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Thanks for the nice feedback lads. VTC, Minella Foru is one I would consider for sure. I think if himself and Gilgamboa met again, he might be able to reverse the form with a better pull in the weights. The second in that paddy power, Ucello Conti, has come out and franked the form in the Thyestes on Thursday when his jockey ran 4miles over a 3mile trip! He’s got to be kept inside too I think.
Cause of Causes is the typical Elliot festival horse. I lost a good deal two years ago when he couldn’t get the better of Spring Heeled in the Kim Muir. I overlooked him for the 4miler last year but I’ll be keeping a close eye on him this year. He’s only raced twice this year but in two very competitive hcaps where he finished in mid division both times. It will be interesting to see where he lines up but I’d also like to see him take in the Kim Muir again.
In the ante post market champagne James is the fav for the Kim Muir. He’s out at Navan today and it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on
Well gentlemen (and ladies if there are any brave enough to trawl through these mucky waters!) I’ve long since been an admirer of the forum so I thought I’d take the plunge! You guys have covered most of the “flashier” races at Cheltenham already but I wanted to take a look at a few Irish horses that could be interesting (weight and entry permitting) for th handicaps at the festival. I couldn’t find a handicap thread so I decided this might be the most appropriate avenue. Hopefully I don’t put anyone’s nose out of joint!
I was going through some form last night and a few horses stood out to me that I’ll be keeping an eye on. One race I was drawn to was the Boylesports hurdle a couple of years ago when Flaxen Flare came second to Gilgamboa and in third was Quick Jack – that is some excellent form and one that has held up the past two years. Flaxen Flare then had two encounters with Plinth, one in which he fell when being the most likely winner and then he easily dispatched of his old rival at Galway. He since got off the mark over fences at Down Royal in May and hasn’t been seen since. I’ll be following him at Cheltenham if he pitches up with his excellent record there — winner in the fred winter, 4th in the greatwood and 5th in the County hurdle the year Lac Fontana won (Artic Fire in 2nd) when he was 2nd top weight, only behind Diakali.
The other two in that race, Gilgamboa and Quick Jack will be very interesting too. Gilgamboa will obv be lugging around a big weight if he goes over fences but he could exploit a more favourable hurdle mark if connections decide to chance their arm that route. After the Boylesports, he ran below par in the supreme and hasn’t been seen since over hurdles. I look forward to his entries at the festival to see connections thinking. He is entered in the Irish Gold Cup (formerly the Hennessy) and he could still pitch up in something like the ryanair but I’d like to see him in a handicap. He skipped the festival last year after being put firmly in his place by UDS in the Irish Arkle but did bounce back to win the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. Hopefully he makes the trek across the water.
Quick Jack is obv of interest for connections who love a good plot (Ted Veale was a good one in the county a few years ago). He’s very unexposed still over hurdles but he obv will get a fair rise for bolting up in the Galway Hurdle last year. He would be of big interest in the county hurdle or Coral cup if he went that route. He’s won at Cheltenham before and he would probably be sub 6/1 for any target he goes for but if he was declared, he’d be of massive interest.
Another one I am very keen on in the same colours is Blair Perrone. He’s raced 5 times over fences and had an auspicious start falling first and being pulled up in his second race. After that though is where it get’s interesting. He came third in Douvan’s chase debut and then second to Zabana at Christmas. He made up massive ground after the second last in that race and poor auld Denny O’Regan must have been sh*tting himself that he was going to win! He gave him one small tap after the last fence and otherwise it was all hands and heels up the run in where he closed right up on the winner. Then lastly, only the punters on at 1/5 would have been happier than Tony Martin that K.Vic got back up to win the last day, as a grade 2 win would not have went down well with the handicapper! If he goes to the Grand Annual and has a nice weight (or even a reasonable one), He’ll be my handicap nap of the festival. Two years ago Phil Smith was well aware what the exact same connections were up to with Ted Veale and harshly treated him and forced him to go to the Arkle so a lot will depend on his English mark.
The last one I want to mention is Ballychorus. Equally adept over hurdles or fences, I think there is a big pot in this one. Her recent form figures in the past 6 runs are 1211FF. Both falls came in good races when she was leading in the Troytown (was going to be pressed by Riverside City and Goregous Conn) when coming down at the last and then afterwards in the Paddypower at Christmas when she was running another mighty race only to again fall at the last. She will need a bit of schooling and maybe a confidence booster but she could be very interesting for Barry Connell and Andrew Fleming. She might swerve Cheltenham and try and pick up something in the Spring festivals in Ireland but she is certainly one to keep an eye on.
