The 2016 Cheltenham Festival is already consigned to the history books as the pair of Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins continue to dominate. The pair combined with trebles on both Tuesday and Thursday, with the latter costing the bookmakers record-breaking losses with the three short-priced favourites of Limini, Thistlecrack and Vautour all winning with relative ease and barely a moment’s doubt for those on the respective market leaders. The latter is the new 6/1 joint-favourite for next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, alongside Gordon Elliott’s festival hero Don Cossack, and is similarly the 7/2 market leader to better his second behind Cue Card and win the King George on Boxing Day at Kempton.
The end of the Cheltenham Festival doesn’t mean the end of the national hunt season, far from it, with excellent upcoming festivals at Fairyhouse, Aintree and Punchestown and three good jumping cards from Kelso, Southwell and Kelso this far. Sam Twiston-Davies heads to the latter on the back of an excellent Cheltenham Festival, winning the bumper aboard Ballyandy for father Nigel as well as two winners for boss Paul Nicholls and can combine with the latter aboard Rock on Oscar (2.10) in the Taunton opener. The selection is a point-to-point winner in his native Ireland and, after coming good at the third time of asking under rules, should be able to follow up under a penalty.
All Set to Go (2.40) should appreciate the return to a sounder surface and can complete doubles for the pair, likewise under a penalty in novice hurdle company. The selection was a classy on the level and after making a favourable impression when scoring earlier in the campaign at Southwell and can get the better of Philip Hobbs’ Banyu under Richard Johnson.
Nicholls and Tiwston-Davies combine with Vicenzo Mio in the feature Handicap Chase over an extended two miles and whilst he is respected, preference lies instead with General Ginger (3.10) for the in-form Harry Fry yard. The selection must defy the burden of top weight and makes his debut over the larger obstacles after impressing in novices’ hurdles earlier in the campaign. He returns with the stable in excellent form, Unowhatimeanharry giving the yard a first festival success in Friday’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, and must go close if taking to fences under regular partner Noel Fehily.
The ground at Kelso is currently ‘good to soft’ and this afternoon’s better ground is sure to help Lucinda Russell’s Present Flight (2.30) in the 3m Handicap Chase. The selection thrives on a sounder surface and after disappointing on bottomless ground last time out at Newcastle, can bounce back from a pound lower mark.
Kim Bailey seldom sends runners to the track, two without success during the past 12 months, but Sainte Ladytime (3.00) appears to have been well placed to score under David Bass. The 6-y-o has won a pair of Mares’ Novices’ Hurdles at Wincanton and Towcester and can complete the ha-trick under a double penalty before a likely tilt over fences next season.
Brian Ellison’s The Grey Taylor (3.30) was touted as a potential Cheltenham horse after winning a novices’ chase at Carlisle earlier in the campaign and despite disappointing thereafter can bounce back to land the feature handicap chase under Danny Cook. The selection ran a terrific race when third two starts back at Doncaster and, whilst disappointing last time out at Musselburgh, he will be seen in a much better light on this afternoon’s better ground.
Fergal O’Brien’s Owen Na View (2.20) should similarly appreciate the dry ground and appears the most likely winner of the opening 2m Handicap Chase at Southwell and must go close under Paddy Brennan.
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