A jackpot worth £300,000 is up for grabs in one of the biggest prizes ever offered out in the ITV7 on Thursday. With so much competitive racing from Cheltenham, the prize will be difficult to snare, but Joe Napier attempts to help guide you along with his selections in every race.
Race 1 – 1.20 Cheltenham – Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
A full compliment of 24 line up in Thursday’s opener, making it one of the most competitive Graded races at Cheltenham for a while. Karoline Banbou is preferred of the Mullins runners, despite Aurora Vega and Maughreen boasting significant pedigrees, while Galileo Dame is interesting entered here rather than the Triumph Hurdle. The race looks to have the right favourite though in SIXANDAHALF, a talented flat performer who made extremely light work of a Fairyhouse maiden in January and might outclass these if her jumping is as impressive as it was that day.
Race 2 – 1.34 Limerick – Lunch Quarries Handicap Hurdle
Precious little worthwhile form to go on here. As a result, handicap debutant MASTER OF THE SUMS looks worth siding with. It wasn’t the strongest maiden hurdle he was third in at this venue last time out, but that was still a promising enough run with a view to this longer trip.
Race 3 – 2.00 Cheltenham – Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2)
Nurburgring could be on a gorgeous mark to take advantage of, but he would have to jump better than has been the case so far. This is a deep enough field even if he does and the verdict is given to fellow Irish challenger ANSWER TO KAYF. He is very lightly-raced as a nine-year-old, but is tremendously consistent, not finishing outside of the top five since his maiden hurdle bow, including when a close fourth in the ever-competitive Martin Pipe last season. He mixed it well enough on his first two chase starts before an impressive success at Naas in which he careered away from his rivals, so he could still have something in hand with John Shinnick’s 3lb claim to help.
Race 4 – 2.40 Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
A 5lb claim came in handy for Good Time Jonny two years ago and may do again this year for D ART D ART, a progressive six-year-old who has enjoyed life over staying trips the last twice. Those were his first two runs beyond 2m4f, and saw him stay on from miles back for third at Navan when surely given too much to do, then finish second when caught on the line at Carlisle to qualify here. Tiernan Power-Roche is the man taking off 5lb and could well prove a rider worth more than his claim, so the selection is hard to knock.
Race 5 – 3.20 Cheltenham – Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
It will be fascinating to see how this plays out. The front-running Il Est Francais could give them the slip if unpestered, but the form pick remains FACT TO FILE. He won the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in supreme style last year and was a game winner of the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown in one of the races of the season earlier this campaign. It should not be a stick to beat him with that Galopin Des Champs has outmuscled him over 3m the last twice and Willie Mullins’ charge looks certain to be involved back over 2m4½f.
Race 6 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Defending champion Teahupoo might not be totally bombproof in his quest for a second straight Stayers’ Hurdle title, and it is interesting that stablemate THE WALLPARK goes here rather than the Pertemps Final handicap earlier on the card. JP McManus has other contenders in that race, so may have simply pulled rank to have a Grade 1 runner here, but the seven-year-old also has a live chance based on his defeat of Gowel Road here earlier this term, conceding him 4lb. That was over course and distance, and he was only caught out off a slow pace at Ascot last time. A test of stamina on livelier ground could be exactly what the selection wants.
Race 7 – TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase
Thecompanysergeant looks to have been laid out for this, so he is the most interesting of the Irish contenders, but none look overly well-handicapped. Jagwar could easily extend his excellent start over fences, but preference is for MASACCIO for whom this could prove ideal. Alan King’s grey was second in Grade 2 company, not far behind the very talented The Jukebox Man, earlier this term, and was third to Jagwar over course and distance last time. He gets a 6lb swing with him for a deficit of under four lengths, which was closing by the line, and the extra emphasis on stamina brought by this bigger field may be to his benefit.
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