CHELTENHAM NH FESTIVAL 2021 TUESDAY 16th MARCH [CHAMPION HURDLE DAY]

 

Welcome to the opening day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, the Gloucestershire course would usually be expecting over 250,000 people over the duration of the meeting, but sadly not this year due to the Corona-virus which should have curtailed last years meeting. Still we have a racing event to enjoy via TV and let's get on with it. It's the best meeting in the country and top class NH Racing anywhere just lacks the roar that you associate with this and loads of Irish people everywhere. The Irish appear to have this years Ante Post favourite in the Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle who won for us here last year, the reigning champion Epatante is next in the market along with the highly rated Goshan.

Day One - 16th March 2021
Weather - A settled day, cloudy with occasional light rain and becoming milder a max temperature of 13C.
Official Going Report - Chase and Hurdle: Soft [Good to soft in places].

We kick start The Cheltenham Festival with seven races on the opening day, the usual 'roar' will be missing though I hear they planning to mimic this for the tv audience at home. As always the Supreme Novices' Hurdle will start us off and today's feature race is the iconic Unibet Champion Hurdle due to go off at 15:05. The 2020 renewal led to success for the JP McManus owned mare Epatante and she is expected to line up once again to try and defend her crown.

13:20  Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race
2m 87y  [8 runners]
And we get underway with the traditional opener, a smaller field than usual, only eight declared but should still have a fascinating contest. The market is led by Willie Mullins APPRECIATE IT who having won two grade 1 events at Leopardstown will surely be a banker for many. Defeated Ballyadam in that latest contest and they line up again while the home challenge appears to come from METIER, Harry Fry's 5yo is currently unbeaten with the Tolworth hurdle at Sandown a decent level of form winning by 12L.

Result - 1st: (1) Appreciate It @8/11f [P Townend].

13:55  Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase
2m  [5 runners]
Another small field for the next race, six declared headed by ALLMANKIND for trainer Dan Skelton. Winner of all three of his chases so far and a good front runner will surely make this a good test and bound to be successful as he gets older, his win at Sandown was impressive and proves the hill should have no fears. However the main reason for the small field will be the presence of the Nicky Henderson trained SHISHKIN who has been foot perfect and cruised to keep his unbeaten record intact. Winner of the Supreme Hurdle last year and has quickly made up into Timeform's highest-rated novice chaser, easily winning all 3 starts this term.

If either of the main two mentioned fail to fire then it could help the chances of CAPTAIN GUINNESS to chase them home, although a faller at Leopardstown last time has looked a good chaser for the future and Rachael Blackmore who could again have an exceptional festival.

Result - 1st: (6) Shishkin @4/9f [Nico de Boinville].

14:30  The Ultima Handicap Chase
3m 1f [16 runners]
Big field now, ALNADAM steps up in trip now having taken a Sandown chase for the Skelton team, that was over 2m 4f but no obvious reason to see that this extra trip will be a problem. OK CORRAL doesn't have a lot of mileage on the clock for an 11yo and JP McManus' silks are a familiar sight in the winners enclosure here. Those will be our two against the field for the win today. 

Nietzsche is an each way chance at 20/1, runs solid races over all types of conditions, mixes flat and NH codes well and even as an 8yo is consistent. Probably too much to ask for the win but a place possibility and hopefully all 16 will stand their ground for the four places on offer.

Result -- 1st: (9) Vintage Clouds @28/1 [Ryan Mania].

Epatante winner of the 2020 Champion Hurdle

15:05  Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
2m 87y  [10 runners]
The feature race for Day One of the festival is the Champion Hurdle, already mentioned the chances of last years winner EPATANTE along with ante post favourite HONEYSUCKLE, though could well battle it out up the hill but I wouldn't discount GOSHEN either, should have won last year's Triumph Hurdle when falling at the last (miles clear) has been given plenty of time and easily won the Kingwell hurdle last time out. 

Each way options, JAMES DU BERLAIS a smart hurdler for Robert Collet in France, winning 3 times at listed/Graded level ended his time over there with close second in Auteuil Grade 1 in November joining Willie Mullins powerful yard and immediately aimed at more top class glory. Might find the principles too hot but certainly should run his race, place claims at 20/1+.

Result - 1st: (10) HONEYSUCKLE @11/10f [Rachael Blackmore].

15:40 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle)
2m 3f 200y  [11 runners]
CONCERTISTA has progressed again this term and can notch a second Festival success and provide her trainer with a tenth win in this race. Biggest danger would be ROKSANA who won this back in 2019 and despite her advancing years is still a big threat. 

Willie Mullins has loads of ammunition for the festival and his dual purpose mare GREAT WHITE SHARK (won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and third in Martin Pipe hurdle last year) is one to consider as a win/place candidate. Capable of running a big race and although disappointed in Grade 2 hurdle her success at Galway prior to that Cesarewitch win shows her trainer has more than one dangerous mare in this.

Result - 1st: (1) Black Tears @11/1 [JW Kennedy].

16:15  Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Registered As The Fred Winter)
2m 87y  [22 runners]
Wide open handicap hurdle next up, huge field and some luck in running might be needed too, headed by the Gary Moore inmate NASSALAM who stepped up from lower calibre events at Fontwell to run well in defeat to Adagio (Chepstow) and Monmiral (Haydock) will be fine on softened ground and chance here despite the weight burden.

JP O'Brien runs duo DRUID'S ALTAR plus BUSSELTON and the yard won this in 2019 (Band of Outlaws) the latter might be of interest having moved recently over from France where he had a decent level of form over hurdles winning at Auteuil.

HER INDOORS (25/1) A fairly useful Flat winner who has made a positive start over hurdles, runner-up twice before taking Doncaster listed in January, Alan King can certianly prepare one for the festival and looks a big price here, also of interest is another decent ex flat horse TINNAHALLA 25/1 (O Murphy) previously with Jamie Osborne and a nice low weight here [Non Runner].

Result - 1st: (21) Jeff Kidder @80/1 [SW Flanagan].

16:50  Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Chase
3m 5f 201y  [13 runners]
Finale on day one a staying chase where GALVIN looks to be very interesting having won his last four races while trained by Gordon Elliott now with I Ferguson still a novice and should be very hard to beat. Opposition includes NEXT DESTINATION an ex Willie Mullins inmate now with Paul Nicholls along with REMASTERED (David Pipe) who stayed on strongly to win the Reynoldstown chase at Ascot.

Big Priced Outsider - The Mighty Don (33/1).

Result - 1st: (3) Galvin @7/2 [JW Kennedy].

Good luck today, hopefully all animals and jockey's come back safe and sound, lets find a winner or two as well. Results will be updated here too later in the day with the rest of the week's action to follow as well. Have a great Festival and fingers crossed we can go racing ourselves fairly soon.