Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
The opening race on day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival is the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle over 2m5f, a race which has been dominated by Irish of late with them winning 3 of the last 4 runnings.
SAMCRO is arguably the talking horse of the entire 2018 Cheltenham Festival, having won all 6 career starts for Gordon Elliott (3x bumper & 3x hurdle). A Grade 3 over 2m4f at Navan in November before finding the drop back to 2-miles to be no problem at all, winning the Grade 1 Deloitte at Leopardstown in February by an eased down 5-lengths. |
ON THE BLIND SIDE is another horse with a perfect record over hurdles, On The Blind Side has secured 3 wins from his 3 starts this season.
Grade 2 winner over C&D in November as well as a Grade 2 at Sandown in December. He has been freshened up since then by trainer Nicky Henderson, and looks the most likely danger to the favourite.
Grade 2 winner over C&D in November as well as a Grade 2 at Sandown in December. He has been freshened up since then by trainer Nicky Henderson, and looks the most likely danger to the favourite.
NEXT DESTINATION finished 4th in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper at the Festival 12-months ago and has since gone on to win 3/3 over hurdles since.
A Grade 1 winner at Naas in January on heavy ground, and so ideally wants a deluge of rain but it is worth baring in mind that it Willie Mullins trained Faugheen to win the race in 2014 and Yorkhill in 2016.
A Grade 1 winner at Naas in January on heavy ground, and so ideally wants a deluge of rain but it is worth baring in mind that it Willie Mullins trained Faugheen to win the race in 2014 and Yorkhill in 2016.
RSA Chase
The RSA Chase, or “Novices’ Gold Cup” sees the novice chasers go over 3-miles & 1/2 a furlong, a race won last year by this year’s Gold Cup ante-post favourite Might Bite.
PRESENTING PERCY won the extremely competitive Pertemps Final over hurdles at last season’s Cheltenham festival and is 3/5 over fences this season.
Patrick Kelly’s stable star lost nothing in defeat when 2nd to Our Duke at Gowran Park in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase last month.
Patrick Kelly’s stable star lost nothing in defeat when 2nd to Our Duke at Gowran Park in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase last month.
MONALEE was an excellent 2nd in the Albert Bartlett at last season’s festival. Still in contention when falling at Leopardstown in December, and then leaped to the fore of the betting for this race with a gutsy win in the 2m5f Gr1 Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown in February. Guaranteed to stay this far up the Cheltenham hill on last year’s evidence.
BLACK CORTON leads the hopes for the British contingent who have won the last 2 renewals of this race with Might Bite last year & Blaklion in 2016.
The Paul Nicholls trained, Jeremy Kyle owned son of Laverock has gone from strength to strength under Bryony Frost this season. Winning 7 times in his last 8 starts, he managed to come first in the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day. |
Arrives at the top of his game and must have each-way claims at least.
Champion Chase
The feature race of day 2 as the champion minimum-distance chaser is crowned. The race has been won by a 10-year old the last 2 years but looks destined for younger hooves this time around.
ALTIOR is already a 2-time Festival winner, winning the 2016 Supreme Novice & then the 2017 Arkle in terrific fashion last year.
Nicky Henderson’s flag bearer looked none the worse for a recent wind operation when winning the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Sandown last time on a return from a 287-day break. Looks the best hopes of a British winner all week, and looks sure to go off a short-price favourite. |
MIN was the talking horse of the 2016 Festival and nearly delivered on the hype when finishing 2nd in the Supreme to Altior.
4/5 over fences, but it’s hard to assess the substance of its Grade 2 Dublin Chase win at Leopardstown in February when favourite Yorkhill bombed out and he will need the favourite to run below par again if he’s to come out on top.
4/5 over fences, but it’s hard to assess the substance of its Grade 2 Dublin Chase win at Leopardstown in February when favourite Yorkhill bombed out and he will need the favourite to run below par again if he’s to come out on top.
DOUVAN has been described as “60-40” by his trainer Willie Mullins to run here.
Douvan is amazingly one of the dark horse of this year’s Festival. A winner of 14 of his 16 career starts, including 2 Cheltenham Festival victories, the son of Walk in the Park has not been seen on a racecourse since blowing out in this race when 2/7 favourite last year. Would be a fascinating proposition if lining up and given his course form, he’d be a threat to all. |