3 minute read
Starting Tuesday 16th March this is going to be a very different Cheltenham.
It will be behind closed doors and without a number of foreign invaders although some from the bigger stables in the Emerald Isle have been able to organise the journey but without the crowds, particularly the Irish – and it's St Paddy's day on Wednesday – it is going to be seriously lacking in atmosphere.
Nevertheless there will still be some great horses on show and let's hope for some great racing as well. And one word of wisdom – Mullins! Willie Mullins has an enviable record here so respect his runners even if they are at long odds.
Tuesday starts off with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle with 8 starters. Appreciate It is on 5/6 for the all-conquering Willie Mullins stable with Willie going for his 7th win in the race and Appreciate It going for his 3rd Gr 1. Paul Townend has the ride. Ballyadam is one of the horses moved from Gordon Elliott's yard to Henry de Bromhead however his usual rider Jack Kennedy retains the ride. They are on 7/1. Harry Fry's Metier is on 9/2.
The Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase Gr 1 has 6 runners headed by Nicky Henderson's star Shishkin on 1/2 with Nico de Boinville on board. Stablemate Captain Guiness is on 7/1 and will be in the hands of Racheal Blackmore.
The Ultima Handicap Gr 3 has 16 runners and is very tricky. The market has Happygolucky on top on 3/1 but there's a number of other possibilities such as Milan Native and Aye Right. We may play a roughie her in Ok Corral on 22/1.
The Championship Hurdle Challenge Trophy Gr 1 had a field of 10 headed by the wonderful mare Honeysuckle who is unbeaten. She's trained by Henry de Bromhead and Racheal Blackmore continues her successful partnership with the horse. 13/8. Another mare Epatante won this last year then had some issues so she is on 4/1, as is Goshen. We will keep Sharjah safe on 17/2 for the Mullins-Townend team.
The Mares Hurdle Gr 1 has 11 runners with Concertista on 5/4 the Mullins-Townend runner here and stablemate Great White Shark our roughie on 16/1. Roksana is consistent mare who deserves her 5/2 quote.
The Fred Winter is Gr 3 with 22. This is another where we don't know a lot about these and will just go with the market which has Houx Gris on 9/2 for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. The Mullins-Townend runner is Saint Sam on 5/1 and our roughie Hell Red for Henderson-Bryony Frost.
The Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Chase Gr 2 has 13 in it. Next Destination is 5/2 for Nicholls -Cobden. Galvin is on 10/3 as he tries for a 5th consecutive win, and Remastered is 7/1 for David Pipe and Tom Scudamore.