In his latest look at the Cheltenham Festival, Andrew has unearthed a Lucky 15 for GG readers…
Donnacha (Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase – Tuesday 4.40)
The switch from the New Course to the Old Course could see the usual bias to prominent racers go missing but I’m still happy to side with Donnacha in the Plate, tipped in my daily GG column when he scored narrowly at 12-1 from Jagwar on Trials Day (New Course). Last time out winners have a solid record in this race and Nigel Hawke’s eight-year-old has proved very consistent throughout his career, recording form figures of 3343123102134113221 (6-19).
The softer the ground the better (the six softest surfaces he’s encountered have produced five wins and a 12-1 second). Dan Skelton’s Madara has clearly been laid out for this and looks the chief threat. He could be worth combining with Donnacha in forecast/Exacta perms.
Newton Tornado (National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase, Tuesday 5.20)
Emmet Mullins’ Backmersackme currently heads the betting at around 5-1 for the 3m6f novices’ handicap chase – the final race on day one of the Cheltenham festival – but he may have been flattered by his 2m5.5f win at the Dublin Racing Racing, as his patient running style was strongly favoured(the winner, runner-up and fourth all came from the rear). The trip is also unknown territory (albeit it is for most of the runners) and he’s 0-5 in Britain.
Take him on with the Rebecca Curtis-trained Newton Tornado, who impressed on the clock when scoring by six and a half lengths in a 3m novices’ handicap chase from Chasingouttheblues at Doncaster in late January with a further nine and a half lengths back to the third, Nicky Hendeson’s Noble Park. That pair both scored at the next time of asking and the form has a very solid look to it.
His trainer won this race 12 months ago with Gold Cup prospect Haiti Couleurs and her full record at the Cheltenham festival stands at six winners from 59 runners for a profit of £29.88 to a £1 level stake at SP (+£102.28 at Betfair SP after 2% commission). Point winner Newton Tornado was beaten on his hurdle/chase debuts but aside from those runs, his record under Rules reads 222211P1 (3-8), with the non-completion on account of an early mistake at Newbury on his penultimate start. The seven-year-old is two from two over 3m or further and could have more improvement to come over this marathon trip.
Regent’s Stroll (Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – Thursday 2.00)
Paul Nicholls landed the inaugural running of the Jack Richards 12 months ago and can stage a repeat courtesy of Regent’s Stroll. The son of Walk In The Park had Grade 1 form over hurdles, finishing fourth to The New Lion in the 2024 Challow Hurdle and second by half a length to Stayers’ Hurdle hope Honesty Policy in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle last term. He was pitched straight into Grade 2 company for his chase debut at Newbury in late November, going off as the 15-8 favourite but having no answer to Wendigo (winner again since and well fancied for the Brown Advisory) and No Questions Asked (Grade 2 winner since).
The seven-year-old comfortably landed a match at Wincanton next time and though beaten by Miami Magic here at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day that was no disgrace, with the winner bolting up by 15 lengths at Newbury subsequently and the third, Nicky Henderson’s Califet En Vol, winning at Kempton. His forcing style will be an asset.
Ma Shantou (Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – Thursday 3.20)
Ma Shantou, seventh in last season’s Albert Bartlett, became the first Emma Lavelle-trained runner to make a successful handicap hurdle debut after a Grade 1 prep since Paisley Park in 2018 when accounting for subsequent scorer Electric Mason at Cheltenham in October and made it three from three at jumps racing’s HQ this season when landing the Cleeve Hurdle in impressive fashion.
The Stayers’ Hurdle looks very realistic on that evidence and backing seven-year-olds in this race would have found six of the last ten winners (from 36 bets) for a profit of £48.63 to a £1 level stake at SP (+£120.50 at Betfair SP after 2% commission). It’s worth having a good look at him as he goes out on to the track – he has his head out to the right at a 45-degree angle with his neck low when he’s on good terms with himself and has displayed this trait the last twice.