2m1f (2m179y) (New) Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Dawn Run mares’ Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB) (Class 1) (4yo+)
The line of thought all season has been last year’s Champion Bumper, won by Bambino Fever, was hot form. Results this week have suggested otherwise with RPRs from beaten horses El Cairos (145), Sortudo (128), Shuttle Diplomacy (144) and No Drama This End (0) at this year’s Festival all bogging it down as more warm than hot – none of the placed horses in the Grade 1 novice hurdles came from the race. Bambino Fever herself has peaked at 135 this year and was being on debut, so, whilst ratings aren’t everything, the idea that Bambino Fever is a class above these could be dangerous for fav backers. I’m with ECHOING SILENCE for last year’s winning trainer as she ticks the necessary boxes of wanting the ground, wanting the trip and having a perfect prep by winning two early season novice hurdles and then being put away for the winter – which is very similar to last year’s winner. Let’s hope lightning can strike twice. LA CONQUIERE is well worth backing too for Jamie Snowden, who has won this in the past. She has already dipped into open company, running creditably at Ascot when beating an ex-Betfair Hurdle winner off level weights, showing loads of guts and determination. She was a good bumper horse – easily beating Oldschool Outlaw in the Aintree bumper – and looks ideally suited to good ground.
1pt win Echoing Silence @14/1, 1pt win La Conquiere @16/1, 13:20 Cheltenham, Thursday
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