1.30 TURNERS' NOVICES CHASE
MIGHTY POTTER has passed every test over fences with distinction and rates a worthy favourite to win the Turners' Novices Chase – his third Grade 1 in the sphere and a fourth overall.
Having pulled up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year, Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old signed off for the campaign with a 20-1 victory in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, and his first season over the larger obstacles has gone like clockwork.
After landing odds of 2-5 in a beginners’ chase at Down Royal in November, Mighty Potter stepped up to the top level to capture the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse by four and a half lengths from Tuesday’s National Hunt Chase winner Gaillard Du Mesnil, with Banbridge a remote third.
Davy Russell’s then mount ran out arguably the most impressive winner of Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival last month with an eight-and-a-half-length call from Adamantly Chosen in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novices’ Chase.
That’s the best form on offer here and, with the promise of more to come, Mighty Potter gets a confident vote to win again.
Stage Star , a Grade 1 winning hurdler with just one blemish on his fencing CV, should keep the market leader honest, while Appreciate It and Balco Coastal can fight it out for the bronze medal.
2.10 PERTEMPS HURDLE FINAL
THANKSFORTHEHELP , who looked a different horse altogether over a staying trip and on the back of breathing surgery at Chepstow last month, appeals most in a typically competitive heat.
A podium finisher in novice hurdles at Chepstow, Huntingdon and Wincanton last term, the David Pipe-saddled grey made the frame in handicap company at Punchestown in April and Wetherby on Boxing Day on his next two starts.
With cheekpieces added to a tongue strap, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old – Thanksforthehelp underwent a wind operation during a 61-day break – moved up in distance to an extended two miles and seven furlongs at the home of the Welsh Grand National 19 days ago.
And Martaline’s son absolutely routed his 14 rivals, sauntering two the front two flights from the finish and extending clear to humble My Bobby Dazzler by six and a half lengths.
In the circumstances, an 11lb rise in the weights could have been worse and, with the same headgear combination retained, Mark Walsh’s partner can follow up.
Both The Bosses Oscar (second in 2021) and Mill Green (third last year) have ‘previous’ in this race and enter the reckoning, along with Itchy Feet .
2.50 RYANAIR CHASE
SHISHKIN got a career momentarily derailed by two defeats back on track at Ascot last month and is poised for a third Festival triumph.
A run of 10 straight wins over obstacles includes the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2020 and the Arkle Challenge Trophy 12 months later.
But the trouble started in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last March, for which Nicky Henderson’s son of Sholokov went off the 5-6 market leader – only to be pulled up after eight fences.
Vets diagnosed a rare bone condition in the wake of the flop, but market confidence was high for Shishkin’s return in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park in December.
It proved misplaced, as Nico de Boinville’s mount labored in third, 15 lengths behind Edwardstone.
Henderson then hatched a plan for a step up in distance, and Shishkin also underwent a breathing operation before taking on five rivals for the top-level Ascot Chase.
Relishing the two-mile, five-furlong trip, the nine-year-old, fitted with a tongue strap for good measure, travelled with his erstwhile menace before powering past Pic D’Orhy at the penultimate fence to score by 16 lengths.
A reproduction of that and the silverware is as good as in the Seven Barrows trophy cabinet.
Blue Lord was improving before the wheels came off at Leopardstown last time and can claim a place on the podium, with Fury Road and Ga Law next best.
3.30 PADDY POWER STAYERS' HURDLE
HOME BY THE LEE has made dramatic progress this winter and is the selection to win a fascinating battle of the three-mile hurdlers.
A 33-1 shot when sixth to Flooring Porter in this race 12 months ago, the son of Fame And Glory was coming to win a conditions hurdle at Down Royal in August when a nudge from a rival caused him to smash through the wing of the second-last.
A 28-1 chance for the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in November, Home By The Lee gained compensation with a two-length defeat of Bob Olinger, with Ashdale Bob in third and Flooring Porter fourth and Sire Du Berlais fifth.
And the Joseph O’Brien trainee was better again in the Grade 1 Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December, coming home with gusto to beat Ashdale Bob by three lengths, with Flooring Porter back in fifth and Sire Du Berlais pulling up.
The improvement looked unlikely this time last year, but there’s no doubt Home By The Lee has taken his form to a different level, and JJ Slevin’s mount receives a narrow vote.
Blazing Khal is fragile but supremely talented – he returned from a 428 lay-off to land Navan’s Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle last month – and rates a danger.
Dashel Drasher and Henry Le Farceur look up against it, but Teahupoo , who has reinvented himself as a stayer, dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter and 2019 victor Paisley Park are respected.
Klassical Dream is a player on his best, while January’s Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle winner Gold Tweet is overpriced.
4.10 MAGNERS PLATE HANDICAP CHASE
DATSALRIGHTGINO , second to two smart Paul Nicholls-saddled chasers on his last two outings, is fancied to go one better when it matters most.
Successful in two of his five attempts over hurdles, Jamie Snowden’s seven-year-old showed promise on his fencing bow with a second to the smart Boothill at Newton Abbot last October.
Datsalrightgino went one better with a seven-length beating of Calico at Chepstow the following month before in-the-frame efforts at Newbury and Doncaster before the turn of the year.
But it was his second to Stage Star in a novices’ handicap chase over this course and distance on Cheltenham’s Trials card in January that is the pointer to my selection’s chance today.
Datsalrightgino finished three and a half lengths behind in second, but the winner took advantage of a lenient mark that afternoon and was successful at the highest level over hurdles.
Last time out, Gavin Sheehan’s partner, who sports cheekpieces today, returned a two-length second to Solo in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park, and, despite a 4lb rise to a new British Horseracing Authority rating of 145, he still has plenty going for him.
Dangers are everywhere, with So Scottish , Midnight River , Fugitif and Seddon at the top of a long short list..
4.50 JACK DE BROMHEAD MARES' NOVICES HURDLE
MAGICAL ZOE is unbeaten in three attempts over hurdles and still has the untapped potential to play a starring role.
A Cork bumper winner for Barry Fitzgerald last March, Shantou’s daughter then joined Henry de Bromhead and made the perfect start for her new trainer with a maiden hurdle win at Wexford in September.
Magical Zoe moved up to Grade 3 level for a mares’ novice event at Down Royal two months later and took another step forward with a one-length defeat of Nikini .
Given modern training methods, her 132-day absence since then is of no concern and further progress looks on the card as de Bromhead seeks to win the race named in honour of his son Jack, killed in a pony-racing fall last September at the age of 13.
Favourite Luccia goes from strength to strength and will be no pushover, while Nicky Henderson stablemate Under Control and the smart You Wear It Well are others to throw into the melting pot.
5.30 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP
RAPPER , with course-and-distance form, a more-than-capable amateur rider and a change of headgear is well worth chancing at big odds.
Henry Daly saddled the son of Scorpion to victory in handicap chases at Catterick Bridge and Wincanton at the start of last year, before Rapper ran down the field as a 50-1 shot for the Ultima Handicap Chase here in March.
My selection came home well held in ninth in the London Gold Cup at Ascot in October, but there was more to like about his third in another big-money event at Haydock Park three weeks later.
Daly then fitted the nine-year-old with cheekpieces, and the response was a stonking eight-and-a-half dismissal of Java Point over Cheltenham’s Gold Cup distance – he is just 5lb higher here – on New Year’s Day.
The way he came home over three miles at Sandown Park last time – he took a nine-and-a-quarter-length fifth to Castle Robin – indicates Rapper will appreciate this sterner test.
And Alice Stevens’ 3lb claim – the 24-year-old has earned rave reviews in what promises to be a breakthrough season – is the icing on the cake.
A full-field handicap for amateur riders makes for a tantalising puzzle, with Stumptown , Beauport , Dunboyne and Anightinlambourn just four horses worth a second look.
CHELTENHAM
1.30 MIGHTY POTTER (NB)
2.10 THANKSFORTHEHELP (NAP)
2.50 SHISHKIN
3.30 HOME BY THE LEE
4.10 DATSALRIGHTGINO
4.50 MAGICAL ZOE
5.30 RAPPER
SOUTHWELL
5.05 SELFISH BRIAN
5.40 BOARHUNT
6.10 MARTIN’S BRIG
6.40 HIGH OVATION
7.10 EMBLA
7.40 SID’S ANNIE
8.10 THE TRON
HEXHAM
1.50 NIKHI
2.30 KILDRUM
3.10 HAD TO BE HUGO
3.50 PRINCE DUNDEE
4.30 OUR SAM
5.10 TOM CREEN
CHELMSFORD CITY
6.00 LILKIAN
6.30 FLAME OF KODIAC
7.00 ZEALOT
7.30 SASSY REDHEAD
8.00 SEDUCTIVE POWER
8.30 ALAFDHAL
DOUBLE: MGHTY POTTER and THANKSFORTHEHELP
