CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL (Day 4)

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. CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL - Gold Cup Day 4

All's well that ends Well

Channel 4 commentator Simon Holt previews the final day of the Cheltenham Festival and fancies Holywell in the big one - the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

HOLYWELL, a winner at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, could make it a glorious three-timer in a wide-open Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, the climax of this year's Festival on Friday.

Jonjo O'Neill's gelding, who took the Pertemps Final here in 2013 before winning over fences 12 months ago - on both occasions ridden by Richie McLernon - has clearly been trained with this big day in mind this season after proving that he could cut it at a high level when slamming Don Cossack by ten lengths at Aintree last April.

Best in blinkers, Holywell comes here after an easy win at Kelso and, so proven in the Festival hubbub, could be the one to be on in a ferociously difficult race to solve in what is a modest era for staying chasers.

Silviniaco Conti, who won his second King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, is probably the best of the bunch but he has yet to deliver at Cheltenham, falling when holding every chance three out in this race two years ago and then inexplicably failing to get the job done last year when leading over the last.

Having looked the likely winner that day, he then hung both left and right on the run-in eventually finishing only fourth behind Lord Windermere, On His Own and The Giant Bolster in a bunch finish with past Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth fifth and Houblon Des Obeaux ninth. It was the most confusing of races with less than two lengths covering the first four home.

Fitted with cheekpieces in his last two starts and treated for ulcers since last year, Silviniaco Conti has bounced back to his best and, if he jumps as well as he did at Kempton last time, he will surely be the one to beat. But there is just that small question mark hanging over him regarding Cheltenham and not everyone is convinced he truly stays three-and-a-quarter miles either.

Apart from the favourite, the best of this season's form is represented by Many Clouds, unbeaten in three starts including the Hennessy at Newbury, and Irish raiders Road To Riches and Carlingford Lough, winners of the Lexus and Irish Hennessy respectively.


Many Clouds has really come of age as a chaser this term, following up his Newbury victory with a battling defeat of Smad Place, Dynaste and The Giant Bolster in the Betbright Cup on the course in late January.

Oliver Sherwood's strapping beast is an admirable type who could be good enough to win a weak Gold Cup and the forecasted overnight rain will fall in his favour.

Both the Lexus and Irish Hennessy resulted in finishes in which several horses were covered by not many lengths endorsing the view that there are few outstanding staying chasers about. However, Road To Riches, who won the Galway Plate last summer, has done nothing but improve and looks ground versatile.

Carlingford Lough, who didn't jump particularly well in the RSA Chase here last year, was only fifth in the Lexus before beating the likes of Foxrock, Lord Windermere, Boston Bob and the inconsistent On His Own at Leopardstown and, could, therefore, be coming to hand. As required by his contract with owner J P McManus, A P McCoy again takes the mount though I do wonder if the champ might have preferred to have been aboard Holywell.

Last year's winner Lord Windermere, also successful in the RSA Chase in 2013, certainly has fine Cheltenham credentials and trainer Jim Culloty has made no secret of the fact he has been preparing the horse this season for one big day. He could well be a major player once again despite his recent efforts being only satisfactory at best.

If he could reproduce his previous achievements here, Bobs Worth would have a major chance again but he ran a lacklustre race in the Lexus, albeit on ground softer than he likes, and surely needs to step up on last year's fifth here when, like Silviniaco Conti, he hung very badly after the last.

Perhaps the dark horse in the field is Djakadam who was travelling strongly when falling four out in the JLT Chase at this meeting last year. That error came too far from home to be sure how he would have fared up the hill and he made little show in the Hennessy at Newbury in November before which he looked in need of the run.

However, this highly regarded Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old put up a much better performance to win the Thyestes Chase under top weight at Gowran Park in January and, while he still needs to make further improvement (that victory came off a mark of only 145), the potential is there.

It is also fascinating to see the novice Coneygree in the field after his destruction of Houblon Des Obeaux at Newbury last time. It's a brave call to run such an inexperienced horse in a Gold Cup but Mark Bradstock's hugely promising chaser jumps well and ground conditions might suit him well if the rain materialises.

The Giant Bolster runs in his fourth Gold Cup after finishing second to Synchronised in 2012, fourth to Bobs Worth in 2013 and third last year. Away from Cheltenham, the 10-year-old is an enigma but it won't be the biggest surprise if he saves his best for the big occasion again even though he didn't really fire behind Many Clouds here in January.

On a difficult support card, THE GAME CHANGER is a fascinating runner in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle on his first run for trainer Gordon Elliott following the retirement of his previous handler Charlie Swan.

Elliott reports the horse in good form and a repeat of his third behind Thomas Edison and this season's Ladbroke winner Bayan in the Galway Hurdle last season would ensure a very bold show.

Both Quick Jack, a versatile horse trained by Tony Martin who finished third to Big Easy in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last autumn, and last Saturday's Imperial Cup winner Ebony Express are others who should run well.

In the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, VALUE AT RISK should relish a step up in distance and can give his trainer Dan Skelton a first Festival winner.

A smart bumper horse, he was caught for a bit of toe in a steadily run affair over two-and-a-half miles here last time before keeping on close home behind Ordo Ab Chao (not disgraced in the Neptune on Wednesday) but travelled like the best horse in the field. He is rated highly by his up and coming handler and had been hugely impressive at Newbury earlier on his hurdling debut.

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Ned Festival farewell for McCoy

Ned Buntline will provide Tony McCoy with his final Cheltenham Festival mount on Friday.

Tony McCoy has plumped for the Noel Meade-trained runner in the race named in his honour, the AP McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase.


The 19-times champion opted for Ned Buntline out of owner JP McManus' four runners, preferring him to the Jonjo O'Neill-trained pair of Eastlake and Festive Affair or Philip Hobbs' Bold Henry, who was pulled up earlier in the week.

McCoy has five rides on his final day of Festival action, including Carlingford Lough in the Gold Cup.

He also rides Princely Conn in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle and Fletchers Flyer in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but he rates the Nicky Henderson-trained Hargam as his leading chance of a victory in the Triumph.

He told At The Races: "Hargam is probably my best chance of riding a winner this week so I would like the weather to stay nice."

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Man On The Spot (SL) previews day four of the Cheltenham Festival and makes Grumeti his best bet on the card.


1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

Karezak’s form ties together a few of these. He’s finished behind Old Guard, Hargam and PEACE AND CO in three of his last four runs but the latter comes out best at the weights. Nicky Henderson runs three in this but the unbeaten Falco gelding is his number one and was impressive here on Trials Day in January. Hargam is no slouch, however, and the other Henderson runner Top Notch has yet to taste defeat since arriving from France, though may not be as effective on the quicker ground. Willie Mullins is another who is triple-handed and his filly Petite Parisienne beat stablemate Kalkir in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month so is definitely worth a second look. Pain Au Chocolat has beaten Devilment and Old Guard in his last two starts so is another with each-way claims but the fly in the ointment could be Beltor. Robert Stephens’ charge won the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle on the bridle last month, despite racing with the choke out for much of the trip. He clearly has an engine but the blinkers will have to help him settle better here if he’s not to run out of steam.

2.05 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Five-year-olds have much the best record in this and there are plenty to choose from this year. The Irish also have a decent record in the race which used to bring down the curtain on the meeting until the schedule was swapped around a few years ago so Modem goes on the short-list. He was second in the normally-informative Boylesports Hurdle at Leopardstown in January and filled the same spot in a Grade 2 at Naas subsequently but Rich Coast, Orgilgo Bay and The Game Changer are returning from a break. So is QUICK JACK, though that isn’t normally a problem for one from his yard and he’s unexposed over hurdles having made giant strides on the Flat when last seen. Tony Martin’s charge will love the ground and could be a blot on the handicap so gets the nod. Violet Dancer held off Cheltenian to win the betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month but there may not be much between the pair on the revised terms. Third Activial ran well in the Coral Cup here on Wednesday and Ebony Express, who was in touch when brought down two out, won the Imperial Cup at Sandown last week so the form looks solid. The latter will collect a massive bonus if he wins again here. Hawk High won the Fred Winter here last year and could also go well while a market check is advised on McCoy’s mount Princely Conn. Max Dynamite may be the pick of his stable’s five runners.


2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

This looks wide-open but previous form over 3m is usually a pre-requisite and it’s also been an advantage in recent years to have had experience of Cheltenham. Only a few fall into both categories so we’ll concentrate on those. Willie Mullins has declared five and his Black Hercules will probably start favourite. His fourth in last year’s Champion Bumper was a good effort considering the trip and he’s been steadily improving over timber, making all in a Grade 3 over 3m at Cork in December. Blaklion was just caught by Caracci Apache in a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January but he’d won at that level here in December and his subsequent third to Parlour Games at Newbury in between has been franked. He looks a solid each-way choice as there will be no hanging about here and a few of these will have to prove they stay every inch of the trip if they are to get involved. A few favourites have won this in recent years but there have been just as many shock results and a win for DEFINITLY RED could be another. Brian Ellison’s stayer was beaten by Native River over 2m6f on his hurdling debut at Newcastle but has left that form well behind since. He stayed on gamely to beat Fletcher’s Flyer in a Grade 2 at Haydock last time and can confirm that form with the second, despite worse terms, as the quicker ground won’t be a problem. Martello Tower boast very solid form in Ireland so may be the pick of the remainder, though we’re probably yet to see the best of Value At Risk.


3.20 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)

A bumper field for racing’s Blue Riband and it looks one of the most open Gold Cups for many a year. Ten of the 18-strong field are Grade 1 winners and Lord Windermere bids to follow up his victory of 12 months ago. He’s won both previous races at The Festival but there shouldn’t be much between Davy Russell’s mount, The Giant Bolster, On His Own, Silviniaco Conti and Bob’s Worth again. The latter won the race in 2013, when The Giant Bolster was fourth, but Cheltenham hasn’t brought the best out of Silviniaco Conti in the past though he is easily the best of the home team over 3m. Djakadam has been well backed since defying a big weight in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran in January but only one six-year-old has won this in the last 50 years and his overall form doesn’t measure up against a few of these. Many Clouds has made giant strides this season and was completing a hat-trick when beating Smad Place and The Giant Bolster in a Grade 2 on Trials Day here in January. But he would have undoubtedly preferred a softer surface and is closely matched with Holywell on the form book. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge, a Festival winner 12 months ago, shouldn’t be underestimated but Don Cossack has been cleaning up in small field in Ireland and will find this much tougher. There is nothing wrong with the form of Road To Riches, however, as he had a number of these behind when winning the Lexus Chase in December and the rest will have recharged his batteries. However, there is a question mark over his stamina in a fast-run race over 3m2f. Mark Bradstock is taking a gamble in running CONEYGREE against these battle-hardened Grade 1 performers but believes his novice is something special. He never looked in any danger when leading from start to finish in the Denman at Newbury last time and Nico de Boinville’s mount can put these to the sword as well.

4.00 St James's Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

Salsify, who won this in 2012 and 2013, is back for a hat-trick bid having missed out through injury last year. He’s sure to have improved for a comeback run behind Prince De Beauchene at Leopardstown last month but has ground to make up on the second in that race, ON THE FRINGE. Enda Bolger’s charge was only third in this last year but had an interrupted preparation and can reverse that form with runner-up Carsonstown Boy - he’ll get every assistance from Nina Carberry. Paint The Clouds will enjoy the faster ground and looks a threat. He wasn’t that impressive when beating Quinz at Doncaster last time but beat the useful Shoreacres on the bit on his previous start under Rules and will stay every inch of this trip. Paul Nicholls had a struggle to get No Loose Change qualified but he should run well now he’s got here while the prolific pointer Current Event has the past form to figure. The up-and-coming Seventh Sign is also worth a second look, though might just lack the experience for a race like this.


4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Edeymi was due to run in yesterday’s Pertemps Final so could be a doubtful runner but Jolly’s Cracked It is interesting on his fifth in the betfair Hurdle. While Le Mercury was third in a Grade 2 handicap at Ascot in January. There is no reason why Roi Des Francs won’t go well having won a Grade 3 at Clonmel last month - he doesn’t look overburdened on his handicap debut. Stablemates McKinley and Killultagh Vic also come into the reckoning and Forthefunofit took a step in the right direction when beating Party Rock at Huntingdon and Patrick Cowley can take off 5lb. Punchestown winner Noble Endeavor and Bordoni are worthy of consideration but we fancy a big run from MACNICHOLSON. Jessica Harrington gave him a pipe-opener on the all-weather last month after resting him through the worst of the winter weather and he ran well until getting outpaced up the straight. This is his ground and trip and he can give Ger Fox a thrilling Festival ride.

5.15 A.P. McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Ned Buntline will almost certainly start favourite as he bids to make A P McCoy’s final ride at The Festival a winning one. He is only 4lb higher than when a fast-finishing second in the race last year – ahead of Claret Cloak, Next Sensation, Eastlake and Tanks For That – and will have been aimed at the race again so has every chance of lifting the roof off the stands with a victory but we fancy GRUMETI (NAP) to spoil the party. A very smart hurdler – he ran in last year’s Champion Hurdle and was third in the Triumph Hurdle in 2012 – he beat Chris Pea Green at Plumpton on his penultimate start and blinkers should help him jump better than he did over a longer trip at Sandown in January. Alan King also runs Turn Over Sivola, who has each-way claims, while Blood Cotil could go close to ending the meeting on a high note for the Mullins team. Karinga Dancer could also go well if his jumping holds up with course specialist Ted Veale another for the short-list.

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Mullins' Cup runneth over

We found out on Wednesday that Willie Mullins had one horse for the 2016 Gold Cup, and we found out yesterday that he had another. Today the question is, does he have one for the 2015 Gold Cup?

He could well have. Djakadam has been held in high regard by the champion trainer and by rider Ruby Walsh for some time. Just below the very best juvenile hurdlers two seasons ago, it was always as a chaser that the strapping Saint Des Saints gelding was going to make his mark. Sure enough, he won his first two chases last season, the latter a Grade 2 contest at Leopardstown in January.

He fell at the fourth last fence in the JLT Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. It was a real novicey fall, he didn’t even really make a mistake. He just clipped the top of the fence, and he didn’t manage to get his landing gear down on time.

It was a real shame because, up to that point, he had been travelling and jumping well. He had settled into a lovely rhythm for Paul Townend, it appeared that he was taking the track and the undulations and the fences and the occasion in his massive stride.

He started off this season in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Racing off a lowly mark of 142, he could have been one of the best-handicapped horses in training. Alas, after travelling and jumping well, he started to fade from the fourth last fence, ultimately finishing eighth, some 30 lengths behind the winner Many Clouds.


He had had a rushed preparation for the Hennessy, however, and he proved that run to be all wrong with a monstrous performance to win the Thyestes Chase. The Thyestes is just a handicap, he will have to step up markedly from that if he is to win a Gold Cup, but it is a strong handicap, and it was a fine performance from a six-year-old to carry 11st 10lb through the soft ground and win as easily as he did.

To put the Thyestes into context, Djakadam’s stable companion On His Own won the Thyestes last year off a mark of 142, and he was just beaten a short head in the Gold Cup. Djakadam won the Thyestes off a mark of 145, so 3lb higher. Also, On His Own was a 10-year-old last year. Djakadam is a six-year-old who was running in just his fifth chase when he won the Thyestes. He has bundles of scope for progression.

The final piece of the jigsaw is the overnight rain. Fast ground was a slight concern, even though he did seem to travel well on it last year. He is proven on soft ground, and any easing of the ground is in his favour. Add the fact that he is trained by Willie Mullins and that he will be ridden by Ruby Walsh, and he has a real chance.

Martello Tower also has a real chance of winning the Albert Bartlett Hurdle. Winner of his maiden hurdle over two and a half at Killarney in May, Barry Connell’s horse improved for stepping up in trip this season.

He stayed on well to land a Grade 3 contest at Cork in November, and he got the better of a good duel with the talented Outlander to win another Grade 3 three-mile hurdle on heavy ground at Limerick at Christmas.


Outlander got his revenge at Leopardstown in January, but that was over two and a half miles, and Martello Tower stuck to his task well after coming under pressure early to fill the runner-up spot, in front of high-class novices like Windsor Park and No More Heroes, who re-opposes today.

No More Heroes scoped poorly after that, and he is a big player today's, but he is short at less than half Martello Tower's price. The value lies in the Mags Mullins-trained gelding.

The step back up to three miles today will suit Martello Tower well, and the forecast overnight rain will be no hindrance. He is all stamina, and he should be going on up the hill when a lot of his rivals have had enough.

Donn McClean

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Carlingford Lough bids to give McCoy Golden farewell

Tony McCoy's Hennessy victory aboard Carlingford Lough sparked emotional scenes at Leopardstown last month, but there will barely be a dry eye in the house if the duo can repeat the trick in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The win came just 24 hours after McCoy had announced his plan to quit the saddle at the end of the current campaign and Carlingford Lough now has the honour of providing the 19-times champion jockey with his final mount in the Festival feature.


Tony McCoy scored a first blue-riband success aboard Mr Mulligan in 1997 before adding to his tally with Synchronised in 2012, a win he holds dear to his heart as it was a first Gold Cup for his boss JP McManus.

McCoy will again be sporting the famous green and gold silks as he bids adieu to the Gold Cup arena.

Trainer John Kiely is hoping Carlingford Lough can provide the perfect send-off.

He said: "It was a wonderful day (at Leopardstown). Whether he's as good as the English horses, we'll have to wait and see.

"I'm happy with him, he came out of the race well and he has his work done.

"I ride him all the time at home. You couldn't have a nicer horse to ride, that's why I ride him.

"Anybody in the game would like to be in this position, Fortunately, I am, having horses for JP. You need good horses to take you there.

"The first day he won at Roscommon he did it easily and (although) it took him a while to get the message, he kept on improving all through his career.

"He was always easy to keep right. He just had one or two little niggly problems along the way. We just had to have patience with him.

"He seems to like Galway, but when he's right I think he can handle anything.

"You wouldn't have thought he'd have come this far, but his runs in the novices races last year were all nice.

"This year we missed out the early part of it for a couple of small reasons and he was probably a little bit short for his first run at Christmas. He came on from then.

"Last year (in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham) he just didn't get the message quick enough. He dwelt a bit at the start and jumped very deliberately, which left him with a bit to do.

"When he got travelling right he seemed to finish well."

While McCoy is happy to ride Carlingford Lough, he has a healthy respect for Holywell, whom he knows particularly well as an inmate of Jonjo O'Neill's yard and he was aboard the eight-year-old when he won his prep race at Kelso.

He said: "I think Holywell has a very good chance if the ground dries out a bit.

"He really improves this time of year and the most important thing is to have good Cheltenham form.

"That is a big plus for any horse and he has won there the last two years.

"He won well at Kelso and it was the first time he felt like the horse he is.

"He's had little niggling injuries, but the horse is physically better this time.

"If I was not riding Carlingford Lough I would rather ride Holywell than any other horse."

O'Neill believes the ground, as well as the application of blinkers, are the key to Holywell.

He said: "He needs really good ground, mainly because of his jumping as he's not that big.

"When the ground is a bit soft, it is a bit hard for him.

"When you put the blinkers on him, he seems a different horse, especially on good ground.

"He won at Kelso and did what he had to do. It was nice to see him win like that.

"The ground was a bit softer than we wanted, but AP was happy with him and he's come out of the race really well."

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Coneygree became the first novice to strike for 41 years when making most of the running in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old, trained by Mark Bradstock and ridden by Nico de Boinville, took the blue riband prize of steeplechasing on only his fourth race over fences.

The success fully vindicated the decision to bypass the RSA Chase earlier in the week and run in the Gold Cup instead.

Coneygree (7-1) held on up the hill by a length and a half from Djakadam (10-1), with Road To Riches (8-1) two lengths away in third.


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Nico de Boinville on Coneygree celebrates winning the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

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Well now that the dust has settled and we have seen some great racing and for sure, so many good horse to look forward to next year.

Also the coming Punchestown Festival next month ..
But the moment all punters will remember is when that great mare 'Annie Power' came down at the last in the 'Mares Hurdle'

With the race at her mercy and clear, it was going to be the bookies nightmare, but as the crowd gasped at what they were seeing , it became clear that something in the region of £1,00,000 was staying the bookies pockets


Below

That crashing fall but thankfully both horse a jockey got up to fight another day

[Tony2005]

I for one will remember it for a while......

I thought it was a great festival and some really good winners.

Some of the fancied ones that didnt win im sure will be at Aintree and a few of the Irish festivals that come up soon to try to put theirselves back in the picture for next years festival..

[Part-Timer]

I will remember it for one thing. After listening to Tony laughing at tipsters napping short priced favourites, Tony napped a 5/4 shot