2012 Cheltenham Festival Fancies
No four days match the Cheltenham Festival. It is a magical event which will have BETDAQ buzzing this week.
Montbazon (Supreme)
What a race the Supreme Novices’ is is going to be. Possibly the race of the meeting. Backers on Betdaq must beware as I can see any number of horses cruising down the hill on the bridle and then it will be a battle royal up the hill. In-running layers could have a field day and in particular I can see Darlan trading very short. They have said from day one that Darlan was a superstar and AP McCoy tipped us the wink about this horse in October as a horse to follow for the season and I’m hopeful he can get the Champion jockey off to a flying start biut worried about whether he’s recovered from that crashing fall and whether he will get up the hill. He might have won the same race that Get Me Out Of Here won off an 11lb lower mark before going on to be touched off in the Supreme. It’s potentially the best piece of form in the field. I’m a big Montbazon fan as he’s open to loads of improvement in a fast run race on better ground. I’m sure he’ll be one of a number of horses on the bridle as they fly down the hill. It’s going to be a thriller.
Sprinter Sacre (Arkle)
There’s no let up as the next race is the Arkle where I expect to see the performance of the week from Sprinter Sacre. The vibes were bad about Peddlers Cross before he switched to the Jewson (where he could be an attractive place lay), while I’d be amazed if Al Ferof and Cue Card have the speed to live with the aeroplane that is Sprinter Sacre. The fly in the ointment could be Menorah but that will be a white-knuckle ride for punters and Richard Johnson with his erratic jumping.
Oscars Well (Champion Hurdle)
I’m hoping my beloved Binocular will be able to give Hurricane Fly a race in the Champion Hurdle but you never quite know which Binocular will turn up and I fear some punters got carried away with his performance at Wincanton. I don’t think Zarkandar will have the speed to live with the big guns. The horse I fancy to run a massive race in Oscars Well. He probably can’t reverse the form with Hurricane Fly but he’s been primed for this race and will love the track and ground.
Triolo d’Alene (Pulteney H’cap)
The Henderson team think this horse will be good enough to run in top races so must have a huge chance off this mark. The vibes are very strong.
Boston Bob (Neptune or Albert Bartlett)
I have been backing Boston Bob for the Neptune for a few weeks now so I hope he runs in that but fear he may go for the Albert Bartlett on the Friday. Whichever race he goes for I think he will win. The Mullins team think Boston Bob is a bit special and his win at Leopardstown at Christmas giving 10lbs all round is by far the best piece of form on show in both races. Get on him to win the 2013 RSA!
Noble Prince (Ryanair)
I have been harping on about Noble Prince in the Ryanair for a while now. This horse ticks every box I look for in a Festival winner. Paul Nolan has trained Noble Prince specifically for this race, running creditably on the wrong ground over the wrong trip in Ireland, to prime him for Thursday. He is a horse that needs spring ground and most importantly he has winning form over the course and distance. Time and again next week we will see horses come alive who enjoy the track and have run well at the Festival before.
Our Father (Pertemps)
This time last year I interviewed owner David Johnson for Sky Sports and he said that Our Father would develop in to his next superstar. He looked really impressive in his one start this term and remains a horse with a big future.
Sadlers Risk (Triumph)
The Triumph Hurdle looks wide open and hard to call. The Adonis at Kempton has produced the last two winners of the Triumph and I think it may do so again but not with this year’s winner, Baby Mix. I like Sadlers Risk who finished second at Kempton. The vibes were bad for him that day and I think we’ll see a very different Sadlers Risk next Friday. I did a Cheltenham preview with Phillip Hobbs this week who blamed himself for that Kempton defeat as he hadn’t done enough work with the horse. He seemed very confident.
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