The final day of the of the Cheltenham Festival started as the previous 3-days had: with a Grade 1 race with fewer than 10 runners. Thankfully the fav for the Triumph Hurdle was not odds-on, but he was Irish-trained. Zanahiyr arrived with a lofty reputation, but he hadn't seen a racecourse since Boxing Day (26Dec) and, to be fair, that Grade 2 race wasn't very strong. He was caught for pace in the race between the final 2 hurdles and the way he ran-on from the last suggests he wants 2m4f. The race was won by Quilixious who also arrived as an unbeaten hurdler, but he'd shown his progress when winning at Leopardstown on 07Feb. What is interesting about the Triumph result is that both the 1st and 2nd Adagio were German-bred and we are likely to see more German-bred horses over fences in future: certainly breeders should take note as the sires stud fees look reasonable. Quilixious looks an exciting prospect for the future. It was great to see David Pipe provide Adagio, as his win at Chepstow on 09Jan suggested he had every right to be there. Adagio has improved with every run this season, and I was impressed by his tenacity as he lost ground at nearly every hurdle yet briefly led on the run-up to the final flight. Adagio could be a very good when he perfects his hurdling. A big surprise was Haut En Couleurs who was having his debut for Willie Mullins as his only previous run was in France on 01Oct. Sired by Saint Des Saints who is a top-class NH sire, Haut En Couleurs looks to have a big future. The disappointment was Tritonic, and I don't accept the "ground" excuse as he won on soft ground at Ascot on 23Jan: he ran flat, and I think he was just simply out of his depth in this race.
The County Hurdle is a monster of a handicap, and a real headscratcher to solve. The winner Belfast Banter was having his 15th hurdle race and he'd proved tricky to win with in the past having found little at the business end - but he found plenty in this race! My thoughts are the field size of 25 helped to keep him covered-up, and he loved the ground. It would not surprise me to see him run well in this next year. The old-boy Petit Mouchoir (2nd) ran right up to his best, and again I think the ground helped him as well as talented 7lb claimer Jordan Gainford. In hindsight, I reckon Milkwood (3rd) has been aimed at this race since running a good 4th in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on 18Oct, he certainly looked like he was about to win as they approached the final flight, but he lack that winning effort. The handicapper has raised him 2lb to OR142 and he looks well-handicapped to me. Eclair De Beaufeu (4th) ran well again at the Festival (was 2nd in the Grand Annual Chase in 2020, and was going well in the "County" in 2019 when unseating his rider at the last) and looked well-handicapped on OR139 which was 14lb below his chase rating (and also only 3lb higher than his rating when running well in this race in 2019). He's due to run at Fairyhouse on Saturday off OR138 - take note. I'm sure he will be back again next year as an 8yo.
The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle over 3-mile is a great showcase for future staying chasers, and this year looks no exception. The race was won in emphatic style by the 6yo Vanillier and he became the 2nd winner of the Festival for trainer Gavin Cromwell (who also sent out Flooring Porter). This was a return to the form of his run at Limerick on 28Dec when 2nd to Farouk D'alene, and it may pay to may a note of that one as he's not run since and is clearly smart. The quality of winner of this race has really picked-up in recent years and there must be high-hopes for Vanillier next season. I was also impressed with Oscar Elite (2nd) who looks every inch a staying chaser and excelled himself finishing in the frame in this race as his dam is a half-sister to top-class chasers Lord Windermere and Sub Lieutenant. It's difficult to know what to make of the remainder, as they were all well beaten off a fairly ordinary pace; although Threeunderthrufive was running-on in the final half-mile.
The feature race was next, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and I have already looked at this race in some depth earlier. I would expect A Plus Tard (2nd) to be back next year as an 8yo to seek recompense, whereas Minella Indo may not be able to recapture this lofty form then when he will be a 9yo - time waits for no-one. Dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo will likely have a busier campaign next season as he's unlikely to be capable of winning the race again as a 10yo next season. Nothing else managed to get in a blow over the final half-mile: Native River stayed-on as expected into 4th, passing rival Frodon on the run-in. Frodon's lack of stamina at this level was exposed and I would expect him to return to 2m5f next season. As for the novice Royal Pagaille, he is going to find life mighty tough after this: he was clearly flattered at Haydock when winning the "Peter Marsh" handicap chase.
The Festival Challenge Hunter Chase is a light reprieve, and a race made more interesting by having professional jockeys (no amateurs allowed due to covid restrictions). The race was run at a fair pace reflecting the ability of the horses, and the form looks stronger than last year. Billaway was 2nd last year, and he was 2nd again, but this time there was just a short-head in it. He looked a better horse coming into the race, and it took a decent one to beat him. That was Porlock Bay, and he was a terrific purchase from France last year. Brought smoothly into the race by jockey Lorcan Williams, he looked the most likely winner jumping 2-out but Billaway battled-back. Staker Wallace (3rd) sets the bar for this race as he's very consistent, but not quite good enough to win. Last years emphatic winner It Came To Pass was very disappointing as he was given every chance, but faded rapidly after jumping the 3rd-last with the leaders. He should have been in the mix, but maybe he wasn't fit enough. The 2nd-fav Bob And Co was going well when stumbling and losing his rider 3-out, and had he completed then he would likely have been 3rd - but his jumping is untidy and he is prone to making mistakes.
We had the first running of the Mares' Chase over 2m4f & 127 yards, and it was no surprise to see the race dominated by Willie Mullins who sent the 1st-2 home. It was a ding-dong battle and the 8yo Colreevy came out on top, outstaying her rival and beating the 7yo Elimay by half-a-length. There may not be much more improvement to come from Colreevy, but she's competent. I'm more interested in Elimay, who is a half-sister to Goshen - it's remarkable that the dam Hyde (Fr) has produced 2 high-class jumps horses, and there's a 4yo sister to Goshen (Harrisburg) in France. Elimay jumped well throughout the race and led on the run-in; I feel she's a much better horse at trips under 2m4f, and I look forward to her meeting the mare Put The Kettle On. Shattered Love (3rd) sets the standard for the race, and she was staying-on well just lacking speed between the last couple of fences.
The Conditional Jockeys Handicap hurdle wrapped-up the Festival, and provided Willie Mullins with another winner in Galopin Des Champs. He is improving rapidly, and this level of performance would have seen him go close in the "Ballymore" on the 2nd-day of the Festival. He could be an interesting and exciting horse next season. Langer Dan (2nd) tried to follow-up on his Imperial Cup (hurdle) win with a 5lb penalty and would have been successful in a "normal" year as there's not been a winner of this race of the quality of Galopin De Champs since Mullins (again) won it with Don Poli in 2014 and he developed into a 160+ chaser.
Those going onto my alert list are:
One For The Team: possible Welsh National winner.
James Du Berlais: potential Grade 1 hurdler (in Ireland).
Escaria Ten: has Gold Cup potential in 2022.
Bob Olinger: potential "Brown Advisory" novice chase winner in 2022.
Eklat De Rire: looks unexposed at top-level.
Blue Sari & Monte Cristo: both are potentially well-handicapped hurdlers.
Greaneteen: right-handed tracks only
Entoucas: looks well-handicapped
Milliner: looks well handicapped.
Beacon Edge: potential Grade 1 hurdler at 3-miles.
Vinndication: potential Ladbrokes Trophy Chase winner.
Farclas: will win a "National" in the next 12 months.
Mount Ida: also a potential Ladbrokes Trophy Chase winner.
Adagio: could be top-class hurdler.
Elimay: top-class chaser at trips <2m4f.
Galopin Des Champs: Champion Hurdle in 2022?
Look at the form of Petit Mouchoir's last run before Cheltenham. Then consider how much the winner of that race appears to have improved by if Petit Mouchoir ran to a similar standard in both races. Note who the winner was trained by. It may be soft ground dependant but it is an under the radar, an improving hurdler to keep an eye on.
ReplyDelete