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I’ve managed to find some time to start compiling my 2019/2020 shortlist and decided to start with my less obvious candidates. Below are six from left field:
King Roland - Harry Fry - Albert Bartlett - 33/1
Arrived with Harry Fry after winning an English PTP for the Lacey’s. Won on Bumper debut in a performance that screamed ‘notebook’ despite an average field. Went on to win again in more workmanlike fashion and avoided the major spring festivals. Based on his two performances he seems like a relentless galloper and given his size and background, I can see him ending up over staying trips this season. The Albert Bartlett is always a tricky race to predict before the season starts but I’d want him onside before he makes his hurdles debut. The 33/1 with 365 is good enough for me.
The Big Getaway - Willie Mullins - Albert Bartlett - 33/1
An expensive purchase out of the Irish PTP scene for powerful connections. Ran in two bumpers finishing runner up both times, the second of which was at the Punchestown festival and the small field would not have helped him (the form is decent though). The Big Getaway is a HUGE horse so I’m not too worried that he was unsuccessful in his Bumpers. On breeding and running style he’s another I feel will end up over staying trips and his huge stride should devour the Cheltenham Hill if he’s good enough to line up. I’ll go a step further and say he’ll be lining up in the RSA the year after too.
Reserve Tank - Colin Tizzard - RSA - 33/1
He would not have been in too many notebooks prior to the Cheltenham Festival but he should be now. Finished the season with big wins at Aintree and Punchestown over two and a half miles but he looks like he could be a stayer to me. Because he has not run over 3 miles over hurdles, the ante post prices for him favour the JLT (16/1) but if you watch the races and read/listen to the interviews, I think stepping up in trip is a definite option for him and therefore I want him for the RSA. He’s a two time Grade 1 winner and with a trainer who knows how to win at Cheltenham. I don’t think they’ll make the same mistake as with Lostintranslation last year and run over the shorter JLT distance and get tapped for speed again. The price for the RSA of 33/1 is one of the best ante post prices you’ll find this season.
Longhouse Poet - Martin Brassil - Ballymore - 33/1
Whilst I don’t blindly follow the same connections to repeat festival successes, I think Martin Brassil could have a chance to do so in the Ballymore. Longhouse Poet won a Punchestown festival Bumper over 2m 2f beating an expensive Mullins/Ricci hot pot in the process. He looks to have the right blend of speed and stamina and I’m a big fan of his sire, Yeats. He won his PTP comfortably at odds on and although the form has not been tested much, the third has come out and won a PTP since.
Master Debonair - Colin Tizzard - Supreme or Ballymore - 50/1 for both
After running well in two early season Cheltenham Bumpers in quick times, I championed his cause for Festival success. He was disappointing on the day and didn’t show his true running as he was far too keen throughout. He went to Aintree and ran fifth in their Bumper but was not really involved in the finish. I’m going to stand by his early season form and also throw in that he was schooled over hurdles last year as it was being considered then. He’s wonderfully bred and, ignoring the festival run, relished the Cheltenham hill in his previous visits. He beat the Cheltenham Champion Bumper third (Thyme Hill) when winning his listed Bumper so the form from earlier in the season stacks up. Based on breeding I’m unsure of his trip as my instincts say Ballymore but Tizzard mentioned the Supreme in an interview. His price of 50/1 reflects his end of season form so I’m happy with the added value.
Eldorado Allen - Colin Tizzard - Arkle or JLT - 50/1 for both
Produced one of the best jumping performances by a novice hurdler last year but his season was ended due to injury. I can’t find any updates on if he will go chasing or not but his jumping ability and scope would lead me to think he will. He had a big reputation last year and due to his injury, he never featured at the business end of the season to know how good he actually is. At 50/1 I’m prepared to chance that his debut was only the start of bigger things to come.
All prices with Bet365 for cash out purposes.
King Roland - Harry Fry - Albert Bartlett - 33/1
Arrived with Harry Fry after winning an English PTP for the Lacey’s. Won on Bumper debut in a performance that screamed ‘notebook’ despite an average field. Went on to win again in more workmanlike fashion and avoided the major spring festivals. Based on his two performances he seems like a relentless galloper and given his size and background, I can see him ending up over staying trips this season. The Albert Bartlett is always a tricky race to predict before the season starts but I’d want him onside before he makes his hurdles debut. The 33/1 with 365 is good enough for me.
The Big Getaway - Willie Mullins - Albert Bartlett - 33/1
An expensive purchase out of the Irish PTP scene for powerful connections. Ran in two bumpers finishing runner up both times, the second of which was at the Punchestown festival and the small field would not have helped him (the form is decent though). The Big Getaway is a HUGE horse so I’m not too worried that he was unsuccessful in his Bumpers. On breeding and running style he’s another I feel will end up over staying trips and his huge stride should devour the Cheltenham Hill if he’s good enough to line up. I’ll go a step further and say he’ll be lining up in the RSA the year after too.
Reserve Tank - Colin Tizzard - RSA - 33/1
He would not have been in too many notebooks prior to the Cheltenham Festival but he should be now. Finished the season with big wins at Aintree and Punchestown over two and a half miles but he looks like he could be a stayer to me. Because he has not run over 3 miles over hurdles, the ante post prices for him favour the JLT (16/1) but if you watch the races and read/listen to the interviews, I think stepping up in trip is a definite option for him and therefore I want him for the RSA. He’s a two time Grade 1 winner and with a trainer who knows how to win at Cheltenham. I don’t think they’ll make the same mistake as with Lostintranslation last year and run over the shorter JLT distance and get tapped for speed again. The price for the RSA of 33/1 is one of the best ante post prices you’ll find this season.
Longhouse Poet - Martin Brassil - Ballymore - 33/1
Whilst I don’t blindly follow the same connections to repeat festival successes, I think Martin Brassil could have a chance to do so in the Ballymore. Longhouse Poet won a Punchestown festival Bumper over 2m 2f beating an expensive Mullins/Ricci hot pot in the process. He looks to have the right blend of speed and stamina and I’m a big fan of his sire, Yeats. He won his PTP comfortably at odds on and although the form has not been tested much, the third has come out and won a PTP since.
Master Debonair - Colin Tizzard - Supreme or Ballymore - 50/1 for both
After running well in two early season Cheltenham Bumpers in quick times, I championed his cause for Festival success. He was disappointing on the day and didn’t show his true running as he was far too keen throughout. He went to Aintree and ran fifth in their Bumper but was not really involved in the finish. I’m going to stand by his early season form and also throw in that he was schooled over hurdles last year as it was being considered then. He’s wonderfully bred and, ignoring the festival run, relished the Cheltenham hill in his previous visits. He beat the Cheltenham Champion Bumper third (Thyme Hill) when winning his listed Bumper so the form from earlier in the season stacks up. Based on breeding I’m unsure of his trip as my instincts say Ballymore but Tizzard mentioned the Supreme in an interview. His price of 50/1 reflects his end of season form so I’m happy with the added value.
Eldorado Allen - Colin Tizzard - Arkle or JLT - 50/1 for both
Produced one of the best jumping performances by a novice hurdler last year but his season was ended due to injury. I can’t find any updates on if he will go chasing or not but his jumping ability and scope would lead me to think he will. He had a big reputation last year and due to his injury, he never featured at the business end of the season to know how good he actually is. At 50/1 I’m prepared to chance that his debut was only the start of bigger things to come.
All prices with Bet365 for cash out purposes.
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