Two leading fancies for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival take centre stage today for Willie Mullins, his champion hurdler Faugheen and ante-post Arkle favourite Douvan.
The latter is long odds-on for the seemingly straightforward task of following Un De Sceaux’s hoof prints in winning the Irish equivalent today, though Faugheen faces the far tougher assignment of enacting revenge on his Morgiana Hurdle conqueror, Nichols Canyon.
The horse that chased him home in the Champion Hurdle, Arctic Fire, is also running in what looks a cracking renewal.
Unfortunately – from a punting perspective – I don’t oppose Faugheen and fully expect him to win, but he’s too short to be of any interest.
Earlier on the card the Grade 2 novices’ hurdle may have some value with the favourite, A Toi Phil, looking plenty short in the betting at around evens.
Last year’s renewal was tremendously informative for the Cheltenham Festival with three winners coming out of the race in Martello Tower, Killultagh Vic and Windsor Park – not to mention RSA Chase favourite No More Heroes.
Retained rider Bryan Cooper rides the favourite for Willie Mullins, but there’s nothing overly impressive about his form and I remember his mount No More Heroes getting turned over when a short-priced favourite last year.
In something of a rarity for these Irish pattern races, Ruby Walsh picks up the ride of the long-shot Cardinal Palace, though he’s not overly positive about his chances and, on recent form, nor am I.
“I ride Cardinal Palace for James Nash, in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle and he’s going to need a career-best to win.
Willie’s runner, A Toi Phil, won well last time, goes well at home, and may be the one to beat, though Woodland Opera should improve for the step up in trip.”
Ruby Walsh
Of Woodland Opera, he finished flat last without many excuses in Long Dog’s Grade-1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, though he did beat the smart Coney Island – who won well earlier at that same meeting.
I’d rather side with the improving Chain Gang, who – again at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting – needed every yard of the 20-furlong trip to get up in the shadow of the post to break his maiden.
The concern is that race fell apart in front of him and he might have just picked up the pieces.
He stays well, which is a big plus in this persistent heavy ground, and the course form certainly helps to suggest his 12/1 quote is on the generous side.
He has less than a length to find with Chitu on a bumper race on better ground in October, and with that named horse’s trainer suggesting he’ll need a sounder surface we expect him to reverse the form today.
Tempting as he is, the one I’m on is Acapella Bourgeois, who took a big step forward last time out when reversing the form with Space Cadet, beating him six lengths after previously finding that opponent 13-lengths too good at Fairyhouse.
It wasn’t a run that oozed class, but his ears were pricked all the way and the heavy ground might have disguised the true value of the form.
It’s as good or better than anything else on offer so at 7/2 he looks the bet, with Chain Gang reluctantly passed for an each-way bet.
1pt win Acapella Bourgeois @7/2, Leopardstown 13:20
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