CHELTENHAM NH FESTIVAL 2021 WEDNESDAY 17th MARCH [QUEEN MUM CHAMPION CHASE]

 

The gates remain closed on Day Two, as we remain at home to enjoy another seven races of the festival, including The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. Victory last year for the talented Politologue and Paul Nicholls, usually an open race and was hoping that we might still see Altior again but sadly he was withdrawn on Monday by his trainer so we pray he can recover. We also have the Cross Country chase to enjoy on a high class card where dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll will dual it out with last year's winner Easysland. 

Congratulations to all connections of Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle, especially superstar jockey Rachael Blackmore. Superb win. 

Day Two - 17th March 2021
Weather - A settled day, cloudy with occasional light rain and becoming milder.
Official Going Report - Good to soft [heavy in places on cross country course].

13:20  Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Baring Bingham) (Grade 1)
2m 5f  [7 runners]
Our opening event on day two of the festival is a Grade 1 novice hurdle, the market really features three protagonists; 

Bob Olinger 6yo Trained in Ireland by Henry De Bromhead is a smart novice, making it 2-3 when convincing winner of Grade 1 Lawlor's at Naas (2m4f) by 6½l from Blue Lord. Sure to go well again with more in the pipeline. Next we have fellow Irish trained Gaillard Du Mesnilh 5yo top prospect from the powerful yard of Willie Mullins. An ex-French gelding who has made rapid progress in his three runs over hurdles, hooded when easily bagging Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown (2m6f) last time.

Bravemansgame this Paul Nicholls 6yo improver who completed his hat-trick in fine style in Newbury's Challow Hurdle winning by 10l from Star Gate. Another top-class prospect and clear pick of the home contingent.

Also strongly considering Bear Ghylls a 6yo trained by Nicky Martin, unbeaten in 4 starts, rated about 10lb inferior to the three market leaders though now steps up in trip having completed his hat trick over hurdles last time at Exeter, this trip should be in his favour and further progress is not out of the question. Dangerous to dismiss, shame it's only two places available with just the seven runners declared at this stage.

Result - 1st: (2) Bob Olinger @6/4f [Rachael Blackmore].

13:55  Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Registered As The Broadway Novices' Chase) (Grade 1)
3m 80y  [6 runners]
Six here and a short priced favourite with MONKFISH, unbeaten over fences and ought to be hard to oppose Willie Mullins who just needs another clean round of jumping to take this. 

No question that Sporting John is talented and JP McManus' colours should be seen in the winners enclosure plenty this week but maybe not this one, so I feel that The Big Breakaway could be the main one to follow the favourite home.

Result - 1st: (4) Monkfish @1/4f [P Townend].

14:30  Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
2m 5f  [26 runners]
Time for a big field handicap, the Coral Cup is usually a big betting heat, and with 26 runners you will need a little fortune in running too. Nicky Henderson has done well in this event in recent times and saddles four the best of which I feel is MONTE CRISTO, is only a 5yo and already looks like there are further big races in him, winner in France, most recently beat a large field in a Kempton handicap on Boxing Day. 

Gary Moore trains BOTOX HAS and this 5yo has a great record at this course, although beaten in handicaps this season is given an opportunity to find another big run in him with plenty of time on his side too. 

Outsider to note - SHAKEM UP'ARRY 7yo gelding owned by Harry Redknapp, staying on through beaten horses in the Betfair hurdle, 25/1 interesting and was runner up in the Tolworth hurdle.

Result - 1st: (15) Heaven Help Us @33/1 [R J Condon].

Politologue winning 2020 Champion Chase

15:05  The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
2m  [10 runners]
Expecting to see a fascinating renewal with Politologue taken out of the field at the last moment failing to defending his crown against some old rivals and newcomers. Two time winner Altior had already been ruled out of this now by Nicky Henderson which is a big miss hopefully he will recover. so now we will have to look at the likes of FIRST FLOW to have a big interest in for the future and could give Kim Bailey another crack at top class races since his days of Master Oats and Alderbrook.
 
The Irish challenge not surprisingly comes from Willie Mullins in the shape of his exciting 9yo chaser CHACUN POUR SOI who has been cleaning up over in his native Ireland, wins at Cork and Leopardstown though this is another big test of his class, will be a short price and a banker for many.

Result - 1st: (10) Put The Kettle On @17/2 [Aidan Coleman].

15:40  The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase
3m 6f 37y  [14 runners]

A repeat of last years event where EASYSLAND managed to beat the twice winner TIGER ROLL, the latter then going onto win Aintree Nationals, but will not be going for his third this season and is not in the same form as previous years to be strongly fancied for this. I think it's likely that Easysland will be successful again though this doesn't tend to be a race I will be involved in. 

KINGSWELL THEATRE could feature as a lively each way type (33/1) having won over this course but consistency is an issue but Tom Scudamore should get his charge round once more. My idea of an each way chance is BALKO DES FLOS a high class chaser and might well take to this unique cross country course (Fell) .

Result - 1st: (13) Tiger Roll @9/2 [K M Donoghue].

16:15  Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
2m  [20 runners]
Another big field to test everyone, headed by Duc Des Genievres from Paul Nicholls yard, winner of the Arkle chase two years ago but hasn't added to that success since and top weight might be a struggle against some of these, stable also has Ashutor here but I can't see either of these obliging. The Irish challenge is led by Joseph O'Brien with three runners, two head the betting market Embittered / Entoucas while Us and Them is also declared, they have plenty of potential but haven't yet shown their best for their owners and look too short a price for me in this competitive affair. 

Going to side with IBLEO (V Williams) winner of his last two chases and looks to be improving at the right stage in his career, while ZANZA (P Hobbs) is our other choice against the field despite his fall last time out was travelling well and closing when coming down, previously a decent hurdler and given a chance to atone for that mistake.

Result - 1st: (5) Sky Pirate @14/1 [Nick Schofield].

16.50  The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)
2m 87y  [15 runners]
We end Wednesday with the Champion Flat Race "Bumper" a contest that the Irish trainers such as Willie Mullins (10 wins) in particular used to pick up almost every year in the past since it was first run in 1992. Mullins won this last year with Ferny Hollow and has five of the fifteen declared in the field today. 

• Cool Jet [B Hayes]
• Kilcrut [P Townend]
• Ramillies [BJ Cooper]
• Sir Gerhard [Rachael Blackmore]
• Grangee [DE Mullins]

I'll side with Sir Gerhad in the mini race amongst his five runners.

The home challenge seems to begin with ELLE EST BELLE (Dan Skelton) a twice winner at Aintree and Cheltenham so looks decent, while the Twiston Davies pair of I LIKE TO MOVE IT / SUPER SIX the former could be interesting in the place market at 33/1.

Result - 1st: (9) Sir Gerhard @85/40 [Rachael Blackmore].

Good luck once again today, still praying that 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 keep safe.