The Race
This race used to be known as the Cotswold Chase, was renamed in honour of the great chaser, Arkle, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in the 1960’s. His statue stands overlooking the parade ring and winners enclosure and is often the destination for those who want to have a touch for luck, when visiting the course. It is a Grade 1 National Hunt Novice Chase for five-year-olds and above and is run over a distance of 2 miles and over 12 fences on the Old Course at Cheltenham Racecourse. It takes place on the first day of the Festival. The race has regularly produced future winners of the Queen mother Champion Chase, with the likes of Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop and of course Voy Por Ustedes most recently. This is a test for the best novice chasers on the circuit.
Gold Cup. This year for the Ryanair we have a couple that head the market at
this early stage (mid-January), and then as is usual a whole cluster around the
14-20/1 mark. Lets see who we consider at this stage.
TATENEN heads the market at a best price 5/1 but as low as 7/2 with
the likes of BETFRED. Another horse from the wonder-yard of Paul Nichols at
Ditcheat. This will be his festival debut, but is no stranger to the Cleeve
course having appeared twice here in the past. Firstly as a hurdler last January
when accounted for by the likes of Francoek, Serebad and Squadron, but has since
returned as a chaser when making in all in a small field of four beating STRAW
BEAR in November. Next in the line up at this stage is Henrietta Knights
CALGARY BAY, beaten by PANJO BERE on the 17th
Jan this year, but was successful and finished powerfully up the hill at
Cheltenham on New Years Day beating Kicks For Free in the process and fully 10
lengths between him and TARTAK. Course form has always been an important factor
when looking for Festival winners, and he has a hurdle victory round the course
from December 2007 when beating SNAP TIE. He is a leading fancy at this stage.
I'm still not entirely sure how i picked KALAHARI KING for the Supreme Novices
last year, but managed to do so at 50/1 and get paid a fourth place from Bet365.
He obviously finished fourth in that race at the festival last year and has run
to a decent level this term, winning his first two races over fences before
coming up a 17length second to Doctor David in a small field at Haydock. I will
put that down to the going as Ferdy Murphys runner needs it not to be too slow.
If the ground were to come up soft for the Festival a line would have to go
straight through this one. JAYO from the
Willie Mullins yard is the next under the spotlight. He appeared here in the
Fred Winter Hurdle last season finishing eighth behind the make all winner
GASPARA, this year has moved up to the bigger obstacles and has progressed to
win his last couple of outings over them, currently available at around 14/1, I
would prefer to see him
again
in slightly better company before moving up to this level for the big one. Next
one to look at is FORPADYDEPLASTERER (left)
who would have been a popular winner of the Ballymore Properties last term had
he been able to do better than his eventual fourth place. He has had two outings
thus far over fences and has equipped himself well, winning his debut and
finishing second only to the very nice benchmark of TRAFFORD LAD on his latest
spin round Fairyhouse. I like this horse very much and a best price 16/1 with
SkyBet is tempting at this stage. IMSINGINGTHEBLUES
- as mentioned already accounted for CALGARY BAY at Doncaster in December
in a small field, but previous to that disappointed in an equally small field
when beaten by BRIEARUS when odds on fav. Another from the Paul Nichols
super-yard and could be worthy of a place here. Has run on four occasions round
the hurdle course including the Vincent O'brien county handicap hurdle, the
traditional curtain closer of the festival, when finishing 7th last term.
Finally for now FOLLOW THE PLAN beat TATENEN on boxing day at
Leaopardstown which was his third win in four outings over fences and cannot be
ruled out. FREE WORLD has big questions now
over his stamina of staying after fading badly behind CALGARY BAY and PANJO BERE
in mid January, but may come into consideration if still in and the ground goes
slow.
