Cheltenham Festival 2021 - Wednesday

The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (1.20)

It's generally accepted that Bob Olinger was the the last victim of Billy the Kid - who also happened to be known as William H Bonney. 

Trained by Alan King, William H Bonney finished well beaten in a handicap chase at Newbury two weeks ago ('went modest fourth two out') while Bob Olinger, trained by Henry De Bromhead, has been chalked up favourite for tomorrow's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle with just seven set to face the starter at 1.20.

Bob was impressive in the Lawlor's of  Naas Novices' Hurdle last time, looking particularly slick over his hurdles. Given the manner in which the Irish novices dominated the Supreme earlier today, confidence will be sky high for this.

On official ratings Gaillard Du Mesnil, trained by W P Mullins, is one pound ahead of the favourite while the Paul Nicholls trained Bravemansgame looked a good winner of the Challow at Newbury over Christmas and is rated five pounds ahead of the favourite by the Racing Post.

Paul Nicholls considers Bravemansgame his best chance of a winner at the meeting and Sky Bet are offering money back as cash (to a maximum £10) if your horse loses.

Bravemansgame is my risk-free play against Bob Olinger with Sky Bet, quoted a 7/2 chance at the time of writing.

The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (1.55)

Monkfish has looked exceptional this season and goes into the Brown Advisory (1.55) a long odds-on chance; the race makes little appeal as a betting medium. It's worth noting only three favourites have obliged in the past decade.

Team Tizzard have suffered a torrid time of it all this term but signs of resurgence are there to be seen.

Harry Cobden has described The Big Breakaway as the best horse he has sat on so, with an eye to the future, I'll watch this one closely along with Sporting John who looked a little raw on only his second chase start in the Scilly Isles at Sandown last time but still managed to win going away from Shan Blue (quoted 15/2 for the Marsh Novices' Chase on Thursday) and should be suited by this step up in trip.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.05) 

Chacun Pour Soi is a talented if fragile individual who was withdrawn on the morning of this race last year suffering from an abscess on the foot. On form he's the one to beat and he's priced accordingly but it's worth noting this is his first run at the track and there look to be some tempting prices about decent horses in this field.   

Altior isn't of them though, having been withdrawn yesterday following a dirty scope.

The going was changed to good to soft, soft in places after the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle this afternoon and, judging by the breeze battering Oli Bell and Chris Hughes on ITV's Social Stable, we can continue to expect the ground to dry out pretty quickly. 

Odds-on shot Defi Du Seuil failed to fire in last season's renewal run on soft ground, allowing Politologue to make all and win. 

Paul Nicholls' grey beat stablemate Greaneteen in the Tingle Creek (Rouge Vif third) but was comprehensively beaten by First Flow in the Clarence House at Ascot last time. 

David Bass gave Kim Bailey's charge an inspired ride that day; to date this one has shown his best form on soft / heavy ground but connections feel First Flow might prefer slightly better ground now he's that little bit older. The main worry is he would appear to prefer racing right-handed. 

Put The Kettle On won the Arkle over course and distance last year and is three from three at the track. The mare's defeat of Duc Des Genievres on her penultimate start was workmanlike (five lengths down two out) and she finished third behind Chacun Pour Soi and stablemate Notebook at Leopardstown over Christmas. She has shown her form on good ground, soft ground and everything in-between.

Sceaux Royale will certainly appreciate better ground. He finished a well beaten fifth behind Politologue last year but was a highly creditable third behind Altior in 2019. 16/1 is of interest for each-way betting purposes.

Rouge Vif at 28/1 (in places) is big but he's ground dependent and  I'm not certain it will have dried out sufficiently. 

His victory over course and distance on good ground in the Bentley Flying Spur Handicap Chase last October was particularly impressive. 

Just over a year ago he beat Nube Negra in the Kingmaker at Warwick but finished well behind Dan Skelton's charge in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas. The yard was going through a lean spell at the time but is in much better form now. 

It's noticeable layers aren't offering extra each-way places this race. 

A blog going under the name of PG's Tips really should tip up Put The Kettle On but 28/1 Rouge Vif is too tempting.

For those with a particularly strong constitution, Rouge Vif is the each-way selection (28/1 Bet Victor, three places).

Coral Cup (2.30)

Pressed for time, I haven't given this race the attention it requires. 

Top weight Thomas Darby has to give six pounds and upwards to the field but regular contributor TW makes a cogent case for this one:

Numbers have held up and a field of 26 is likely to go to post with system selection Thomas Darby [TD] heading the weights with 11-12. Whisper carried 11-11 in 2014 and William Henry 11-10 in 2019 to success and overall the quality of horse winning this race looks to have improved.

TD is quite lightly raced for an 8yo and this is only his 2nd try in a handicap. He never took to the bigger fences but his hurdle form is very good. Runner up in the 2019 Supreme, won his only handicap start [off 151, 4lbs higher today] giving 2lbs when beating the more than useful Song For Someone at Ascot over this sort of trip & ground. Since that handicap win TD has performed with credit in 3 graded stake races. TD has raced twice in big fields [11+ runners] winning one and 2nd in the other. His Cheltenham record from two runs is 12. He has never finished out of the first 3 [albeit some of these were small field affairs] and never been further than 5L behind the winner in hurdle races. He comes here a fresh horse [won after lay offs of 54 and 169 days]. He wears cheek pieces for the 1st time.

Nicky Henderson has won the last two renewals and Craigneiche, Birchdale, Monte Cristo and Janika all have their chances. The last-named ran a bit of a stinker at Ascot last time but was rated 164 on his last chase start (February 2020) yet comes into this with a mark of 145. Burbank carried my money in the 2018 renewal when trained by Henderson; he finished seventh that day behind Bleu Berry with Topofthegame second.

Grand Roi heads the market but I always think this is a tough race for five-year-olds. 

Shakem Up'Arry falls into that age bracket and will presumably be given a more prominent ride by David Bass after being held up in the Betfair Hurdle. Metier finished 12 lengths ahead in the Tolworth but did nothing for that form earlier today.

I'm going to take an each-way interest in Chepstow Silver Trophy winner Tea Clipper. 

Tom Lacey's charge beat Flash The Steel in south Wales but then finished behind that opponent on revised terms at Newbury in November. He'll appreciate drying ground and was freshened up in a jumpers' bumper won by Proschema at Newcastle last month. The yard is quite quiet at the moment but compared to some in this field he looks relatively unexposed.

Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfair pay seven places and at the time of writing offer 40/1.

Tea Clipper is the each-way selection.