An interesting non-runner/no bet selection for our man this week in the fiercely-competitive Grand Annual.
Racing betting tips: Chetenham Festival ante-post
1pt win Gentleman De Mee in Grand Annual 12/1 (BetVictor NRNB)
The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase used to bring down the curtain on the Cheltenham Festival. The two-mile cavalry charge was transferred to the second day for the first time 12 months ago though with even more emphasis on speed being run on the Old course.
Novices boost a decent record with 10 victories during the last 28 years and a couple who fit that bracket include the lightly raced GENTLEMAN DE MEE.
The ex-French gelding is owned by JP McManus, who has collected the prize on three occasions during the last ten years with Bellvano (2012), Alderwood (2013) and Le Prezien (2018) carrying the familiar green and gold silks to victory. The same patron’s Entoucas was denied by a short head in 2021, too.
A six year old by Saint Des Saints, he finished runner-up twice over hurdles when trained by Guillaume Macaire in France before being snapped up for €280,000 in November 2019.
Half-brother to Paul Nicholls’ Grand Sefton Chase winner As De Mee, he won over hurdles on his first run for Willie Mullins at Navan this time last year. Too keen when sent off favourite for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Festival off a mark of 139, the six-year-old ran well at the Punchestown Festival over two miles having got loose beforehand.
Switched to fences, Gentleman De Mee finished a respectable fifth behind sidelined stablemate Ferny Hollow on his chasing bow at Punchestown in early December – the runner-up Coeur Sublime has won since.
However, he stepped forward on that effort when chasing home another Closutton inmate, namely Haut En Couleurs, in a two miles one beginners’ chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. While Mark Walsh’s mount couldn’t match the winner in the closing stages, he pulled 14 lengths clear of another stable companion Mt Leinster, who wasn’t beaten far in a Grade B handicap off 135 at the Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday.
Gentleman De Mee needs to have one more run over fences to qualify for the Grand Annual and his education could be completed at Thurles on Thursday (1.45). He has proved his own worst enemy during the last 12 months, racing too freely, hence he has sported a hood on his last four outings. The ability is there though and a frenetic early gallop from flagfall at the Festival will play to be his strengths.
Available at 16/1 with Paddy Power and 14/1 with Bet365 and Unibet, the safer option is the 12/1 with BetVictor who are offering the NRNB comfort blanket.
- Preview posted 0915 GMT on 08/02/2022
Also in the series:
Part Five: Side with Warrior in Boodles
Part Four: Walking On Air in Ballymore
Part Three: Going for Gold with De Bromhead ace
Part Two: 16/1 chance booked for Turners prize
Part One: 12/1 National Hunt Chase fancy
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