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View from Cheltenham
We’re four weeks away from the Cheltenham Festival and while everyone expects the Irish to dominate, it would be foolish to dismiss a strong local challenge. James Stevens picks out five horses, trained just outside of the town, who should be on your radar.
Ultima, Tuesday, 10-1
Cheltenham trainers have a fairly good yet frustrating record in this race in recent years, having been responsible for five of the last second-placed finishers and The Conditional the only horse to land the spoils. Kim Bailey had Happygolucky touched off last season and he is to be represented by another novice in Does He Know, who has followed a similar route. He’s improving, has form at the track and has to be considered.
Glenfarclas Chase, Wednesday, 10-1 It took, ironically, the Irish-born and Cheltenham-based Jonjo O’Neill to deny a Wednesday whitewash at the festival last year and he now trains a highly interesting runner in Easysland. The eight-year-old won the Cross Country in 2020 but Tiger Roll reversed the placings last year and the pair are on course for a deciding match-up. Easysland was pulled up on his only start for his new trainer, but he was sent off 50-1 in a handicap hurdle so that is a hard effort to judge him on.
Paddy Power Plate, Thursday, 10-1
Fergal O’Brien is surprisingly still without a festival breakthrough winner but everything about this eight-year-old suggests he should have a huge chance. He was a winner by ten lengths on Trials day and, while he was officially demoted on another occasion, he clearly thrives around Cheltenham. The handicapper has raised him a further 8lb but he may still have more to offer, particularly at the intermediate distance.
Kim Muir Challenge Cup, Thursday, 16-1
Come On Teddy, Britain’s best performer in the Pertemps last season, has switched to chasing and his mark of 136 certainly makes him an intriguing prospect in the Kim Muir. He was second in a decent little race at Newcastle last time – the winner has won again since – while his festival form stacks up well, so he could well be a live contender.
McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle, Friday, 16-1
Another for the Jonjo O’Neill team but only a possible contender at the meeting. I’m told if Anyharminasking goes to Cheltenham he will appear in the County and the horse who beat Constitution Hill in a point-to-point is hard to assess having won two fairly moderate handicaps in effortless fashion. Nevertheless, he is exciting.
By James Stevens
Latest Cheltenham news
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by TDN
