We’re halfway through the Cheltenham Festival. Thankfully, and mercifully, the great work of Johnny Who in the opening day Ultima Handicap Chase and Ile Etite Temps in Wednesday’s Champion Chase will ensure this column ends the week on a positive note.
These really big meetings can be very testing for meetings that put horses into the public arena that aren’t short sale prices. Given the differences, there is a good chance that a conference of the length of the Cheltenham Festival or Royal Ascot can be managed without intimidating the judges. Believe me, I was that guy too!
So for those who follow this advice, the relief of being able to pick up early winners at great cost and follow up on day two is very evident. I hope this is the start of a great week.
3.20 – Stayers Hurdle
This race is a renewal of this competitive, wide-open race. The front end of the market should be respected, but I’m not sure they need to be such a big part of the market. I’m drawn to horses with double-digit prices, and while I lured my old friend Homevisery to a high price, I’ll be siding with the Nicky Henderson-trained Impose Toy.
Impose Toy is Kevin’s pick for Stayers.
The eight-year-old has progressed relentlessly this season until he was eliminated in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham last time out, but I think that’s forgivable and I’ll tell you why. Impose Toy was originally a very energetic traveler and his concern when going up to 3 Mile was always whether he would be able to relax enough to give himself a chance to go on the trip.
With that in mind, Nico de Boinville rode him beautifully throughout the season, riding him with exaggerated patience and confidence to keep him until the last stage possible. These tactics were counteracted by a very steady pace in the Cleve Hurdle, making it very difficult to execute, so I give him the loss.
This race isn’t dripping with potential pace on paper, but a wider field will no doubt help Nico return to the patient tactics that served Impose Toy to great effect earlier in the season. There will be no pressure on him, so don’t expect him to arrive on the scene until later in the day. Riding like this will at least give him the best chance of hitting the frame, and hopefully he’ll have a strong shot at winning.
4.40 – Pertemps Network Final
This has always been one of the most fascinating handicaps in the event, and it’s a race I’m particularly interested in figuring out. On the night of the At the Race Cheltenham preview a few weeks ago, my choice of this race as my nap was the Ruth Jefferson-trained Lavida Adiva. The 50/1 she was offered is long gone, but she still represents more than 20/1 value.
The 7-year-old horse has successfully cleared hurdles to win two Listed races and a Grade 2 black race, but those races may not be the best suited to her running style. She is a hold-up athlete, ideally able to maintain good cover and pace up front, but she hasn’t run many races in those situations.
In the qualifying round for this contest, she made a big move from the back and showed a very favorable race, finishing 4th behind Sedi Farent. More pace on this wider track allowed her to be ridden more patiently and I could see her working towards serious contention in the straight lines. She’s a really interesting candidate.
5.20 – Kim Muir Challenge Cup
The final race of the day was the Roscon Group Fourke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys Handicap Chase, another favorite handicap of the tournament.
There is a huge difference between the best and worst amateur riders, and having better amateur riders on your side helps a lot. That is the case with my choice of Henry de Bromhead-trained Waterford Whispers, who will be ridden by Alan O’Sullivan.
This eight-year-old has really improved this season and I really liked his run as he finished a close third in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. He seems very ready to step up on this trip and although I’m really reluctant to choose an Irish-trained horse for this handicap run given how harshly he’s been treated by British handicap teams, I feel he has enough handicap potential to overcome this.
kevin blake tips
3.20 Cheltenham, Thursday – Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle
Impose Toy (10/1)
4.40 Cheltenham, Thursday – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Ravida Diba (20/1)
5.20 Cheltenham, Thursday – Roscon Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys Handicap Chase
Waterford Whispers (4/1)
