Wednesday 12th March 2025
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle
We get things underway on Wednesday with the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of The New Lion here for the team of Dan and Harry Skelton. He comes into the race boasting a perfect record of four victories from four races with his most recent success coming when winning the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury, when beating the smart Wendingo in the process, who I fancy later in the week. Winners from the Challow have a torrid record at Cheltenham; however, I think this horse could be a cut-above most, and he’s recently been purchased for a large amount by JP McManus. It’s going to be a fascinating battle with Final Demand, however, I’ve sided with the Skelton charge on the basis that I think he may have too much speed for the Mullins raider.
The New Lion – 15/8 (Win)
2.00: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Next up it’s more Grade 1 action, this time over the larger obstacles with the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase over three miles and half of a furlong. I find it very hard to see past Ballyburn here for the team of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. He’s won eight of ten of career starts to date, including a thirteen length victory in the Turners at last year’s festival. He’s won two of his three starts over fences this term, with his only defeat coming at the hands of Sir Gino who could well prove to be another superstar for Nicky Henderson, most recently, he tasted his first Grade 1 success over the larger obstacles winning defeating Croke Park by five lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival last month. I think he takes all the beating here.
Ballyburn – 6/5 (Win)
2.40: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
We move into handicap company now with the Coral Cup taking centre-stage at 2.40 over two miles and five furlongs. I’ve got two selections in the race with the first of those coming in the form of Comfort Zone for Joseph O’Brien. He was a very useful animal on the flat with a current rating of 94 in that code, and has proved he’s got plenty of ability over obstacles winning three times from ten starts and several big runs in competitive handicaps. Most recently, he finished third of twenty in a Listed handicap hurdle at Leopardstown which came back in December, so will be coming into this contest fresh. He’s likely being laid out for this and I think we’ll see a big run.
My second selection is a more exposed type in the ten-year-old that’s Ballyadam for Henry De Bromhead. He’s got some very smart form to his name when you look back through his career and was even second in a Supreme here back in 2021 to Appreciate It. His most notable piece of recent form though would be his second in this race last year too the well-handicapped and Cheltenham specialist Langer Dan and he’s only four pounds higher this time around. He’s had one run to date this term and that came when beating solid yardstick Saint Sam at Punchestown back in December, and I think another bold effort could be on the cards in this particular contest.
Comfort Zone – 10/1 (Each-Way)
Ballyadam – 12/1 (Each-Way)
3.20: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
The fourth race of the afternoon is the most unique race of the meeting and that’s the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase that’s contested over three miles and five and a half furlongs. In this year’s renewal, I’ve come down on Busselton, who’s another contender for the Joseph O’Brien yard. He’s had a couple of spins around the course already this term when running at both the November and December meetings here, and I think he could well be primed for a big effort in this assignment. He’ll be carrying a low-weight here which should prove to be a big positive and he’s certainly got enough solid form of old to feature in one of these types of events. He’s currently trading at around 7/1 which looks a fair each-way play.
Busselton – 7/1 (Each-Way)
4.00: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase:
We move onto the feature race of Day 2 and that’s the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase that’s ridden over a distance of two miles. This race has seen a lot of short priced high profile turnovers in recent years, however, I do find it very hard to see past Jonbon in this year’s renewal for the team of Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. There is a slight question mark over whether he produces his best form at Cheltenham, however, I’m not sure he’ll need to be totally at his best to win this year’s renewal, as the opposition doesn’t look overly deep. He’s won all three starts this term, including back-to-back Grade 1s the last twice in the Tingle Creek and the Clarence House and he’s by far the best horse currently in the two-mile division. It would be majorly disappointing if he doesn’t get the job done.
Jonbon – 10/11 (Win)
4.40: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Next up is the 4.40 and this is the Grand Annual Handicap Chase which is a Premier Handicap that’s contested over two miles. I’m siding with an Irish challenger here in the form of My Mate Mozzie who represents the Gavin Crowmwell yard. He’s quite a difficult horse to get right, however, he’s got Cheltenham form to his name as a course and distance and there was a lot to like from his eye-catching run in a Listed handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival last month when he finished second of fourteen. That was his only run of the current season, and he should have come on for that outing a considerable amount.
My Mate Mozzie – 7/1 (Each-Way)
5.20: Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Signing us off on Wednesday will be the Champion Bumper which is a Grade 1 National Hunt Flat Race that’s contested over two miles and half of a furlong. Willie Mullins currently dominates the market with two exciting prospects at the top of the betting, however, I’ve taken a chance on a Gordon Elliott runner in Kalypso’chance who sports the Gigginstown silks. He’s won both of his starts to date under rules and is also a pointing winner, with his most recent success being an impressive four and a half length victory in a Listed contest at Navan back in December. There has been a lot of positive talk about him and he could develop into an exciting prospect himself for the Cullentra team. At the prices, I think he represents a bit of a value at his current odds of 6/1.
Kalypso’chance – 6/1 (Each-Way)
