For dedicated punters, the Cheltenham Festival started on Wednesday, when the weights were published for the meeting’s nine handicaps, while the chancellor was simultaneously setting out his plans to pay off the biggest national debt mountain since the second world war. There is probably a joke in there somewhere, for the cynics and stoics at least.
Entries for this year’s handicaps are down by about 20%, seemingly for a variety of reasons linked mainly to the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a drop in entries from Ireland, in particular. The fact that owners cannot attend also probably means that there is less incentive to enter what will likely be a big outsider, on the off-chance that you might sneak in at the bottom of the weights and live the dream of a day at the Festival watching a horse in your colours.
But there’s little chance that any of the handicaps will not fill, with a mark in the low 130s the bare minimum for most and at least 140 necessary to get a run in the most valuable events, including the Ultima Handicap Chase on the opening day and the Paddy Power Plate on Thursday.
The dark cloud over the Gordon Elliott stable, before the hearing on Friday into the image of the trainer sitting on a dead horse on his gallops, is a further complication for anyone studying the form. Elliott is currently banned from having runners in Britain by the British Horseracing Authority “as an interim” measure, and could well lose his licence for a significant period of time when the Irish regulator’s investigation concludes.
The BHA did suggest on Wednesday, however, that it wants to see the best horses at Cheltenham later this month, whatever the outcome of Friday’s hearing. James Given, who recently retired from a successful training career to become the BHA’s new director of equine health and welfare, told the Racing Post that its intention “isn’t to stop horses running”, adding: “I think we will judge each situation as we are faced with it, but it is our intention to try to get the best horses racing at Cheltenham.”
Cheltenham Festival stat of the day, by Paul Ferguson
Monkfish, last year’s winner of the Albert Bartlett, was the first to arrive at Cheltenham without any previous Graded experience. Therefore, with the other 15 winners having already won or placed in a Graded novice hurdle, strong form is a huge positive. Of those towards the head of the market, Stattler ran well in Grade One company at the Dublin Racing Festival, whereas Barbados Buck’s has yet to step up in class.
The Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide 2021, written by Paul Ferguson, was published on 26 February, priced £15.95. Talking Horses readers can obtain a £4 discount by using the promotion code ‘GDN21’ when placing an order.
Thursday’s best bets
Hollie Doyle was in exceptional form at Kempton on Wednesday, riding five winners in a row in the middle of the eight-race card at combined odds of 2,521-1, and heads to Southwell for four rides on the Fibresand with the gap to Richard Kingscote in the All-Weather Championship down to 11 winners.
With the title race on the winter circuit concluding on 2 April and Kingscote having ridden winners at an 18% strike rate since October, it will still take a golden run of form from Doyle just to make it competitive. She has several big chances though, including Rock Sound (2.15), who got off the mark for George Boughey over six furlongs last time and has previously won at Southwell over this extra furlong, and Blackcurrent (3.25).
Ludlow
12.30 Quinta Do Mar, 1.00 Gaelik Coast, 1.30 Didonato, 2.05 Calipso Collonges, 2.40 Glory And Honour, 3.15 Thinque Tank, 3.50 Dieu Vivant
Southwell
1.10 Omany Amber, 1.40 Mr Excellency, 2.15 Rock Sound (nap), 2.50 Qaaraat (nb), 3.25 Blackcurrent, 4.00 Blowing Dixie, 4.30 Mizen Master
Taunton
1.55 Just In Time, 2.30 Paricolor, 3.05 Silent Man, 3.40 Aronius, 4.12 Kendelu, 4.42 Luckofthedraw, 5.12 Get Sky High
Chelmsford City
4.50 Regent, 5.20 Luna Wish, 5.50 Healing Power, 6.20 Nahaarr, 6.50 My Footsteps, 7.20 Lexington Force, 7.50 Sergeant Major
Gaelik Coast (1.00) and Silent Man (3.05) have solid chances at Ludlow and Taunton respectively, while Nahaarr (6.20), who looked every inch a Group horse in a handicap when overcoming trouble in running to win last year’s Ayr Gold Cup, has his first start since at Chelmsford.
