Friday 14th March 2025
1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle
We kick things off with Grade 1 action on Friday with the JCB Triumph Hurdle taking centre-stage over a distance of two miles and a furlong. I’m with Lulamba here who represents the team of Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. He came over from France with a big reputation and created a very big impression on his stable debut at Ascot, when getting the better of the highly-touted Mondo Man by there and a half lengths, and that rival was a very useful flat performer. This particular assignment will require significant improvement from that run, however, I do think that there could be star-quality about him and that’s why I put him ahead of the likes of East India Dock and Hello Neighbour. He could well be another one out of the top drawer for the Donnelly’s.
Lulamba – 9/4 (Win)
2.00: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
We move into handicap company at 2:00 with the County Hurdle, which is a Premier Handicap that’s contested over two miles and a furlong. I’ve had two in this ultra-competitive field, and the first of which comes in the form of Kargese who represents Willie Mullins. She’s a dual Grade 1 winning mare and is extremely talented on her day. She was second and only a length and a half behind Majborough in last year’s Triumph Hurdle before finishing three and a quarter lengths behind Sir Gino at Aintree, and then signed her season off with Grade 1 success at the Punchestown Festival. I think that a repeat of any of those runs would be good enough to see her go very close in this and she should strip a lot fitter for her Ascot run back in January.
My second selection is another Irish challenger and this is Lark In The Mornin for Joseph O’Brien. He won the Boodles at last year’s festival and has been quietly campaigned this term with this clearly being the plan from the start. He’s only a five-year-old and has plenty of progression in front of him and he should be primed for another big run at Cheltenham. Another thing that will play into his favour is the better ground conditions he’ll face this year, despite winning on heavy ground last time, it’s been widely reported that he prefers a sounder surface. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him post a very big effort.
Kargese – 6/1 (Each-Way)
Lark In The Mornin – 7/1 (Each-Way)
2.40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
The third race on the card is the 2.40 and this is the Grade 2 Mares’ Chase that’s ridden over a distance of two miles and four and a half furlongs. I find it very hard to see past the Willie Mullins trained Dinoblue who currently heads the betting in the JP McManus silks. She was second in last year’s race and only three-quarters of a length behind Limerick Lace on ground that wouldn’t have been ideal for her, and she should get a much sounder surface this time around. She returned to the winner’s enclosure last time out when getting the better of Allegorie De Vassy in a Listed mares chase at Navan last month and I’d be surprised if she didn’t go one better this time around.
Dinoblue – 5/4 (Win)
3.20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle:
It’s back into Grade 1 company at 3.20 with the Albert Bartlett which is a novices hurdle that’s ridden over three miles. I’ve gone for two plays in the race, both at big prices, with the first of those being the Gordon Elliott trained Wingmen. He comes into the race having placed in Grade 1 company behind The Yellow Clay and Final Demand on his last two outings and I’m not convinced that there’s a horse of their quality in this field. He’s got a nice profile for this race and already has experience of the course having finished second behind Country Mile here back in December. He should have more improvement to come and he can run a nice race at a decent price.
My second pick is a UK challenger and that’s Wendigo for the team of Jamie Snowden and Gavin Sheehan. He’s been highly progressive this term since going on hurdles, winning twice by wide-margins as well as finishing second to The New Lion in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December on his penultimate outing. He’s stays very strongly and he may have been overlooked in the betting here at the expense of some of the Irish runners. I think that he’s got every chance of being involved at the business end of things.
Wingmen – 10/1 (Each-Way)
Wendigo – 12/1 (Each-Way)
4.00: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
It’s the feature race of the meeting at 4.00 which is none other than the Cheltenham Gold Cup which is the showpiece Grade 1 event that’s contested over three miles and two and a half furlongs. I find it nearly impossible to oppose Galopin Des Champs here who goes for history with a third win in the race, equalling the likes of Best Mate. He comes into the race in unstoppable looking form, having won back-to-back Grade 1s at Leopardstown in the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup most recently, winning both races by a combined total of over twelve lengths. The likes of Banbridge and Inothewayurthinkin are the likely contenders to give him the most to think about, however, if he’s anywhere near the level of his last two runs he’ll be incredibly hard to beat. He’s not much of a betting proposition at his current price, but I can’t see what’s going to beat him, and I hope we get to witness history.
Galopin Des Champs – 1/2 (Win)
4.40: St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
The penultimate race of the meeting comes up at 4.40 and this is the Hunters’ Chase that’s contested over three miles and two and a half furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Shearer here who’s a runner for Paul Nicholls. He’s found a rich vein of form as of late and will come into the contest having won his last four outings, the last two coming within this sphere. On his penultimate outing he handed out a thirty-seven length hammering to Angels Breath, and on that form I think he represents a bit of value here at his current price. He’s versatile ground wise as well as trip, and I’ll chance him in what’s always an intriguing affair.
Shearer – 10/1 (Each-Way)
5.20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Signing us off this year will once again be the Martin Pipe which is a Class 2 handicap hurdle that’s ridden over two miles and four and a half furlongs. Gordon Elliott won the race last year with Better Days Ahead and I’ve sided with him to follow up this year with Wodhooh who’s a highly progressive mare. She comes into the contest having won her last five outings, two coming within Listed company and most recently in a competitive handicap at the December Meeting over course and distance, where she beat the smart Joyeuse who has since gone on to give the form a considerable boost by winning a Grade 3 by eight lengths. She looks a rock-solid option on that form and I think she’s got every chance of making it six in a row.
Wodhooh – 9/2 (Win)
