There are exactly four weeks left until the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and Matty Sutcliffe continues his quest for some late ante-post value. He has found one at a huge price for the Stayers’ Hurdle from a lesser-known stable that can reward each-way punters.
Published: 2.00pm, 13th February (Odds correct at time of publication)
Stayers’ Hurdle – Da Capo Glory (66/1 generally NRNB E/W)
The Stayers’ Hurdle has shown a tendency to throw up a big priced winner in recent years, with favourites taking just two of the last ten renewals, coming with Paisley Park at 11/8 in 2019 and Thistlecrack at Evens in 2016. Teahupoo has been solid at the top of the market for some while now at 3/1, but he’ll be coming straight here from his run in the Hatton’s Grace in December, which isn’t the most orthodox prep for a race of this nature. He’s undoubtedly a special talent, but it’s worth nothing he was a beaten favourite in the Stayers’ last season with prime conditions, and that Hatton’s Grace form isn’t exceptional given Impaire Et Passe looks a shadow of himself and Ashroe Diamond, like most of Willie’s around that time, needed the run.
Then we have Irish Point, installed as the second favourite, but Gordon Elliott came out and said this week that he may drop back in trip for the Champion Hurdle, understandable to a degree given the weakness of those outside of Constitution Hill and State Man. The improving Crambo looks fairly priced at 7/1 having lowered the colours of Paisley Park in the Long Walk Hurdle who was subsequently beaten a head in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle by Noble Yeats, another who if turning up here will likely go close too. The market seems to be focusing on those four at the top and given only two are certain to run, there’s several outsiders who are worth keeping on side from an each way perspective, with the possibility of springing another surprise in the Stayers’.
The one I’m keen on chancing is the improving DA CAPO GLORY from the small Cork-based yard of Padraig Butler. The son of Fame And Glory has proudly flown the Butler flag in recent seasons, and likely posted a career best in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday. Unsuited by a dawdle set by last year’s winner Beacon Edge, the race turned into a sprint finish and Da Capo Glory didn’t find too much off the bridle on ground soft enough for him, shaping once more like he would relish a step up in trip. Those in behind the winner (Hiddenvalley Lake) lost nothing in defeat given his smart novice season, and the Boyne Hurdle can develop into a key piece of form for the Stayers’ Hurdle. Last year’s shock winner Sire Du Berlais was beaten ten lengths prior, with the winner (Blazing Khal) finishing sixth despite travelling well and being well backed all season for the race, and in 2021, Beacon Edge was fourth in the Stayers’ after taking the Boyne Hurdle.
Class often comes to the fore in the Stayers’ and while Da Capo Glory’s form doesn’t initially scream Cheltenham Festival winner, he’s long threatened to be a smart type. He opened his hurdling account in emphatic style at the first time of asking by 24 lengths, before losing nothing in defeat when beaten seven lengths by El Fabiolo, who had just been beaten a neck by Jonbon prior. El Fabiolo was rated 150 then, and the second (Ha D’Or) was rated 137 after placing in Grade 2 company twice prior. Da Capo Glory was then pitched into Grade 3 company, beaten five lengths behind the then 147 rated 2022 Triumph Hurdle second Fil Dor, who played second fiddle to Vauban three times that year, and has filled that spot twice again this season behind Dinoblue and El Fabiolo. Going back to that Grade 3 Red Mills, Da Capo Glory was only 4 ½L lengths behind Sharjah, who was subsequently fourth off top-weight in the County Hurdle and a three-length second to Constitution Hill in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle.
Da Capo Glory bounced back from a tame effort in a 53k handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse with a four-length second to Grangeclare West up in trip for the first time. That one is unbeaten in two starts since (both over fences) including a Grade 1 success at Leopardstown over Christmas. In third that day was Imagine who’s gone on to take two races over fences, including a Grade 2 at Punchestown, and the fourth, Tag Man, has yet to finish out of the placings in four subsequent starts, including finishing second to current Albert Bartlett favourite High Class Hero. Da Capo Glory then bounced back to winning ways in game fashion at Punchestown, beating the subsequent 143k Galway Plate winner Ash Tree Meadow. The drop back to two miles in a Tipperary Grade 3 didn’t suit, but he still posted a smart effort in fifth in a deep field, staying on strongly after being badly outpaced and still held up in rear on the turn for home two out. That effort smacked of needing further, and he’s proved that with his two efforts this season, such as when winning at Cork off top-weight on seasonal reappearance.
Naturally, he’s a horse who will continue to go under the radar in these big events due to smaller connections, but if they persevere with his entry in the Stayers’ I think he’ll have an excellent chance of outrunning his lofty odds. The only downside to this bet (though it won’t matter too much with the NRNB concession) is that with entries for the likes of the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe coming out next week, I’d imagine connections will enter him in one, if not both, of those as if his initial mark was deemed fine enough for him to be entered in the Stayers’, then even his revised mark after the weekend would suggest he’ll be competitive enough to go close in one of those handicaps. If that is the case, then all this won’t have been for nothing as I’d likely entertain tipping him for those contests, but regardless, his price for the Stayers’ seems far too big at this stage when you consider Beacon Edge and Sire Du Berlais are both much shorter in the betting. While he lacks the Cheltenham experience of plenty of the protagonists in the Stayers’, he’s a game little horse capable of smart form, and he’s exceptionally well bred given his dam is a half-sister to the likes of God’s Own and Ginny’s Destiny. Out of an Oscar mare, it’s no surprise that the more we see him, the more he shapes as if he wants 3m, so hopefully connections pursue their lofty ambitions and take their chance in an open looking renewal of the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Cheltenham Value Punts – Djelo Can Capitalise on Open Arkle
With Cheltenham continuing to close in, Matty Sutcliffe looks to the novice chases for his third ante-post column looking forward to the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. In particular, he has a Venetia Williams-trained runner on his radar. Published: 5.30pm 6th February (Odds correct at time of publication) Arkle – Djelo (25/1 generally, 33/1 Bet365 NRNB EW)…
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