The National Hunt season has begun in mouth-watering fashion in 2019 with so many of the games superstars putting their best foot forward again on seasonal debut. The November meeting at Cheltenham was reduced to two days due to adverse weather but proved to be very informative indeed. On the Saturday Kerry Lee’s mare Happy Diva was an impressive winner of the Bet Victor Gold Cup. That performance was eclipsed however on the Sunday when the supremely talented Defi Du Seuil lowered the colours of Politologue to win the Grade Two Schloer Chase. The win sent him rocketing to the front of the market for the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park on Saturday 7^th December.

The Tingle Creek is one of the highlights of the season and no race in our sport has a more illustrious role of honour. All-time greats such as Desert Orchid, Flagship Uberalles, Moscow Flyer, Kauto Star, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Altior have all tasted victory in this iconic race.

This year’s renewal sees two previous winners Un De Sceaux and Politologue take their chance against some bright new stars. It will undoubtedly be a race to savour and will wet the appetite for another outstanding festive season of Racing.

The two day Tingle Creek meeting also showcases some of the stars of the future in the Henry VIII Novices Chase as well as offering a platform for our favourite stayers in the London National. There really is something for everyone so if you love National Hunt Racing then you’ll have a fantastic time at Sandown Park, one of the U.K’s finest racecourses. To secure your tickets at the best possible price BOOK NOW

The long wait is nearly over for National Hunt fans as we accelerate towards another season of top class racing at Prestbury Park. The Cheltenham Showcase meeting on Friday 25^th and Saturday 26^th of October is seen by many of the leading yards as an ideal starting point for the season for many of their stable stars. For many trainers the ultimate glory is to return in March and win at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival and what better preparation for that than to give their charges some of the course experience which often proves to be so crucial come the spring.

Last year we had two high quality days of racing with the highlight on the Friday being a typically tenacious performance from Lil Rockerfeller in landing the ‘Matchbook Time To Move Over’ Novices Chase on just his second chase start. Having already run over fences this season back in August he could well return again with his heart on his sleeve and dazzle the crowd once more.

On the Saturday last year the Paul Nicholls’ trained Modus got up in the dying strides to beat the ever consistent Duke of Navan in the Randox Health Handicap Chase. He has been called a few names in the past but on his day Modus shows all the ability in the world and on this occasion he was not to be denied.

With a quality couple of days of racing in prospect and a chance to see some of the stars that we love what better way to kick off the National Hunt season. You can also kick start your weekend early by celebrating the new Jump racing season at Cheltoberfest. This is new for 2019 and brings you live music from The Bierkeller Boys, a range of local real ales, and tips from a racing tipster before racing commences. Think of lots of tweed, lederhosen, and bunting aplenty to fully embrace the Cotswolds / Austrian theme! If it’s more of a family day your looking for then remember that normal attire is fine too and under 18’s get free entry to this meeting!

To secure your tickets at the best possible price – BOOK NOW

2,000 GUINEAS

It is not often that a Classic is defined by the horses who are absent, but that might well be the case for this year’s 2,000 Guineas. From March onwards we have seen Quorto, hot ante post favourite Too Darn Hot, Autumn Stakes winner Persian King, Covenntry winner Calyx and Greenham Stakes winner Mohaather have all been ruled out for reasons of injury or different targets, which has given us an incredibly open renewal of the first classic. If you’re planning on going to Newmarket and still need tickets then click here to get them at the cheapest possible rate.

As is so often the case with this, Aidan O’Brien has the two chief cards, with Magna Grecia and Ten Soverigns heading the market. Magna Grecia, last seen winning what was a very tight finish to the Vertem Furiity Trophy (previously known as the Racing Post Trophy). He’d previously been edged out of the Autumn Stakes by Persian King, who has since bolted up in the Prix de Fontainebleau. The form of his Doncaster win has been mostly boosted, with Great Scot (fifth) in the Greenham and Kick On (also runs here) taking the Fielden Stakes.

He has obvious claims, but he has shaped as a stayer who might be better going at least 10 furlongs and those who are willing to take the 10/3 (a perfectly fair price), should consider backing him for the Derby.

Whilst Magna Grecia is a strong stayer of a mile, Ten Sovereigns boasts arguably the most raw speed in the field. A seven length winner on his debut at the Curragh, he made short work of the Round Tower Stakes before showing a good attitude to get the better of Jash in the Middle Park Stakes, the pair clear of the third. He has plenty to recommend him, although the trip is a question mark on breeding especially in what’s sure to be a well run race.

Madhmoon was initially set to go for the Irish 2,000 Guineas after his defeat in a Leopardstown trial for the race, where he hit the front with promise but was just outpointed late on by a race fit rivals receiving 3lbs. He should be running on faster ground and it’s very hard to forget how impressive he was when beating Sydney Opera House on his maiden and then when beating Broome impressively on Irish Champions Weekend. That form stacks up brilliantly given how Broome has since finished a close second in the Jean Lagadere at Longchamp and then bolted up in the Ballysax Stakes, and he might actually end up giving Hamdan Al Maktoum just as good a chance as Moohaater.

Skardu showed a fine attitude and a great deal of improvement to take the Craven Stakes on just his second run, battling hard to get the better of Momkin, with the previously unbeaten Set Piece in third. All three ran fine races, but Royal Marine had easily the worst run before finishing fourth, with Christophe Soumillion being swamped over the top by the first three as the race developed quickly. He didn’t finish too badly given he had no chance, and with a clear run today, the Prix Jean-Luc winner would be of significant interest.

Advertise represents the best of the juvenile form (below a mile) last season, having finished second in the Dewhurst after a very fruitful juvenile campaign. He ought to be there or thereabouts, and will be hard to kick out of the frame for all that a couple of other contenders made more appeal.

Godolphin supplemented Al Hlalee, a Listed winner at Deauville last summer who was seen that form boosted by Great Scot without running since. He’s a bright prospect, but on that bare form, must have improved over the winter to be seriously involved here. Godophin also have Dark Vision, who didn’t get a great run in the Chelmsford Kentucky Derby trial. On the visual impression of his Vintage Stakes third he’d be interesting, but the form of that doesn’t match others. Shine So Bright was well handicapped and given a good ride when taking the Free Handicap (when Azano was a big disappointment in third) and will be under a lot more pressure today from the get go. Duke Of Hazard has been beaten by a number of horses at the head of the market and neither King of Change nor Name The Wind, useful horses both, have shown Group 1 potential in their wins.  Raakib ALhawa was highly thought of, enough to run in the Vertem Futurity last season, but he didn’t handle the step up and Van Beethoven, Sporting Chance, and the Irish Rover look a little exposed.

Advice: 1 pt each/way Madhmoon (15/2 Ladbroke, 7/1 general), 1 pt each/way Royal Marine (9/1 Bet365, Ladbrokes, General)

1,000 GUINEAS

The 1,000 Guineas is just as open, with Qabala a rightful favourite after winning the Nell Gwyn with a swooping run. That was a fiercely contested renewal (Mot Juste second, Angels’ Hideaway third, Look Around fourth) and if anything she ought to improve for this trip and just the second run of her life, so she’ll take the beating although the market has found her in decent time.

Skitter Scatter, now in the training care of John Oxx (who has partnered with Pat Prendergast) had a huge boost when Lady kaya (the horse she beat impressively in the Moyglare in September), bolted up in the Irish 1,000 trial at Leopardstown. She has shown an excellent turn of foot in two wins on slower ground but Is a good to firm ground winner and won’t be far away – indeed her form is arguably the strongest here. Lady Kaya, so impressive at Leopardstown, is actually here and cannot be ignored either.

Iridessa was third behind Lady Kaya that day and fifth in the Debutante, but on her only two starts over a mile (and on good ground) she bolted up in a good maiden and then won the Fillies Mile, responding brilliantly to pressure to outstay both Hermosa and Pretty Pollyanna. She was extremely authoritative here back in September and a big field could well see her get the sort of test she relishes; A well run mile on good ground. With a run behind her (and not a bad one at that) she makes a lot of each/way appeal.

Just Wonderful didn’t handle slow ground when well behind Skitter Scatter in the Moyglare but she got the better of Fred Darling winner Dandhu in the Rockfel and did well to be fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filles Turf. She’ll get her surface today, and has to be involved in the conversation.

Fairyland has only been beaten once in five starts, having edged out The Mackem Bullet twice to take the Lowther Stakes and then the Chevley Park at the backend of last year. The trip is a question for her, as is the form on a line through The Mackem Bullet’s Breeders’ Cup effort, but she remains a top prospect for sprinting if that should be her game in the future. Another Ballydoyle horse, Fleeting, has had her May Hill win boosted by the good run of Star Terms, and is an interesting entry here for the Ballydoyle team.

Dandhu looked as if she was going to be an easy winner of the Fred Darling stakes a furlong out, but did well to get the better of a close battle between Iconic Choice (2^nd), So Perfect (third) and Star Terms (fourth). That was another excellent effort in group company and if she sees out this last furlong well, she can’t be far away. Antonia De Vega was a big disappointment in the Fillies’ Mile but the nature of her maiden win on the July Course (runner up group placed since) and her come from behind win in the Prestige Stakes was that of a very smart horse indeed.

Two worries for her today are that the form of the Prestige stakes hasn’t worked out well at all, and that there wasn’t an explanation given for her dire run in the Fillies’ Mile. She remains an exciting prospect, perhaps for longer distances down the line. Garrel Glen might find this all a bit too hot for her.

Advice: 1 pt each/way Ididessa (8/1 general)

Here are the updated ratings of the top horses following the Cheltenham Festival courtesy of Graham Richards. For more information and resources go to http://grahamrichardsonline.co.uk/

JUVENILE HURDLERS

NOVICE HURDLERS

NOVICE CHASERS

TOP CHASERS

TOP HURDLERS

TOP BUMPERS

Cheltenham Day 3 Recap and Results

There is only one day to go in the Cheltenham Festival and if your predictions have been hitting the wall, you have some the final opportunity to redeem yourself. The third day of the festival (St. Patrick Thursday) was full of action especially in the highlight race of the day, the Stayers’ Hurdle. This race was expected to be a battle mainly between Faugheen, Paisley Park and last year’s runners up Supasundae. The weather was nice although a little damp and several people were able to make it to Prestbury Park to witness the action. For the punters, the day was generally a good one for those who had played their cards right as most of the chosen favorites made it to the first three positions. As you wait for the Gold Cup on Friday, here is a review of what transpired on the third day in black and white.

The JLT Novices’ Steeple Chase was the first race and it was, without doubt, a delight to the fans. The favorite of the race, Defi Du Seuil did the gamblers and his trainer Collin Tizzard proud but some credit should also be given to his jockey Barry Geraghty. Geraghty came into the competition ready for a battle of wits and he managed to stalk down Lostintransition before charging Defi forward to the finish line. Lostintranslation took the second position and MengliKhan the third. In the Pertemps Final, the first three positions were occupied by Sire Du Berlais, Tobefair and Not Many Left in that order. The race was a thrilling experience given that Sire rose from struggling for some space in the final lengths to become the top. Tobefair also surprised fans with his determination and were it not for Sire finding a gap, the 40/1 horse would have carried the day. Frodon registered perhaps one of the best victories for the day in the Ryanair Chase. He managed to hold the number one position from the start of the race to the finish line. Aso and Road To Respect took the second and third positions respectively.

The Gold Cup is just around the corner and being the greatest race of the event, many people are bracing themselves for the entertainment that comes with it in addition to the money returns from bets. Bookies have gone out of their way to ensure you have all the necessary stats for the race. To begin with, the last 20 competitions have never had a winner with a price greater than 8/1 and since the beginning, the highest price that has ever made it first to the finish line was 25/1 in 1998. Again, for the last 20 years, over 50% of winners had ratings of 170 and above. The name also seems to matter in these races although most people consider it a far-fetched variable. Single-word name horses do not make it to the top three positions with as much frequency as two- or three-word name horses. Finally, the ages 7-9 have produced 90% of the last 20 winners and thus it is expected that even the winner in this competition will not be far from that bracket.

When it comes to Cheltenham races, one has to have a strategy and this is what Paisley Park’s jockey seemed to have in mind. For about 90% of the course, Paisley maintained his position at the middle of the park only to beat his rivals down to their knees. Sam Spinner and Faugheen took the second and third positions respectively. In the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Handicap Chase, Siruh Du Lac, Janika and Spiritofthegames occupied the first three positions. The Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices Hurdle was won by Eglantine Du Seuil (50/1) followed by Concertista (66/1) and Tintangle (40/1). Finally, Any Second Now managed the top position in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase. The runners-up was Kilfilum Cross and in the third position was The Young Master.