A fascinating novice chase in which Sceau Royal, sixth home in last season’s Champion Hurdle, takes on two highly-rated graduates to fences is the obvious feature event on the first card of the new campaign at Cheltenham this afternoon, but in recent years, it is the opening novice hurdle which has been a more reliable pointer towards future top-class success.
The New One, one of the best British-trained hurdlers of the last decade, took the Showcase meeting’s first race back in 2012, while Vicente, the Scottish Grand National winner in 2016 and 2017, beat the subsequent Festival winner Present View in the 2014 renewal.
The last two winners have not, as yet, progressed in quite the same way but Brillare Momento (2.00) is a strong contender today on the back of her win in a Listed event at this track back in April. She followed that up with a two-length second behind Momella at Newton Abbot in May, form which was franked when the winner came home 17 lengths clear on her seasonal debut a week ago, and Brillare Momento should get favourite-backers off to a good start today.
Sceau Royal made a polished debut over fences last time out but he is a little weak in the betting this morning and faces two very interesting rivals in Movewiththetimes and North Hill Harvey.
Both kept good company in handicaps last season, with North Hill Harvey taking the Greatwood Hurdle at the November meeting here before running down the field off marks in the 140s at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. Movewiththetimes (2.35) was rated a few pounds below Dan Skelton’s runner, but finished a close second in the ultra-competitive Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and could be a better bet at around 7-4 to make a winning debut over fences today.
Gordon Elliott dethroned Willie Mullins as the Festival meeting’s top trainer back in March and has five declared runners on today’s card, including Presenting Julio (4.20), with the top-class amateur Jamie Codd booked to ride, in the handicap chase later on the card.
Bryony Frost, who has turned professional since winning the Foxhunters’ on Pacha Du Polder back in March, has an excellent chance to register another winner at the track aboard Black Corton (3.45), while on the day’s other cards, the lightly-raced Ludorum (5.20) makes plenty of appeal in the last race of the afternoon at Doncaster. Richard Fahey’s runner did not look at home on heavy ground last time out but has an obvious chance on earlier form and has leading amateur Joanna Mason booked to ride.
Cheltenham 2.00 Brillare Momento 2.35 Movewiththetimes 3.10 Potters Story 3.45 Black Corton 4.20 Presenting Julio (nb) 4.55 Dans Le Vent 5.30 Cool Macavity
Doncaster 1.20 Che Bella 1.50 Mrs Sippy 2.25 Breath Caught 3.00 Epic Fantasy 3.35 Red Pike 4.10 Golden Birthday 4.45 Ajman King 5.20 Ludorum (nap)
Newbury 1.10 Proschema 1.40 George Of Hearts 2.15 Mandalayan 2.50 Precious Ramotswe 3.25 Time To Study 4.00 Executive Force 4.35 Baron Bolt 5.10 Graceful Lady
Wolverhampton 5.45 Princess Way 6.15 About Glory 6.45 Story Minister 7.15 Romanor 7.45 Deyaarna 8.15 Luang Prabang 8.45 Jack Blane 9.15 Sentinel
