained by the excellent Padraig Roche. 

This son of Deep Impact developed into a smart performer on the Flat when trained by Aidan O’Brien, who won on his final start in that sphere in impressive fashion at the Curragh. He then had his attention switched to hurdles, where he has won two of his last three starts. 

He only won by half-a-length on his hurdles debut at Gowran Park but won much more comfortably than the winning margin indicated and he kept his unbeaten record intact when following up at Down Royal next time, winning by three lengths. 

Sent off just 6/1 third-favourite behind Lossiemouth in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle, he raced too keenly and was spent force before they turned for home, in which his rider eased home off to let him come home in his own time. 

That was disappointing to say the least but better was clearly expected of him that day, hence his odds, and his only entry at the Cheltenham Festival is this race and I assume he will be granted a very fair opening handicap debut mark.  

He is likely to be second-string to the favourite but he retains potential, JP McManus likes to target this race and a stronger pace in a larger-field could really serve him well. At double-figure odds, with plenty of improvement to come, he is worth an interest. 

Inthepocket - 12/1

The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle kicks off the third day of the Cheltenham Festival and while JP McManus could have a few runners, I think the pick of the bunch is INTHEPOCKET who looks a solid value bet over this longer trip having been caught for speed at the Dublin Racing Festival over two miles last time when second. 

He cost his owners a decent figure after winning his point-to-point and returned an impressive winner of a maiden hurdle at Wexford on stable debut, before successfully stepping up in trip to win the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle at Naas, where he won a lot easier than the diminishing margin indicated. 

The race was tactically-run affair and the final hurdle was omitted, meaning no hurdles were jumped in the straight, which wouldn’t have helped. Still, I was taken with the way he cruised into contention and quickened up approaching the final furlong and whilst he only had a whisker to spare at the finish, his performance was visually impressive. 

Henry de Bromhead’s charge then dropped back in trip to two miles at the Dublin Racing Festival against the likes of Facile Vega but his chances were compromised when the favourite started to back pedal, which forced Rachael Blackmore to sit and suffer on the JP McManus owned team-member. 

By the time he got clear daylight, the eventual winner Il Etait Temps had already shot clear but he stayed on strongly to take second with Dark Raven back in third. I am sure connections were pleased with his run in defeat, which suggested he would be better going back up in trip potentially at the Cheltenham Festival. 

He still holds an entry in the Supreme but I reckon connections will plunge into going this route instead, which should be more favourable given he’s a point winner over further. He jumps fluently, travels well and his best days are yet to come. Good each-way chance. 

Dawn Rising - 20/1

The third pick that makes up the treble comes in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival. I think the odds about DAWN RISING are very appealing indeed, who shaped very well when coming from off the pace to take third at the Dublin Racing Festival last time. 

The six-year-old displayed some high-class form on the Flat, as his final start in that sphere saw him finish second to the 117-rated Al Aasy in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy. He was ultimately well beaten on his hurdles debut in third when badly in need of the experience but won his next two starts in good style. 

In the latest of those two wins, he defeated last season’s Champion Bumper second American Mike by eight lengths and while excuses were made for the latter, he did plenty wrong himself, as he lacked fluency but showed plenty of stamina and class to draw clear from the red-hot favourite. 

He looked better the further he went and his next task was in the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle. He didn’t seem suited to the drop in trip having briefly looked outpaced when the taps were turned on by Willie Mullins’ Champ Kiely. To his credit, he stuck to the task well to snatch third, doing his best work late on. 

Upon reflection of his performances, the three-mile trip in the Albert Bartlett looks tailor-made for him and he will be bringing some classy form into the race. He is totally unexposed as a stayer and the stiff uphill finish will play to his strengths.