Novice Chase entries are out today and we might as well rip the plaster off by confirming that my 4th suggested bet is now a loser with FLOORING PORTER only in the Stayers’ Hurdle and National Hunt Chase. While we’re touching on the suggestions up to now; IT’S FOR ME has been the subject of rumours and last week it was all but confirmed he won’t make Cheltenham, but at least he was suggested under the NRMB concession, so no harm done. 8 weeks out now so let’s kick on with another recommendation.
ANTE-POST OUTLOOK
Here I will list all my advised Ante-Post bets for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival:
- 1st November – LUCCIA (Mares’ Hurdle – 16/1 generally)
- 7th November – ALLAHO (Ryanair Chase – 5/1 generally)
- 15th November – FACILE VEGA (Arkle Chase – 9/2 generally) + GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (Gold Cup – 2/1) – Double pays 15/1 generally
- 21st November – FLOORING PORTER (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – 12/1 generally)
- 28th November – MINELLA COCOONER (National Hunt Chase – 16/1 generally)
- 5th December – CHAPEAU DE SOLEIL (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – 33/1 generally)
- 19th December – BRECHIN CASTLE (Champion Bumper – 33/1 generally)
- 3rd January – IT’S FOR ME (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – 10/1 generally NRMB)
- 10th January – HERMES ALLEN (Turners Novices’ Chase – 14/1 NRMB)
- 16th January – HIGH CLASS HERO (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – 12/1 generally NRMB)
ANTE-POST SELECTION
ANTE-POST SELECTION: ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE – HIGH CLASS HERO 12/1 generally NRMB
I’ve a few recommendations on the side and it’s a case of timing those but HIGH CLASS HERO can wait no more as he’s entered up this Sunday in Thurles and in a race won by EMBASSY GARDENS and MONKFISH in recent years for trainer Willie Mullins. I have already suggested his Stablemate CHAPEAU DE SOLEIL for this same race and after his effort in the Lawlor’s of Naas I’m certainly still a fan, but there does need to be some improvement in his jumping and we know he’s been difficult to keep straight in the past.
HIGH CLASS HERO himself has appeared to have had at least one issue as he wasn’t seen from the Point field under rules for 569 days. That came last summer in a bumper where Jody Townend took the ride and he won like a very good horse over 2m 4f. Then seen at Galway in August he was a good winner and worth upgrading as he did jump left on occasions. Fast forward to the start of the jumps proper and he was seen two more times at about the middle trip and notched up two more facile victories. The latter of those was giving THE BIG DOYEN a 7-length thumping before being put away over Christmas ready for a spring campaign.
He’s shown versatility in winning both left and right-handed and on ground from Good to Yielding right through to Heavy. He’s shown that he’s capable of taking his racing now and the step up here to just shy of 3 miles looks well within his grasp, in fact it likely will draw out further improvement so while he’s still a double figure price for March, I think we must get him on board as I expect nothing other than another convincing victory on Sunday.
Five From Last Week
QUILIXIOS caused a bit of a stir in beating MISTER POLICEMAN on Friday in Naas although I’ve documented my concerns with the latter’s size and scope for chasing so it was less of a surprise, I suppose for me. What I will say is, he jumped well and travelled like a good horse, but he still looks short of Grade 1 standard for me. Back from a missed season this term he made a howler of a mistake at the last on chasing debut and then was tried up at 3 miles which was proven to be not to his liking. Back at 2m for this Novice Chase he won well, but he didn’t beat good 2-mile horses and it’s a strange trip changing campaign for a potential festival winner. All being well he should take on MARINE NATIONALE in the Dublin Racing Festival where his experience might afford him a chance.
READIN TOMMY WRONG took the Lawlor’s Of Naas Grade 1 Novice Hurdle and there were a few turning for home who looked like they were going to be in the finish. FIREFOX looked to be travelling all over the field but then appeared to be outclassed, while LECKY WATSON loomed but also seemed to be outclassed, or possibly outpaced. As for the winner though, he looked like he was going to win by a good few lengths so you’d have to like the attitude of runner up ILE ATLANTIQUE and the pair are nice horses to go to war with in March. As for their targets, you’d have to be thinking either could go in Ballymore or Albert Bartlett, however I’m not sure either wins the latter because of just how well they both ran at this trip, and in a deep enough looking race. The winner will make some chaser next season too, so it’ll be great to see where they go with the pair between now and Cheltenham for more clues before their respective big days.
BANBRIDGE put in one mighty performance to get the better of PIC D’ORHY and while I was a bettor of the runner up, I make no excuses despite the final fence falter because I think BANBRIDGE had him covered. Jumping is the name of the game and BANBRIDGE was far from perfect but given it was his first run for a while it was a seriously improved effort. Prior to this run he’d peaked with an RPR of 159 however he was given 169 here and while I think that’s a little high, I do believe he’s run half a stone better than ever before so with more to come he’s hugely exciting for the spring as long as the ground doesn’t turn soft.
GREY DAWNING has become a bit of dark horse for The Festival despite being a stunning light grey who takes the eye on course. Picked up an intermediate chase earlier this season in very good style before an impressive run at Cheltenham even more so because of the fence ploughing mistake he made but still showed tenacity after. This effort appeared to be more a case of stalk and pounce and I will say that when he got in front I think his jumping worsened, so that’s something to bear in mind. That said, there’s no doubt he has a huge engine and another wide margin win against his name means that plenty will see him as a genuine player in either The Turners or more likely the Brown Advisory in March.
MYSTICAL POWER took the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer but had Naas not been abandoned the week prior he probably wouldn’t have come here. Impossible to know if he would have gotten the better of READIN TOMMY WRONG, but there is no doubt he’s one of if not the best Novice Hurdler we’ve seen this season. Beautifully bred too, Galileo & Annie Power it’s likely that because he started out in Galway that kept the hype down before now. But make no mistake, this horse would go close in a Supreme or Ballymore however the gut feeling is why would you step him up, especially when Willie appears to have half a dozen who will be competitive at the middle trip in the spring.
Coming Up This Week
Thursday’s card in Fairyhouse is in doubt but it has to be mentioned that MIRAZUR WEST has been declared over 2 miles and plenty still believe this horse is among Willie top novices
Friday sees the first day of the Lingfield Winter Millions meeting with the Lightning Novices’ Chase, a Grade 2, looking a potential classic with DJELO, MASTER CHEWY, PEMBROKE, JPR ONE & MATATA all likely runners and they are set to be joined by Irish raider MY MATE MOZZIE. Plenty of nice supporting races with the Novices’ Handicap Chase the most likely to offer spring festival clues.
Saturday is really all about JONBON vs EL FABIOLO as both camps confirmed this week they intend to run while on the card in Ascot we could see SIR GINO in the juvenile hurdle and WEST BALBOA headlines the Warfield Mares Hurdle over 3 miles in a race that could have some depth.
Up at Haydock the Grade 2 Rossington Main looks a dismal renewal so I think I’m already prepared to ignore the winner, but there could be clues within the race, especially towards handicaps with many of the runners having their fourth spin over hurdles and on marks beneath 130.
In Ireland Navan provides the jumps action with BETTER DAYS AHEAD doubly entered. My eyes are drawn to the entry of MINELLA COCOONER who I suggested for the NH Chase a few weeks back as he tries 3 miles for the first time which could see him qualify for the race in March which would likely see his price contract. SANDOR CLEGANE & SENIOR CHIEF are potential rivals. The card closes with a bumper and plenty of nice-looking prospects so with that race looking wide open at the Festival (come on BRECHIN CASTLE) it’s well worth noting what happens here.
Sunday we’re back at Lingfield for their Winter Millions which kicks off with a reasonable enough bumper, so as I’ve just mentioned, eye peeled for this one please. An abundance of good quality handicaps on show but the feature is the Fleur De Lys Chase where PROTEKTORAT, FUGITIF and L’HOMME PRESSE have been aimed so this is a race not to be missed.
Over in Ireland I’ve touched on Thurles and their 3-mile novice hurdle where HIGH CLASS HERO is expected to route his rivals but before that we have a high-class entry list for the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase with the likes of ALLAHO, APPRECIATE IT, CAPODANNO, ENVOI ALLEN, FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES, MONKFISH & STATTLER. Willie Mullins has BATMAN GIRAC entered in a Handicap Hurdle which will see his Boodles backers biting their nails in the hope he doesn’t go in too soon and after this we see a Hunters Chase with BILLAWAY and FERNS LOCK potentially clashing in what would appear to be a very informative race.
10 To Follow – Dave Young (Cheltmental) Horses To Follow For The 23/24 Jumps Season
The 2023/24 Jumps Season is underway and we’ve got all our team to give their ’10 to follow’ for the NH season. Dave Young (Cheltmental) is the next to give his selections, which include six selections from the big Irish yards, as well as a Nicky Henderson mare he has high hopes for. LUCCIA (Nicky…
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