Betting Update; Cheltenham Festival with the bookmakers making Kauto Star their 11/10 favourite

Added: (Thu Mar 06 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – IRISH VIEW


DAY ONE

SUPREME NOVICES
In a wide open affair, the Irish have decent prospects of getting off to a flyer with the likes of MUIRHEAD, Captain Cee Bee and Cork All Star all prominent in the betting and with leading chances. The former just holds sway on the basis of already posted a victory over the latter in a Grade 1 hurdle and being fresher than most. Furthermore, his handler Noel Meade couldn’t be in better form for the week ahead and at 8/1, he makes plenty of each-way appeal.


ARKLE
Two big chances here especially if the forecast rain arrives as both CLOPF and THYNE AGAIN have enough class to play a prominent role given normal luck in running. The former would be unbeaten over fences if it wasn’t for a last fences tumble at Navan last time and he hails from a trainer who’s claimed this prize before, while it would be dangerous to underestimate the prospects of the latter given how he seems to be piecing it all together over fences based on the evidence of his last two starts.


CHAMPION HURDLE
All eyes will be on SIZING EUROPE here and justifiably so after his romp in the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last time out. Henry De Bromhead’s charge gave out positive signals of great things to come when bolting up on his previous visit to Cheltenham in November and with all conditions coming alike, he rates a solid and worthy favourite. His main threat may come from fellow countryman HARCHIBALD as Noel Meade’s charge appears to be back to something like his best. Although beaten by Straw Bear in the Christmas Hurdle, his yard was out of form at the time and a recent victory on the AW at Dundalk will give him the confidence he needs on-route to laying the ghost of his most high profile defeat in this race two years ago.


BGC CROSS COUNTRY HANDICAP CHASE
A race for which the visitors look to have by the scruff of the neck with WONDERKID receiving the slight edge over GARDE CHAMPETRE. The former arrives here having caught the eye of the stewards with a controversial performance over hurdles last time out and that run should put him spot on in his bid to repeat his previous victory over this course earlier in the campaign. The latter bounced back to form when winning one of the key trials for this race last time out at Punchestown and he couldn’t be in better hands with his handler being the king of the cross country races.


FRED WINTER
RIVER LIANE burst onto the scene in impressive fashion at Leopardstown last weekend and looks the proverbial handicap snip in the concluding contest on day one. Thomas Cooper’s inmate was having his first run for new connections since arriving from France and the way he toyed with the opposition at the Co Dublin venue suggests he’s going to be a massive player with the stiff track likely to play into his strengths.


DAY TWO
BALLYMORE PROPERTIES
All eyes will be on FORPADYDEPLASTERER as he is considered the banker for many visiting Irish punters. Thomas Cooper’s inmate appears to be improving with every run and he proved that by posting his best figure to date when landing the Deloitte Novices’ Hurdle at Leopardstown last time out. The 6yo is a tough, genuine galloper and the more rain that falls between now and post time, the better his chance becomes.


CORAL CUP
LEG SPINNER has been all the rage for this competitive handicap and while his chance looks to be an obvious one, any significant amount of rainfall may foil the gamble. All his best form has come on a sound surface so a watching brief is the order of the day at this stage.


NATIONAL HUNT CHASE
BEANTOWN has been laid out specifically for this race and looks to hold major claims of going one place better than he did two years ago. Runner up to Hot Weld in 2006, Sean Aherne’s charge has been lightly raced ever since and arrives here on the back of a smooth success at Navan which should put him cherry ripe for the big day.

BUMPER
As ever, the visitors look to hold all the aces in a race which has been a benefit to Irish raiders in recent times. Willie Mullins in the undisputed king when it comes to plundering this prize and holding a strong hand with the likes of APT APPROACH, LILYWHITEDANCER, COUSIN VINNY and DRIVE ON REGARDLESS, who’s to say that the Co Carlow handler can’t win it again. Add in the likes of ZAARITO who has been all the rage ever since putting up a scintillating performance last time out at Navan, and CORSKEAGH ROYALE from the in-form Meade yard, it would come as a massive surprise if an Irish name isn’t engraved on the trophy.

DAY THREE
JEWSON HANDICAP
AMBOBO (NAP) rates the week’s banker in this competitive handicap as Martin Brassil’s charge has the look of a very well treated individual. A high class horse over hurdles, the son of Kingmambo has made a bright start to his chasing career – finishing a creditable second on debut at Punchestown before posting a very fast speed figure when accounting for some highly regarded sorts at Naas last time. The form of the race has worked out well and off what looks a very favourable mark, he’s expected to go close in a race tailor made for his run style.


RYANAIR
MOSSBANK looks set to give the sponsors of this race a huge run for their money and he rates a worthy favourite in one of the most wide open contests at the festival. Best when fresh, Michael Hourigan’s inmate has been wisely rested since chasing home Denman in the Lexus Chase and over his ideal trip, a big run looks on the cards.

PERTEMPS
ROBIN DE BOIS has had the bookmakers scurrying for cover and given his lightly-raced profile, it’s easy to see why they would want to duck the 5yo. The fall he took last time in a qualifier at Haydock may turn out to be a blessing in disguise and if he stays the trip, his useful turn of foot at the business end could turn out to be a potent weapon.

DAY FOUR
TRIUMPH
If WON IN THE DARK was trained by a more high-profile handler, there’s little doubt that the improving son of Montjeu wouldn’t be the price he is at present. Sabrina Harty’s charge has done precious little wrong in all his last four starts over hurdles and having previously chased home favourite Franchoek over this course earlier in the campaign, his odds of 16/1 appear very generous.

ALBERT BARTLETT
SIEGEMASTER isn’t a name too many English punters will be familiar with and for that reason Dessie Hughes’ charge appears to have been seriously underestimated in the ante post market. A proper chasing type, the son of Lord Americo was doing all his best work at the end of a decent Grade 2 contest at Leopardstown last time to suggest that a step up in trip will further enhance his claims.

FOXHUNTERS
AGUS A VIC, a lightly-raced improving 7yo is a worthy favourite in a hunter chase lacking any real star quality. Patrick Martin’s charge has yet to finish out of the first two in five starts under rules and arrives here on the back of a smart speed figure at Leopardstown which should set him up nicely for a tilt at this prize.

GRAND ANNUAL
WANANGO looks the chief player for the Irish raiders in this typically competitive handicap chase and given his favoured soft ground, Tommy Stack’s charge may well justify his position in the market. He looked on good terms with himself when romping to victory at Uttoxeter last time out and even though the handicapper has trying to intervene, he has enough class to offset that slight negative.

DAVID NICHOLSON MARES ONLY HURDLE
SWEET KILN carries the hopes of the Irish in the first ever running of this event and James Bowe’s charge appears to hold first class credentials. As consistent as they come, she seemed to relish new hold up tactics when posted her best ever figure two starts ago at Leopardstown and even though she got beat last time out at Gowran, the heavy ground was a viable excuse.
COUNTY HURDLE
JERED and PSYCHO could well turn out to be big players in the traditional getting out stakes but their odds at present make little appeal.

• All prices correct at time of writing.

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