Cheltenham Day 3 Selections
The Irish will be looking to take control on Day 3 as St Patrick’s Day takes over Prestbury Park on Thursday. With another blockbuster seven-race card to look forward to, our GG analyst has delved into the entries on the card and identified seven strong selections on Day 3, including a confident pick in the feature Stayers Hurdle.
Galopin Des Champs (13:30 Cheltenham, Turners Novices’ Chase)
Only four runners head to post in the Thursday opener and whilst that number is disappointing, the quality on show certainly fits the bill and we could be in for a serious matchup between two top-class chasing prospects.
We’ll start with the former impressive Ballymore winner, Bob Olinger. Henry De Bromhead’s superstar novice made his eagerly anticipated debut over fences last November at Gowran Park, asserting close home and showing his class despite making an error at the last to win by just over six lengths. The talented seven-year-old returned to Graded company in January when readily seeing off Capodanno in the closing stages, jumping much more efficiently than on debut with Rachael Blackmore back in the saddle.
Henry De Bromhead’s charge has to be given the utmost respect returning back to Cheltenham after that devastating Ballymore Hurdle Triumph at last year’s Festival, however, Bob Olinger comes up against another previous Festival winner in GALOPIN DES CHAMPS who claimed the Martin Pipe last campaign and has certainly provided the ‘wow’ factor since being sent over the larger obstacles by Willie Mullins.
The six-year-old turned a few heads when making a dazzling chasing debut at Gowran Park last December, jumping impeccably under jockey Paul Townend to scoot right away of his nearest rival and run out a 22l winner. Willie Mullins’ charge then put up one of the novice chasing performances of the season at the Dublin Racing Festival, galloping his rivals into the ground to win by nine lengths, with the useful Grade 1 performer Master Mcshee left toiling in second.
There won’t be much separating the talented Irish pair on Thursday but with his jumping technique seemingly no cause for concern in his recent outings, Galopin Des Champs can come out on top in what could turn out to be one of the races of the festival despite the turnout.
Dunboyne (2:10 Cheltenham, The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle)
Stats and trends can come in handy when assessing the tricky contests during the festival, and the 24 runner Pertemps Network Final is certainly one of them. Whilst there are a few to consider in this seemingly wide-open handicap, it’s worth noting that this particular contest has been a happy hunting ground for one trainer, in particular, Gordon Elliot. The Irish trainer has won three of the last four renewals and remarkably, his seven other runners that have contested the Pertemps have gone on to place.
The yard clearly would like to add to that tally this season with Elliot responsible for 6 of the 24 runners that intend to line up. Of those six, the one runner that stands out is certainly DUNBOYNE who has encountered trouble in running on his most recent outings and certainly catches the eye at the foot of the weights.
A son of Yeats, the seven-year-old made little impression on his first two starts this season, finishing down the field on both occasions at Naas and Navan in decent handicap contests. However, from a mark of 128, Dunboyne went into several notebooks at Leopardstown when finishing fifth in a qualifier over Christmas. Making smooth headway on that occasion, the seven-year-old was hampered tuning from home and although unable to recover under Jack Kennedy, Dunboyne was ridden out under hands and heels and wasn’t beaten far come the winning post.
It was a similar story when returning over that course and distance in February as Dunboyne made stylish progress on the inside before being short of room and badly hampered, losing all momentum and winning chance in the process. The seven-year-old still remains lightly raced over timber and if able to gain a clear passage as they climb the hill for home, Dunboyne could be able to make amends at the Festival and appears well treated off 134.
Allaho (2:50 Cheltenham, Ryanair Chase)
It’s going to take a smart performance to lower the colours of ALLAHO in the Ryanair Chase as Willie Mullins’ charge looks to follow up in the contest after a sublime display in last season’s renewal.
Surprisingly, last year’s Festival triumph was the eight-year-olds first success at the top level but Allaho certainly didn’t look out of place, sauntering to an impressive 12l success under Rachael Blackmore. A drop back in trip seemingly worked the oracle on that occasion after failing to land a competitive blow in some of the top 3mile contests including the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.
The Festival winner rounded off last year’s campaign when chasing home Chacun Pour Soi in the William Hill Champion Chase over 2miles and although he was no match his equally talented stablemate, Allaho ran well considering that was his first race at the minimum distance since his sole bumper outing in 2018.
The Cheveley Park owned eight-year-old has subsequently continued in fine form this season for connections, landing the Grade 1 John Durkan at Punchestown before readily scoring in Grade 2 company at Thurles back in January. The Ryanair Chase looks at Allaho’s mercy this year and if matching that effort from last season, it will take a smart effort from one of his rivals to overhaul him up the famous Cheltenham hill.
Thyme Hill (3:30 Cheltenham, The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle)
The Stayers Hurdle appears to be wide open this year with several runners lining up for the Thursday feature with something to prove in some shape or form. One of those is certainly THYME HILL who certainly raised a few eyebrows when getting readily overturned on seasonal reappearance at Auteuil last November. However, Philip Hobbs’ Grade 1 winner very much hinted at a welcome return to form on his latest outing, keeping on well in determined fashion behind Champ in the Long Walk Hurdle just before Christmas.
Connections have since decided to keep him fresh with this contest in mind and appears to have been laid out for the Thursday feature. Philip Hobbs’ smart stayer has previous Festival form to his name and certainly went down as an unlucky fourth for the yard in the 2020 Albert Bartlett, encountering trouble in running behind a wall of horses in the closing stages, finishing behind the likes of Monkfish, Latest Exhibition and Fury Road.
Thyme Hill should come into this contest fresher than most and there is a strong suspicion that Thyme Hill could be peeking at just the right time after an encouraging runner-up effort last time out. Philip Hobbs’ only has five runners entered across the week and he will desperately hope his talented stayer can turn up on the biggest stage and deliver a standout performance.
The Glancing Queen (4:10 Cheltenham, Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase)
Alan King enjoyed tremendous success with Edwardstone landing the Arkle on Tuesday and perhaps the yard will be celebrating another Festival winner with THE GLANCING QUEEN, who should hold every chance after connections decided to target Thursday’s handicap rather than the Paddy Power Mares Chase on Friday.
A useful performer over hurdles, Alan King’s mare has improved significantly since racing over the larger obstacles, creating a favourable impression to win on chasing debut at Bangor over 2miles before following up again in Listed company at Warwick, jumping and travelling much the best to see off a smart field by 7l over 2m4f.
The Glancing Queen lost her unbeaten record over fences when last seen in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, and although beaten 10l behind subsequent Grade 1 winner L’homme Presse, Alan King’s mare would have finished a lot closer to Venetia Williams’ talented runner if not making an error at the last obstacle. However, it was still a solid display from the Glancing Queen on that occasion, finishing nicely clear of third-placed finisher Fantastikas, who ran an encouraging race when well fancied for the Ultima on Tuesday.
Alan King’s charge has plenty of boxes ticked on Thursday considering she often performs well after a break, is a previous course winner, and has plenty of Festival experience to rely on, having raced at Cheltenham’s showpiece event three times in the past. The mare is a sound jumper with a high cruising speed and is a solid selection to provide Alan King with another winner this week.
Dinoblue (4:50 Cheltenham, Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle)
Willie Mullins has a formidable record in this contest, winning the mares’ novices’ hurdle five times in the last six previous renewals. That run of success certainly looks likely to continue with the trainer responsible for 7 of the 22 entries on Thursday. Of those entered, DINOBLUE is by far the most interesting and is arguably tailor-made for the race given how much improvement can be expected after she destroyed a field at Clonmel on stable debut.
A half-sister to useful stablemate Blue Sari, the daughter of Doctor Dino was originally trained in France but never made it to the racecourse. Purchased to run in the famous colours of JP McManus, Dinoblue was heavily supported on the first start on Irish soil and impressively landed the odds for favourite backers, jumping slickly before effortlessly going clear after the second last to run out an emphatic winner by 15l.
She appears to be a seriously talented individual and whilst this will be a big ask on just her second career start, the five-year-old is open to any amount of improvement and looks to have a touch of class about her already at this early stage of her jumping career.
Frontal Assault (5:30 Cheltenham, The fluke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase)
Connections of FRONTAL ASSAULT would have been over the moon to see the seven-year-old allocated a mark of 145 after the official weights were released. The current Markey leader for the concluding contest on Day 3, Frontal Assault fits a similar profile to previous winners of this contest and it’s easy to see why Gordon Elliot’s runner is so well fancied.
Although without a win when contesting bumpers a couple of seasons ago, the seven-year-old still showed very useful form, finishing in behind future Grade 1 winners Energumene and Ferny Hollow in two of those three outings.
However, Gordon Elliot’s charge was quick to make his mark over timber, winning on two of his last three starts in that sphere last season, which included a strong staying performance to see off the challenge of Angel’s Dawn in Grade 3 company over 3miles at Navan. A tilt at the Martin Pipe at last year’s Festival was Frontal Assault’s final start as a hurdler, and although beaten over 18l behind Galopin Des Champs, Gordon Elliot’s charge was hampered in running and could never fully recover turning for home.
Since having his attention switched to fences this season, the Presenting gelding has exclusively campaigned over shorter trips. After finishing third at Punchestown on chasing debut over 2m4f, Frontal Assault was no match for the talented Ciel De Neige at Navan but produced an improved display on his third chase start when granted a step up to 2m5f, going down by half a length to stablemate Floueur at Fairyhouse after staying on dourly on the run to the line.
Frontal Assault should relish the step up beyond 3miles on Thursday and despite having to shoulder top-weight, Gordon Elliot’s charge appears to be let in very lightly on handicap debut and a proper test of stamina will certainly play to his strengths.
