1:20 – Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m5f – 22 runners
Key Stat
5- and 6-year-olds have tended to dominate this contest over the years, while Irish-trained runners had won 7 consecutive renewals prior to the victory of The New Lion for Britain last year.
Market Leaders
A stacked field as you would expect. I don’t think there have been many better Novices this season than NO DRAMA THIS END who has swept all before him in three starts over hurdles to date, winning Graded races on each occasion. He probably didn’t beat a hugely deep field in the Challow last time out, but the manner of his victory was hugely impressive as he barely came out of third gear. The form of his two runs before is probably stronger and both of those victories were comfortable and taking. I really think this is a top class performer and he’ll be even better suited by a well-run race.
KING RASKO GREY has come to hand slowly but was only narrowly touched off by Talk The Talk (disappointing in the first race today) in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle last time out. He was apparently not fit for that and he is a big threat to all if he improves from that run. His dam was a miler so there is a slight doubt about him over this distance.
BALLYFAD was a place in front of KING RASKO GREY last time out having attempted to make the running. He tended to jump right at times there but I think the ground was probably a bit soft and he should enjoy conditions that will be closer to those he encountered when hammering Leader d’Allier two back. He has plenty of speed so is another who will need to ration his stamina.
Other Contenders
SOBER was a winner over an extreme distance on the flat at Royal Ascot and I was very taken by his return to action, tanking through the race and readily dispatching his main market rival. I think he’ll come on a lot for that and be very well suited by a strongly-run race.
SKYLIGHT HUSTLE was a fortunate winner last time out when looking sure to be beaten by Talk The Talk. He still ran a fast time there and he continues to progress.
Interesting Outsiders
BOSSMAN JACK keeps improving and did it well last time, running a good speedfigure in the process. This is hotter but he’s going the right way.
I’LL SORT THAT is one of the Grade 1 winners in the field and this tough sort has got better with every run over hurdles – his improvement hasn’t stopped yet.
2:00 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 3m1f – 16 Runners
Key Stat
7-year-olds have dominated this race, winning 8 of the last 10 renewals. No 6-year-old has won this in the last decade.
Market Leaders
ROMEO COOLIO has had a multitude of options at this meeting all winter but he steps up to three miles for the first time here. He did well to pull it out of the fire last time out and retain his unbeaten run over fences, and he has won over as far as 20.5 furlongs. That form received a huge boost with Kargese winning the Arkle and I think he’ll win if he stays because he’ll have too much speed for his rivals, but this will be a real test of stamina and the application of a hood suggests connections have some doubts about how well he will settle.
FINAL DEMAND gets some headgear help too in the shape of a tongue-tie. This horse looked likely to be short for this race earlier in the year when romping home on his first two chase starts but he was bitterly disappointing last time out and the vibes haven’t been good. If anyone can bring him back it’s Willie Mullins, but he was beaten at a short price at the Festival last year and I think he’s one to oppose.
Other Contenders
KAID D’AUTHIE was a big price behind FINAL DEMAND in the Turners’ last year but seems to have improved over fences. He had that rival in behind at Leopardstown in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, idling in front and seeming to improve for the application of cheekpieces. He’s only 6-years-old which might be a negative and I’m not sure he really wants this stamina test currently.
KTZBUHEL unseated last time out but was very good at Kempton over Christmas where he had WENDIGO (won since) behind. He tends to jump to his right which might be a negative around here.
Interesting Outsiders
THE BIG WESTERNER is a talented mare who was placed in Grade 1 company as a novice here last year. She got off the mark over fences last time out and should relish this extra distance – she’s the right age and is a big player.
OSCARS BROTHER is an 8-year-old so a bit more mature than most of these. He’s a good jumper and this might be his big day against horses who probably have better things to come down the line. That should be a little edge.
2:40 – BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle – 2m5f – 24 runners
Key Stat
8 of the last 10 winners of this race carried 11 stone or more.
Market Leaders
STORM HEART looks set to go off favourite for this contest and it’s easy to see why. Placed at Grade 1 level as a juvenile, he was favourite for the Triumph Hurdle in 2024 prior to finishing fifth. He’s obviously had issues as he ran only once last season – a fine effort – but he has shown that he retains all of his ability with two wins this. Decent ground shouldn’t be a problem for him given his pedigree and this distance looks like it might bring out even more improvement. This classy sort is trained by a master and ticks plenty of boxes off a mark of 147.
KATEIRA is another with back class having just been touched off in a Grade 2 last January having finished close up in a Grade 1 prior. She’s jumped around in distance this season but this intermediate trip is likely to prove her optimum. She beat a below par Golden Ace on her return but hasn’t shown much in four starts since, although it’s highly likely that her connections had this in mind and they weren’t exactly interested in showing their hand in those races. This yard excels in Cheltenham handicaps when they’ve laid one out and I fully expect her to run a much better race here.
Several have these have taken interesting routes into this contest and that certainly applies to KOPECK DE MEE. He looked like he was plotted up for the Martin Pipe last year but flopped badly, beating just four home. He ran much better at Aintree next time out when only narrowly beaten into second having been given plenty to do and clearly has some scope off this mark. He’s only had one run this season, falling when showing little on his chase debut in December, and it’s interesting that connections rock up here.
THE YELLOW CLAY was a Grade 1 winner last season and was only just denied in the Turners behind leading Champion Hurdle contender The New Lion at this meeting last year when short in the betting. He’s not had much go his way since, falling at Punchestown in May before an odds-on defeat at Navan on his comeback. He flopped again last time out in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle but he was only 4/1 there against a top class stablemate and clearly he must have been showing some spark at home still. He’ll need to bounce back but he is the class in the race.
Other Contenders
IBERICO LORD was as short as 11/1 for a Champion Hurdle in 2024 but didn’t hit the heights over fences after a promising start. He has been nursed back to form this season and confirmed he was back to near his best with a dominant victory in the Lanzarote at Kempton last time. A mark of 144 is well within his range on his best form and he excels in a well-run big field handicap.
His stablemate JINGKO BLUE has followed a similar path, having also returned to hurdles having had a spell over fences. He has shaped as though building to something better in two runs this season and ran well last time despite being no match for the very talented Kabral Du Mathan. He looks set to run well.
Interesting Outsiders
BALLYADAM might be a bit old in the tooth now but he’s placed in this race for the last two years and may well hit the board again. He’s had a couple of spins on the flat and Patrick O’Brien takes a useful 5lb off his back.
3:20 – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase – 3m5½f – 14 Runners
Key Stat
Only the second running of this race as a handicap but little change last year as the Irish took the race for the ninth time in the last decade. Gordon Elliott has won five of those renewals and Keith Donoghue has ridden the same amount of winners, with the duo teaming up three times.
Market Leaders
The pair are in competition this time around but it still looks likely that one of them will add to their fantastic record in the race.
Elliott has the favourite at the time of writing in FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU who has won his only completed start in this discipline having fallen in the other. A classy sort who has won Graded chases over conventional obstacles, he was most impressive here in January when winning but 8.5 lengths in a good time from a solid opponent. It was hard not to be impressed with him there as he quickened up into the straight and jumped the last two big and bold. A rise of 8lb looks lenient and it’ll take a good one to stop him.
Donoghue retains his partnership with last year’s winner STUMPTOWN. He is the undoubted top dog in this discipline currently despite flopping in the Grand National (lots of excuses) and has won his only start this season in the Velka Pardubicka, a unique test of a racehorse. He has been laid out for this, clearly, and a 5lb rise for his win last year isn’t prohibitive.
Other Contenders
DESERTMORE HOUSE has yet to run over this course but has looked a Cross Country natural in his races over the banks at Punchestown, finishing runner up in the La Touche before impressively winning the Risk Of Thunder in November, a race that has worked out well. He receives a stone or more in weight from the big two and this classy sort probably has more to give despite being 11-years-old now.
Interesting Outsiders
Several of these have good course form or have run well in this race before including LATENIGHTPASS, THE GOFFER, VANILLIER and FINAL ORDERS, but they’ll all need a career best if they are to win here.
4:00 – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) – 2m – 10 runners
Key Stat
No 6-year-old has won this in the last decade.
Market Leaders
That stat is perhaps one of the few negatives about MAJBOROUGH, who looks set to go off as one of the shortest priced favourites of the entire meeting. It’s easy to see why, in fairness. Very unlucky not to win the Arkle last year, his jumping let him down on his first two starts of this season but the application of cheekpieces and a switch to front-running seem to transform him in that regard as he thumped last year’s Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale by 19 lengths in a rapid time. A repeat of that would be more than good enough to win this provided the cheekpieces are as effective second time around.
IL ETAIT TEMPS had looked a top notcher when running up a five-race winning sequence but that run came to a juddering halt last time out when falling at Ascot having looked beaten at the time. He might be better right-handed and has never quite shown his best form here, so it’s hard to see him beating MAJBOROUGH.
Other Contenders
L’EAU DU SUD thrashed the mighty Jonbon here two back but was well behind IL ETAIT TEMPS at Sandown. He doesn’t have much to find with MAJBOROUGH on their Arkle running but doesn’t appear to have improved as much as that rival.
Interesting Outsiders
QUILIXIOS was still just in front when falling at the last in this race last year. He hasn’t been seen since but was miles clear of the third at the time.
IRISH PANTHER is a talented novice and his form could be boosted should Romeo Coolio run well earlier in the day.
4:40 – Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase – 2m – 20 runners
Key Stat
No real stats of significance here in a race that has been won by a wide range of weights, ages and trainers over the past decade.
Market Leaders
INTHEPOCKET was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles but didn’t quite hit those heights over fences after a very promising start. He’s been ticking over this season but you imagine he will be able to show his very best here for shrewd connections. A mark of 146 is still 3lb below his hurdles rating.
BE AWARE was no match for Lulamba two back but has generally taken very well to fences. He was beaten at odds-on in a Grade 2 last time out but probably did a little bit too much early on in a race run on bad ground. I think he’ll be happier taking a lead off a strong pace and a mark of 147 looks one that he will defy at some point.
VANDERPOEL is lightly-raced having had just 7 starts but has already made up into a smart performer. He won impressively in a fast time last time out and already looks better than a mark of 141. He’s got to prove himself left-handed and in a big field but he has the engine to run a big race here.
Other Contenders
RYAN’S ROCKET might be a big improver. He won well in a fast time on his seasonal debut and was going strongly when unseating in a Grade 2 at Kempton last time. He’ll be well suited by these conditions if he draws into the field and is a big threat to all off a flyweight.
JAZZY MATTY won this last year off a mark of 135 and is 7lbs higher here. He’s not achieved much since then but a good fifth here over hurdles in October shows that the ability remains and I don’t think what he’s done this season over hurdles has much bearing on his chances here. This is his first run over fences since that victory and he should show his old spark again with conditions to suit and with a recent wind op to help.
Interesting Outsiders
BALLYSAX HANK was unlucky not to win the American Grand National in October but the form of a head defeat to Zanahiyr reads well for a horse rated just 138. He’s had a couple of runs since, one of which was over three miles and the other on ground that was plenty soft enough but shaped extremely well both times. I think a drop to strongly-run 2 miles will suit this strong-traveller perfectly and he has more than enough ability to win races off this mark.
5:20 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (In Memory Of Sir Johnny Weatherby) – 2m½f – 22 runners
Key Stat
An Irish benefit in recent times, with runners trained in Ireland winning the last 9 renewals. Willie Mullins has won six of these and has another strong hand here.
Market Leaders
LOVE SIGN D’AUNOU looks like the Mullins first string off the back of a 24 length romp on his debut. He looked more of a staying type to me there and the ground was very bad, so this will be a different test. The timefigure from his debut was good.
KEEP HIM COMPANY is 2/2 under rules. He also clocked a good time when winning his most recent start and should be well suited if they go a strong pace.
THE MOURNE RAMBLER quickened up very nicely to win on debut and should have plenty more to come. He gets the assistance of leading flat jockey Colin Keane.
Other Contenders
QUIRYN is maybe a little young for this race but he put a lot of distance between his rivals off a slow pace on debut and clearly has a lot of talent.
THE IRISH AVATAR landed short odds on debut. He’s got some flat breeding on the sire side and looks a smart prospect.
BASS HUNTER is a horse I really like and he looks the best of the home team. This horse has a serious engine and won in a good time on his most recent start when value for much more than the bare margin having done plenty in front.
Interesting Outsiders
OUR TRIGGER quickened up nicely on debut and should be just as effective on this going.
BOYCETOWN won by a wide margin on his second start under rules at Down Royal, while I was impressed with the turn of foot shown by DIAMANT DORE on his rules debut last time out. Better ground shouldn’t be an issue.
