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Best of the columnists Cheltenham Festival 2023 | Daryl Jacob, Paul Nicholls, Rachael Blackmore
We get the latest from more of the Sporting Life and Betfair columnists Daryl Jacob, Paul Nicholls and Rachael Blackmore.
Paul Nicholls
14:50 - Stay Away Fay
An Irish Point-to-Point winner he did very well over the summer and won impressively on his debut over hurdles for us at Newbury in November. He was then a bit unlucky to be be beaten in a Grade 2 race at Doncaster where he didn’t get the run of the race. He is short on experience but has plenty of ability and will keep galloping all day. Hopefully he has a nice each way chance.
15:30 - Bravemansgame
He had one or two issues last year and is twice the horse now, so much bigger and stronger and bounds up our hill gallop three times in the morning. He had a brilliant first half of the season, winning his second King George in great style and the challenge has been to have him in the same form in the spring which hasn’t always been the case. It helps that he is much more mature now and he looks fabulous at the moment. The key is whether he stays three and quarter miles. Who knows? I didn’t know if Kauto Star would get the trip before he won his first Gold Cup and I’m not sure about Bravemansgame but I suspect he will stay because he was keeping on strongly in the King George. I don’t think I’ve ever had him in better shape and Harry Cobden is very confident.
16:10 - Cat Tiger
He has only had the one run this season in November and with his owner rider David Maxwell on the injured list Charlie Sprake takes over in the saddle. Cat Tiger always goes well fresh and ran a cracking race with David Maxwell when they were a close second to Latenightpass in the Aintree Foxhunter last April. I wouldn’t be surprised if he runs tidily.
16:10 - Secret Investor
He was a decent handicapper in his day before spending a long time out of action with an injury. He is not so good now and it was a bit of a rush to get him qualified in time with two victories in seven days. Secret Investor stays well and will get a good ride from Natalie Parker but wouldn’t want the ground to be too soft. He has an outside chance.
17:30 - Irish Hill
He is on a roll having won his last three races and the plan was to go for the Coral Cup on Wednesday and it was frustrating that he didn’t quite get in despite being first reserve. He was raised 6lbs for his latest success at Ascot, which is fair enough, is progressive, remains in good shape at home and will be ridden by our good claimer Angus Cheleda. I’d say Irish Hill has an each way chance in a hot looking contest.
Best chance: Bravemansgame (15.30 Cheltenham) - This has been the target since the King George and he couldn’t be in better shape.
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Rachael Blackmore
3.30 – A Plus Tard
I’m really looking forward to riding A Plus Tard again in the Gold Cup.
Last year was magic. To go so close on him in 2021, then to go back last year and for him to win it like he did, it was unbelievable. He found another gear up the run-in.
His preparation this year has obviously not been ideal, but his work has been very good recently. He seems in great form. I rode him out on Wednesday morning and he seems to have travelled over well. He seems in great order and it would be brilliant if he could win it again. It’s very cool to be coming back here to ride the reigning Gold Cup title holder.
1.30 – Ascending
I ride Ascending in the Triumph Hurdle on Friday.
He was a good horse on the flat for Clive Cox, he reached a rating of 82 and he handled soft ground well on the flat.
He hasn’t won in two runs so far for Henry, but he has run well both times. He was only beaten a half a length by Tekao in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, and he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle last time.
He has a fair bit to find on Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth on that run, but he didn’t jump very well there. If he can jump a bit better, he should be capable of running a nice race.
2.10 – Ballyadam
I’m looking forward to riding Ballyadam too in the County Hurdle again. He ran well in the race last year, he was only beaten a total of six lengths by State Man.
He is 4lb higher now than he was last year, but he goes into the race in good form. He put up a very good performance last time in finishing third behind Gaelic Warrior in the big two-mile handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
That form was obviously enhanced by Gaelic Warrior, who finished second in the Ballymore Hurdle on Wednesday, and by fourth-placed Anna Bunina, who finished second behind Queen’s Brook in a Grade 3 hurdle at Punchestown next time.
That was his first run since the Galway Hurdle, so hopefully he will come on for it. He goes well at Cheltenham and I hope that he can go well.
2.50 – Hiddenvalley Lake
The Albert Bartlett Hurdle is a race that could suit Hiddenvalley Lake.
He did well to win his maiden hurdle at Naas in November over two miles and three furlongs on his first run for Henry, and he improved on that a lot when he stepped up in trip for a Grade 3 race at Cork.
His stamina kicked in at Cork, he stayed on strongly from the second last flight to win well. He was beaten last time in a Grade 3 hurdle at Clonmel, but the race wasn’t run to suit, and he was still only beaten a half a length by a good horse, his stable companion Monty’s Star, giving him weight.
Minella Indo was second behind Allaho in the same Clonmel race before he won the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, so I am hoping that history can be repeated. It’s a competitive race but I think this lad is a talented individual.
4.50 – Magic Daze
Magic Daze is stepping up to two and a half miles for the first time in the Mares’ Chase, but I am hopeful that she will stay. She won her point-to-point, and there is plenty of stamina in her pedigree.
She loves going forward, but she doesn’t burn herself out too much when she does. She finishes off her races strongly over two miles. She was very good last time at Naas, she got into a lovely rhythm in front and she stayed on well up the hill to beat Dinoblue, and Dinoblue ran very well in the Grand Annual on Wednesday.
This is a strong Mares’ Chase, but Magic Daze doesn’t have much to find with the top-rated mares on official ratings, and she goes into the race in good form. She ran very well at Cheltenham too in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle a couple of seasons ago. She jumps well and if she relaxes for me, she has every chance of staying.
Daryl Jacob
FRIDAY
4.50 Zambella
I'm really looking forward to her in the Mares' Chase and the more rain the better for her.
She's going very well at home and she's been freshened up since the last run when second.
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