By Graham Richards

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Cheltenham Festival 2008 - review of the beaten horses

Leading chasers at the Festival | Leading hurdlers at the Festival

Tuesday, March 11th

2.00 p.m Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One) 2m ½f £120,000
Kalahari King ran on well to confirm the regard Ferdy Murphy holds in him. He is reportedly to be rested until the Ayr Meeting where good ground or faster will suit him. Rippling Ring ran well on his second attempt over hurdles. Not as physically imposing as some of his rivals, he is nevertheless blessed with plenty of ability. I can see him running a huge race if he turns up at Aintree. Blue Bajan continues to frustrate; however, he again showed ability and may do better in a smaller field. Cork All Star travelled supremely well for a long way, though once again his jumping was less than fluent. He may be the type who jumps a fence better and I am of the firm opinion he is best when fresh. Muirhead had failed to eat up on arrival at the course, and was never competitive. He should be given another chance to show his true worth. Deep Purple needs better ground and was another let down by his jumping.

2.35 p.m The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade One) 2m £170,000
Mahogany Blaze failed to jump well and will do much better when returned to a flatter track. Scotsirish never figured and is becoming frustrating. Ring The Boss will come back next season a much better horse.

3.15 p.m Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade One) 2m ½f £360,000
Straw Bear has never shown his best form at the highest level round here. He may now go chasing; he should do well, if he jumps fences as well as he does hurdles. Another to go chasing will be Afsoun and he should do well in that sphere. He is undoubtedly at his best when fresh. Farmer Brown ran well and may figure prominently at the Punchestown Festival. Harchibald hated the ground and was never competitive. Sizing Europe injured himself; he deserves another chance to redeem his reputation. Heavily backed he had done everything very easily until misfortune struck.

4.00 p.m William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade Three) 3m ½f £90,000
An Accordion stuck his head out to record a gutsy win. He had been thereabouts throughout the race, and did well to recover from one serious mistake. There is plenty of improvement to come and he looks one to follow next season. New Alco bounced back to his best form and he looked dangerous approaching the last. Unable to quicken on the run in he should come on for this; he is well enough handicapped to make amends before the end of the season. L’Ami was well backed and for a while he looked likely to land the gamble. He was unable to quicken in the closing stages and the longer distance of the Grand National should suit him. However, he made mistakes in the race last season and his jumping was far from foot perfect here. Patsy Hall was the subject of a punt; approaching the last his supporters must have been readying themselves for champagne celebrations. Despite a clumsy jump not helping the situation, he emptied quickly on the run in, finishing the race like a horse in need of the run. Mon Mome ran a fair race, while Ollie Magern deserves plenty of credit for staying in the fun for as long as he did, following a suicidal pace in the early stages.

4.40 p.m BGC Cross Country Steeple Chase 3m 7f £50,000
Garde Champetre first and the rest nowhere. Despite one or two mistakes, Nina Carberry came into the straight with a ton in hand, duly romping home when asked to win his race. He clearly enjoys this discipline and is young enough to dominate this event for the foreseeable future. Native Jack ran well, while A New Story was far from disgraced. Freney’s Well, the youngest in the field, performed with credit, on ground that would not have played to his strengths.

5.20 p.m Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) 2m ½f £75,000
Grand Schlem looked dangerous coming down the hill, his run confirmed Francois Doumen’s thoughts that he will do better over further. Metaphoric jumped poorly, Chapoturgeon again showed enough to suggest he will well over fences with a summer under his saddle. A broken blood vessel explained River Laine’s poor performance.

Thursday, March 13th

138th Year of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup 4m £75,000
Over The Benny ultimately saw the trip our better than Over The Creek, who had looked the likely winner coming down the hill. Both should continue to pay their way in staying handicap chases. Back On Line ran on well to take third, as did Niche Market to finish fourth. Ornais did not jump as well as some of the principals and is better on a flat track.

Royal & SunAlliance Chase (Grade One) 3m ½ f £170,000
Air Force One was let down by his jumping. If he can get that ironed out, he has the ability win a decent prize. Starzaan ran well until the fourth last. He looked likely to be placed and will do better on a more conventional track.

Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase (Listed Race) 2m 5f £90,000
An exciting race with Fingeronthepulse holding off the determined challenge of Barbers Shop. The winner idled in front and looks capable of continuing his improvement, with races like the Paddy Power Cup in November suitable targets. Possol ran well and look sure to gain his first win in the UK in the near future. He has won on good ground and is one to look out for in the coming weeks. Fleet Street is not as easy horse to keep sound; however, when he is right he can run as well as he did here. Hurdles and fences seem to come alike to him. Gods Token made mistakes and did well to finish fifth. Similar remarks apply to Ambobo, who may well have been in the frame but for errors at a vital stage. Big Buck’s jumped poorly and did well to finish where he did under his big weight. Still only a five-year-old, I hope this fellow is now put away for next season, when he should make up into a top class three-mile handicapper.

Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade One) 2m £310,000
Schindlers Hunt ran well and gained just reward with a win at Fairyhouse this week. Tamarinbleu could never get an uncontested lead and ran disappointingly. Twist Magic ran like a drain. His breathing problems need to be addressed, as he undoubtedly has plenty of the ability, though it may never be shown at Prestbury Park.

Ryanair Chase (Grade One) 2m 5f £200,000
Knight Legend ran well and deserves to win a decent prize, though it is likely to be at Grade Two/Three level. The Listener was never travelling or jumping like he can and clearly needs much softer ground these days. Racing Demon lost his place at the top of the hill, but came back strongly in the home straight. Punchestown should suit him and the stable are at last amongst the winners.

Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade One) 3m £250,000
My Way De Solzen failed to see out the trip and I have to say his attitude under pressure was far from encouraging. Aitmatov ran a fair race and should win again in the right grade. Chief Dan George ran well for a long way and may be the sort to pop up at a big price at Aintree. Flight Leader ran a decent race on his second run back from a long lay off. Wichita Lineman appears to have let temperament get the better of him at present.

Racing Post Plate Handicap Chase (Grade Three) 2m 5f £100,000
Quite how Mister McGoldrick rediscovered his form is baffling. He turned what looked a competitive handicap into a procession a long way from home. The handicapper has put him up 15lb and it is anyone’s guess whether he will reproduce this effort. Gwanako would have won the race as easily as the winner, had he not been in the race; he should come back a stronger horse next season. Fundamentalist kept up his recent run of good form, while Bible Lord would have been closer were it not for jumping mistakes. Boychuk also made a few mistakes, including one serious one. Nevertheless, he really found his stride in the closing stages and appeals as the winner of a decent handicap in the coming weeks. I hope he bypasses Aintree for Ayr. Don’t Push It was beaten when he fell; perhaps a run over hurdles before a summer break would be the wisest course of action for this decent performer.

Pertemps Final (Listed Race) 3m £80,000
Ballyfitz landed this handicap in good style and he looks capable of more improvement. Miko De Beauchene is in great form, but just lacked a turn of foot. According To Pete ran a blinder; unfortunately, he receives no help from the handicapper and has gone up 2lb for this effort. Mobaasher has had breathing problems. He is a talented performer when right and is one to look out for at Aintree. Both Buena Vista, and in particular Onnix, look capable of better. Robin Du Bois was never put in the race. He ran disappointingly at Fairyhouse this week but should not be written off, as he is ridiculously well-handicapped at present. Hennessey may have been placed but for falling.

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase 3m 1½f £60,000
High Chimes bounced back from a poor run in the bog like conditions at Warwick. The handicapper has put him up 14lb, which on the face of it looks harsh. Nevertheless, he stays well; I remember his trainer saying earlier in the season, he was a typical Welsh Grand National horse. Openide ran his best race for sometime, coming from way back to finish fast into second place. Burntoakboy is still well-handicapped over fences; he is going pop up somewhere in the coming weeks. He has an entry in the Scottish Grand National and looks a likely outsider. Another to consider for that race is the strong finishing Joe’s Edge.

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade One) 2m ½f £50,000
Always thereabouts Cousin Vinny ran on strongly, despite showing signs of greenness on the run-in. Ultimately, this was an authorative win and he has the scope to make a more than useful hurdler. His breeding suggests he will need two and a half miles and in time three-miles. Corskeagh Royale ran well, he too should make his mark over hurdles. Zaarito met some trouble in running, but in no way did it compromise his winning chance. He is not the most imposing of horses and how he fares over hurdles is open to debate. Shoreacres did best of the rest. He had little luck in running and can be rated a bit better than his finishing position suggests. Apt Approach found this happening all too quickly for him; he too looks a good prospect for next season.

Friday, March 14 (New Course)

David Nicholson Mares’ Only Hurdle (Grade Two) 2m 4½f £100,000
Gaspara is hard to place and may need to drop into Grade Three to win again. Nevertheless, she showed her battling qualities throughout the race. Theatre Girl was hampered by the faller; in truth, she gave the overall impression a drop in trip would help her. Labelthou needs softer ground to be effective at this distance. As suggested in the preview, Sweet Kiln is at her best in winter conditions, in her homeland.

Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 5f £120,000
Over The Benny ultimately saw the trip our better than Over The Creek who had looked the likely winner coming down the hill. Both should continue to pay their way in staying handicap chases.
Back On Line ran on well to take third as did Niche Market to finish fourth. Ornais did not jump as well as some of the principals and he better on a flat track.

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three) 2m 5f £80,000
A titanic struggle on the run in and Naiad Du Misselot took the race by a nose. Produced fit and well by Ferdy Murphy, he battled on gamely all the way up the run in. Softer ground would have suited him better. By the same sire as Neptune Collonges and New Alco, he will now go novice chasing next season. Kicks For Free ran his heart out conceding 13lb to the winner. He certainly is over his injury and breathing problems; he too, could make up into a decent novice chaser. Junior ran his heart out and looks sure to break his duck over hurdles in the near future. He also has the option of going back over flat in long distance handicaps. Song Of Songs looked all over the winner on the run to the last flight. Compensation awaits at Aintree. Mendo likes it here and ran well to finish fifth. County Zen ran like a drain and was beaten after a mile.

JCB Triumph Hurdle Race (Grade One) 2m 1f £120,000
Songe and Serabad ran well and look sure to progress. Personal Column was far from disgraced, he too has a future. Silverhand will need to improve his jumping to fulfil his potential.

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One) 3m £100,000
Siegemaster lacked for stamina and will be best dropped in distance. Gone To Lunch is not straight forward; however, he should be able to put his point-to-point experience to good use, in staying handicap chases next season. Carruthers was harried for the lead and failed to run his race.

totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade One) 3m 2½f £450,000
Halcon Genelardais lost his place and his jumping was not as good as usual. Nevertheless, he finished strongly; if we have some soft ground, he has another race in him. Exotic Dancer was never competitive which was hardly surprising given his preparation. It remains to see how he comes out of the race. Afistfullofdollars returned home lame.

Christie’s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup 3m 2½f £40,000
Amicelli defied his 33/1 starting price to run out a comfortable winner. Always travelling well, he jumped the last a bit low and tired up the hill. However, he never looked likely to be caught, and is clearly fulfilling the promise he showed several seasons ago. Bon Accord who finished second and French Thyne who finished sixth, look to have more races in them. The former is an eight-year-old so there should be plenty more to come from him.

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (Grade Three) 2m ½f £90,000
Tiger Cry likes it at Cheltenham and landed a nice touch for connections. He idled on the run in, having looked likely to win easily on the run to the last. Job done! My Petra is game and ran a blinder for a five-year-old. She should stay further and looks certain to win more races. Calatagan ran well but is always likely to spoil his chances with jumping errors. With Aintree and Ayr coming up he should go close at one or both meetings, if putting in a clear round of jumping. Andreas ran well and should be spot on for his next assignment. Hasty Price can win a handicap when the ground dries up.

Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle (Grade Three) 2m 1f £80,000
A below par renewal of this race and the time was nothing to write home about. Silver Jaro kicked on after the second last and held off the strong finishing Psycho. The runner-up looked unlucky by many observers; to my eyes, he emptied out in the closing stages as though not quite staying the trip. From the race, I would take Mon Michel and Premier Dane to go well on their next assignments.