Cheltenham Festival tips: Donn McClean on Irish team
Donn McClean assesses the Irish team at Cheltenham this afternoon - and the raiding party are fancied to land the Sky Bet Supreme.
The plane flew out over Fairyhouse racecourse this afternoon. No joking. Took off heading west, or maybe north west, and then turned right so that, if you were sitting on the right-hand side of the plane, in the D, E, F seats, you could look down and marvel at the topography of the County Meath racetrack. It may have been a deliberate ploy by the pilot, who was obviously a punter, and it worked. It whetted the appetite. You could tell by the garb and the chat: nearly everyone on the plane was Cheltenham-bound.
Irish chances in Tuesday’s traditional opener, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle? They were enhanced by the inclusion of Klassical Dream among the declarations. Willie Mullins’ horse also had the option of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday over two miles and five furlongs, but it wasn’t hugely surprising when he was declared on Sunday morning along with his stable companion Aramon for the shorter race.
Recent history tells you that you start your analysis of the curtain-raiser with Willie Mullins. Ireland’s perennial champion National Hunt trainer has fielded either the favourite or the joint favourite for the race every year for the last five years, and he has produced the winner three times in the last six.
You can make a cogent case for Klassical Dream too. The Dream Well gelding kept on well to win his maiden hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival on his first run for Mullins, and he stepped forward from that last time when he won the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival back at Leopardstown, just getting the better of his stable companion Aramon in a thriller.
There was an awful lot to like about that performance, about the battling qualities that he displayed. Aramon probably headed him on the run-in, and there wasn’t an awful lot of room between Aramon and the inside rail inside the final furlong. Klassical Dream had to dig deep and, under the Ruby Walsh drive, had to be brave in battling back up to get home by a head.
That bravery will stand to him at Cheltenham, in a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Those battling qualities will probably be required.
He is experienced too. He raced three times on the flat in France and four times over hurdles before he joined Willie Mullins. Also, he got to within four lengths of the top class Master Dino on very soft ground in a Grade 1 juveniles’ contest, so we know that he can operate on soft ground.
Aramon may not be too far behind Klassical Dream, and Vision D’Honneur will appreciate the soft ground, while Fakir D’Oudairies was really impressive in winning the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham in January, and gets the 8lb juveniles’ allowance. That said, it is not surprising that Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride KLASSICAL DREAM. He could be best of the Irish, and that could be good enough to take him close.
Hardline could be best of the Irish in the Arkle Trophy. Gordon Elliott’s horse was impressive in winning the Grade 3 Klairon Davis Chase at Navan in early December, when he had Us And Them 10 lengths behind him in second place.
He stepped forward from that next time in winning a Grade 1 contest at Limerick, keeping on well for Keith Donoghue to get the better of the talented Getabird, admittedly after that rival had made a mistake at the final fence.
He could finish only third behind La Bague Au Roi in the Grade 1 Flogas Chase at Leopardstown last time, but that form was enhanced at Naas on Sunday when the runner-up Kaiser Black ran out an impressive winner from the talented mare Camelia De Cotte, and the two miles and five furlongs may have stretched Hardline’s stamina beyond its limit. He should be much happier back over two miles on Tuesday.
Actually, a fast-run two miles at a stiff track on easy ground could represent close to optimum conditions for the Gigginstown House horse, and he will have Davy Russell for company.
Paloma Blue could also run a big race at a decent price. The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding finished fourth in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year, so we know that he can operate under Cheltenham Festival conditions. Fourth in a beginners’ chase at Navan on his chasing bow, he was impressive in the end in winning his beginners’ chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
His jumping warmed up as the race developed that day and, if Chris Jones’ horse can jump fluently from flagfall on Tuesday, he could step up considerably.
Articulum could out-run big odds. Terence O’Brien’s horse was impressive in making all to beat Campeador at Naas in early January. It is a strong Irish challenge, but HARDLINE may be the pick.