-
-
I don’t think Gold Tweet has been mentioned at all on this forum for this years festival, if he has then maybe only for the Stayers?Originally posted by Eggs View Post
Not one for me, but what do we think about him for the Ultima as his price has contracted a fair bit over the last week? - has there ever been a French handicap winner at the festival, as I can only remember French graded winners?
Comment
-
Didnt Kelami win the Ultima back in the day for Doumen ?Originally posted by Wayward Lad View PostComment
-
He did, think it was the William Hill Trophy back then.Originally posted by Prestbury View Post
And Francois made the very clever decision to put Choc up and not that useless Son of his, probably the difference maker...Comment
-
The other question alongside this (which should be moot in a couple of hours, but I'll pose it anyway), has there ever been a French raider in a handicap chase who's mark is around a stone lower than his Hurdles mark?Originally posted by Wayward Lad View Post
And I guess more broadly, how often does that happen at the festival, because they regularly (but not always) romp up in Ireland in the big handicaps when they have similar discrepancies - Meetingofthewaters a prime example of one that missed out recently at DRF (hurdles rating lower than chase rating), but several other winners have happened including The Jam Man who won the Troytown a few years back off 129, having run in the Galway Hurdle off 143 three months earlier!Comment
-
From Owen McMahon (Betfred)?
'Despite money across the board earlier today, I'm told Cheltenham is not on the agenda for French horse Gold Tweet.'Comment
-
He's got 151 for both hurdles and chase. Some people on Twitter thought he'd be rated 138 over fences from what I saw but no chance he was getting that rating after the Betfair chaseComment
-
Andrew Asquith continues to build his ante-post portfolio for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and returns with two selections in the handicaps.
Cheltenham View: Wednesday February 26
1pt win Puturhandstogether in the Fred Winter at 12/1 (Bet365, Sky Bet, Ladbrokes, Coral - all NRNB)
0.5pts e.w. Latenightrumble in the National Hunt Novices' Chase at 50/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4 William Hill, 888sport - both NRNB)
The handicap weights for the Cheltenham Festival were unveiled on Tuesday and one horse who has been the talk of the town since is French recruit Kopek de Mee. He is entered in three handicaps, namely the Coral Cup, County Hurdle and Martin Pipe, and the bookmakers are clearly running scared as they have installed him as favourite for each race.
It is understandable, having made such a high-profile switch to J. P. McManus and Willie Mullins since last seen winning a listed event at Auteuil in May. The handicapper has allotted him an opening mark of 136, which could be totally wrong, with hurdling handicapper Michael Harris basically saying as much with the conversation procedure and restrictions in place when handicapping French horses.
Given connections he was always going to be popular in the market, regardless, but as we’ve seen time and time before, these handicap ‘good things’ are often over bet and are not always as bombproof as the Cheltenham whispers suggest.
Last week I mentioned Naturally Nimble as a possible bet in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and he should be competitive from a mark of 138, a Grade 3 winner on just his second start in this sphere after all. Given he’s finished in front of Willy de Houelle on his last two starts he doesn’t look badly treated with that rival in receipt of 2lb and I’m not quite sure why Naturally Nimble is bigger in the betting.
However, after looking through the entries in more detail, it was another Joseph O’Brien-trained four-year-old who really caught my eye. The horse in question is PUTURHANDSTOGETHER, who reached a fairy useful level on the Flat just like his stablemate Naturally Nimble and he also has made a promising start over hurdles.
He didn’t jump too fluently on his debut in this sphere but he showed the clear benefit of his debut experience when opening his account in a big-field juvenile event at Cork in December, turning around the form with stablemate Turn And Finish in comprehensive fashion.
His jumping was much more polished, fast and accurate when it mattered and he impressed with how he travelled through that race. Puturhandstogether tanked along in a prominent position, cruising into the lead jumping three from home and only having to be shaken up from there, readily asserting on the run-in under just a hand ride.
Puturhandstogether didn’t manage to follow up in a novice hurdle at Fairyhouse last time, but he could have hardly shaped any better with an eye to Cheltenham, leaving the impression that run got nowhere near to the bottom of him. He was ridden more patiently than usual, taking a fierce hold in rear early but on the whole travelling powerfully throughout.
His jumping was sound again and he creeped into contention looking the likeliest winner two from home, his jockey yet to even ask him a question as he breezed up besides the principals on the outside. Puturhandstogether looked the likeliest winner approaching the final flight – he traded at 1.3 in-running on Betfair – but wasn’t subjected to maximum pressure.
It was still a very encouraging run, especially with a view to the Fred Winter, and an opening mark of 130 more than likely underestimates him. A strongly-run, big-field handicap will be tailormade for the run style of Puturhandstogether and, given his connections, this race appears to be a long thought out plan.
Now Is The Hour was also the subject of airtime and the Cheltenham weights lunch as many think he is another horse who has got in lightly in the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase, which is being run as a handicap this year.
Indeed, he hasn’t been given a hard time in three starts over fences this season, while his latest run at Navan was particularly eye-catching, and he promises to be well suited by this longer trip.
He’s priced accordingly, though, now a general 3/1 favourite, and at much bigger odds I can’t resist a small each-way bet on LATENIGHTRUMBLE at the standout 50/1 odds available in several places.
He is from a family connections know well, being a half-brother to smart chaser Latenightpass, who notably won the Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting for the yard, as well as a couple of decent races at Cheltenham over the years.
Latenightrumble has been brought along in a canny fashion under Rules, too, starting off in a hunter chase in May last year, before having three relatively quick runs over hurdles between September and November where he wasn’t all that competitive.
He duly proved a different proposition sent chasing on his handicap debut when opening his account at Wetherby in December, winning with quite a bit more in hand than the neck margin suggests, and pulling clear of the remainder with the runner-up who won next time.
A steadily-run race over shorter at Leicester next time just didn’t suit him, actually doing well to finish as close as he did in the circumstances, and he was a most unlucky loser back over three miles at Wetherby earlier this month.
Latenightrumble cruised through that contest, stalking the eventual winner on the bridle from the third-last, his jockey oozing confidence and why not given he looked to have plenty of horse underneath him. His jump at the final fence backs up that theory, as Latenightrumble jumped it big and bold, only to peck on landing and lose all momentum.
The handicapper raised him 3lb for that effort, leaving him on a mark of 119, which means he may not get a run, as a maximum field of 18 is allowed and he is number 33 on the list. Obviously, much of these have other entries, so there is a chance he gets in, while the non-runner-no-bet concession means you aren’t losing anything by getting him on side at a big price.
I honestly think he’ll run a massive race if getting the chance, very much bred to appreciate this longer trip, and he is definitely a well-treated horse in my eyes. If he turns up on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, I’m pretty sure he’ll be shorter than 50/1.
Comment
-
Does anyone follow Matt Tombs and know what his selection was today? Thanks
Comment
-
Mark Howard has more dark horses to have on your watchlist as the Cheltenham Festival looms large.
It is eight years since a British-trained runner won the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Flying Tiger, partnered by Richard Johnson, provided Nick Williams with his first Festival winner. Three years earlier, the Tim Easterby-trained Hawk High landed the event and it is not inconceivable another Easterby runner could make an impact in the 2025 renewal.
BUST A MOVE booked his ticket with a three lengths win at Newcastle towards the end of last month and doesn’t look overburdened off a rating of 123. Based at Sheriff Hutton under the tutelage of Mick and David Easterby, he reached a mark of 77 on the Flat winning a nine furlongs nursery on the Rowley Mile as a two year old.
Without a victory in four starts last year, the Ribchester gelding has made a smooth transition to jumping, scoring readily at Catterick on his hurdles bow a few days before Christmas. A running on third under his penalty at Wetherby over a month later, he qualified for the Festival when staying on strongly to defeat Big Boy Bobby on his handicap debut at Gosforth Park on Eider Chase day.
Taking charge on the run-in, Jack Tudor’s mount pulled away to win in convincing fashion off an opening mark of 116. Raised half a stone since, he will face some formidable rivals from Ireland but his connections feel there is plenty more to come over obstacles.
Set to carry 10st 9lb and currently number 24 on the list, the northern raider is virtually guaranteed his place in the line up and represents fair each-way value around 25/1.
FUNICULI FUNICULA could be the Closutton dark horse for either the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle or Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
From a reliable source who has supplied Willie Mullins with Grade 1 winners Capodanno, Majborough and State Man, namely Daniela Mele, the five-year-old returned from an absence of 453 days to win a two miles one maiden hurdle at Clonmel in mid January by 17 lengths.
The Storm The Stars gelding had reportedly been ready to run for some time and was certainly worth the wait as he galloped his sixteen opponents into the ground – Mullins won the same event with subsequent Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle runner-up Jimmy Du Seuil 12 months earlier in a 14 seconds slower time. Sent to the front from the outset, Paul Townend’s mount was taken on throughout by the 123-rated Addragoole and the pair dominated from flagfall. Gavin Cromwell’s runner, who has won since, paid the price though and was exhausted when falling at the last.
The Race Iq data makes for interesting reading – the winner covered three of the last five furlongs in 14.55, 14.16 and 14.05 seconds before easing off in the final furlong (18.42 seconds). His winning time was four seconds faster than the 136-rated Beckett Rock’s victory in the conditions hurdle earlier on the card.
It is also worth noting that Gaelic Warrior (heavy ground) won the conditions hurdle in 2023 (over half a furlong shorter) in a time of 4m 40.80 seconds – Funiculi Funicula’s winning time was 4m 29.09 seconds. Twice raced, don’t be in a rush to underestimate his claims at Prestbury Park in his chosen engagement.
Five years ago, Willie Mullins won the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle for a fourth consecutive year with Eglantine Du Seuil edging out stablemate Concertista by the shortest of margins. The runner-up, who went one better the following season, was making her hurdles debut and her first start for Ireland’s champion trainer having plied her trade on the Flat for Christophe Ferland in France.
Mullins currently has 10 entries for the two miles one event on Day three of the Festival and they include KOM TU VOUDRAS and VENUSIENNE. The pair are owned by J.P. McManus and, while neither have raced for their new connections, both shaped with plenty of promise on their sole outings in their native country.
KOM TU VOUDRAS is by the same stallion as the Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough and, like Funiculi Funicula, was trained in France by Daniela Mele. She is a half-sister to the legendary owner’s Grand Annual Chase runner-up Entoucas, who also began his career in French bumpers.
A big filly with an abundance of size and scope, she debuted in a twelve runners AQPS Flat race at Fontainebleau (LH : 1m 5f : Good/Soft) in September 2023 (off 546 days – Concertista had been absent for 620 days). Drawn on the far rail, she travelled strongly and, having made ground at halfway, the filly was short of room when the leaders quickened. Once in the clear, Kom Tu Voudras finished well in third, around a length and a half behind the more experienced Kouca De Thaix. Both the winner and second have scored since.
Philippe Peltier trained Arvika Ligeonniere (4) and dual Cheltenham Festival winner Douvan (8) in France before being bought on behalf of Rich and Susannah Ricci and joining Willie Mullins. The pair won a dozen Grade 1 races between them and were top-class National Hunt horses.
VENUSIENNE hails from the same yard and is a tall, beautiful looking black filly by Authorized out of a Listed hurdles winner. The five year old debuted in the Prix Finot at Auteuil in September 2023 (off 541 days), finishing a length second.
Fitted with a noseband and racing on the outside, she jumped well and travelled strongly. Making headway down the backstraight, Geoffrey Re’s mount went to the front with a bold leap at the second last and appeared to have the race in safe keeping only to get outstayed late on by Ginagold. Beaten a length in second, the third was Karamaja, who is now a stablemate. The trio pulled seven and a half lengths clear of the fourth.
The form has been boosted with the fifth (three times), six (twice) and seventh (three times) winning subsequently. J.P. McManus has yet to win the contest and, while another ex-French mare, Karoline Banbou, is expected to spearhead his challenge, and looks the likely mount of Mark Walsh, the pair are intriguing entries and don't forget Concertista nearly defied a lengthy absence in 2019.
It is 10 years since Nicky Henderson recorded his sole success in the Pertemps Final. Grade 2 winning novice Jeriko Du Reponet will be viewed by many as the Seven Barrows number one, having caught the eye in a qualifier at Exeter last month.
However, stable companion SHANAGH BOB shouldn’t be dismissed given the fact he was being well touted for the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle twelve months ago. With the former champion trainer’s string under a cloud, the ex-pointer swerved the Festival. The Mahler gelding had previously won a Grade 2 novice hurdle over C&D in December 2023 and was a creditable fourth behind Dancing City in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last spring.
Sent chasing during the first half of this term, the seven year old failed to shine at either Uttoxeter or Newbury. Reverting back to the smaller obstacles, he became eligible for this having finished a staying on second in another qualifier at Huntingdon, off a mark of 129, in late January. Fitted with cheekpieces, it was a solid effort behind Super Survivor on a track which wouldn’t have played to his strengths.
Put a line through his latest run at Warwick where the trip (2m 5f) was too sharp and the headgear was left off.
A three and a half lengths winner of his only point-to-point in Ireland, he beat the subsequent 147 rated chaser Gorgeous Tom on that occasion before being acquired for £200,000. The stamina sapping New course at Cheltenham brings out the best in him. Priced at 16/1, the Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned runner handles most types of ground.
Comment
-
Does anyone know who Pricewise put up for the bumper by any chance? RP headline is a Willie outsider but I don't subscribe
Comment
Tweet
Comment