It is the last day of the Cheltenham Festival and so competition for the Tote Placepot will be fierce. We look to land it for the final time this week, with Joe Napier analysing his selections below.
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Leg 1: 1.30pm (Triumph Hurdle)
Leg 1 Selections: (1) Bunting, (14) Kargese
With Sir Gino now an absentee, the Triumph Hurdle has opened up, with the race appearing dominated by centurion Willie Mullins. Two of his contingent are those taken for a place, with one of KARGESE and BUNTING expected to make the first three.
Kargese won Leopardstown’s Grade 1 juvenile contest from stablemates Majborough and Storm Heart, both of whom are now favoured in the market. However, the selection was keen that day and still prevailed, so despite not being picked by Paul Townend, holds a good chance. Bunting on the other hand was fourth from further back in the pack that day, but wasn’t beaten far at all and it would not be a surprise if he were just as competitive at a much bigger price.
Leg 2: 2.10pm (County Hurdle)
Leg 2 Selections: (3) Magical Zoe, (13) Petit Tonnerre, (16) So Scottish
The County Hurdle is only made up of 23 rather than the maximum 26, but there are still numerous runners of interest. Two come from the same race in the place of MAGICAL ZOE and SO SCOTTISH, both of whose trainers come into this in good form having finished second and fourth in a big handicap at Leopardstown. There is every chance at least one maintains or improves on their runs from that day to this.
Although reverting to hurdles from fences in this atmosphere can prove tricky, PETIT TONNERRE has not looked a natural over the larger obstacles and gets to run off a mark 4lb lower than when seventh in the Martin Pipe last season. He was beaten only six lengths then, and may really benefit from the pace to aim at in a big field over this trip.
Leg 3: 2.50pm (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle)
Leg 3 Selections: (3) Chigorin, (9) Lecky Watson
The Albert Bartlett is always a reliable race for throwing up shocks. Readin Tommy Wrong’s Lawlor’s Of Naas form is good, but there are definitely a couple at bigger prices who could feature. LECKY WATSON shapes like he will be suited by this sort of test and is definitely better than his winning record of 1/8. He had been runner-up in all three bumpers before finishing fourth in the Champion Bumper last year and little should be made of him scraping home at Thurles on hurdles debut as he only does what he needs.
Since then he was third to the favourite at Naas after being a narrow runner-up to Slade Steel. That is very strong form given what that horse ended up doing. CHIGORIN meanwhile, represents Slade Steel’s winning combination of Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He was third behind a stablemate who has disappointed since on debut, but won over 2m7f on heavy at Fairyhouse, and the more this stretches stamina, the more he will be brought into calculations with the yard firing.
Leg 4: 3.30pm (Cheltenham Gold Cup)
Leg 4 Selections: (4) Galopin Des Champs
The pinnacle of the meeting is notoriously difficult to defend, but GALOPIN DES CHAMPS looks up to that task. His highest Racing Post Ratings (RPRs) have been among the biggest of any staying chaser since Kauto Star and Denman, with the 184 he achieved in this race last year matched when romping home in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown just after Christmas. He has now evened the score to 2-2 with Fastorslow and looks just as thorough a stayer over this trip. As long as Paul Townend rides a no-nonsense race, he is the most talented horse and will make the frame (and probably win) if getting round.
Leg 5: 4.10pm (St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase)
Leg 5 Selections: (6) Premier Magic, (12) Sine Nomine
The Hunter Chase has a habit of throwing up shocks, so it is worth avoiding the top two, Its On The Line and Ferns Lock, who could both be outstayed over this trip. Last year’s winner PREMIER MAGIC has kept on rolling since, winning again at Cheltenham last May before a pair of point-to-point victories to set him up for his defence. There have been two repeat winners in the last decade, while the last nine winners have been ten or older, speaking for the first selection and against the two market leaders.
SINE NOMINE is another worth adding to your slate despite being slightly younger as an improving mare, who may have more to offer. Her win at Wetherby last month was decisive from a horse who has won since and was a former Grade 1 third, so she can make her presence felt here in an unusually small field.
Leg 6: 4.50pm (Mares’ Chase)
Leg 6 Selections: (2) Allegorie De Vassy, (3) Harmonya Maker
Dinoblue is the last of the Mullins “bankers” for the week, and her form was only boosted when Captain Guinness and Gentleman De Mee filled the first two places in the Champion Chase, horses she has beaten twice this season. However, the fall of El Fabiolo could skew expectations, especially now she is upped to 2m4f.
Two against her are stablemate ALLEGORIE DE VASSY, who is top class on her day, was second last year and found her mojo again last time out. The other might be HARMONYA MAKER, who was a beaten favourite at Thurles behind Marsh Wren last time (coneding 10lb, concedes just 3lb today), but had won a Grade 2 at that venue prior over this trip. It is weird that she has not run left-handed since her debut in a bumper, but she briefly showed a habit of jumping left earlier this season, so it should be no issue and she is quite a price if at her best.
Suggested Placepot Selections For Day 4 Of Cheltenham Festival On Friday 15th March
Leg 1 Selections: (1) Bunting, (14) Kargese
Leg 2 Selections: (3) Magical Zoe, (13) Petit Tonnerre, (16) So Scottish
Leg 3 Selections: (3) Chigorin, (9) Lecky Watson
Leg 4 Selections: (4) Galopin Des Champs
Leg 5 Selections: (6) Premier Magic, (12) Sine Nomine
Leg 6 Selections: (2) Allegorie De Vassy, (3) Harmonya Maker
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