What was your highlight of the Cheltenham Festival? There were a few for me, the highlight of the first day for me was Quevega winning her fifth Mares Hurdle, it looked at one stage she wasn't going to get up but her class shone through. With the exception of Dawn Run, has there ever been a mare as talented as her over jumps? Ruby Walsh also excelled on Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle, but I have my doubts as to whether he can win it for the third time next season with The New One and Our Conor likely to be strong contenders for his crown. Watching Sprinter Sacre win the Queen Mother Champion Chase was poetry in motion! Surely he's the best two mile chaser there's ever been! As for the third day, it was great to see Cue Card winning in convincing fashion, and connections were fully justified in not deciding to run against Sprinter Sacre. It's likely Cue Card and Simonsig will clash in next season's Ryanair Chase - IMO if Simonsig brushes up on his jumping, he's classy enough to win. I've never seen a horse win the Triumph Hurdle as comfortably as Our Conor did! His cruising speed and jumping will both be a valuable asset in next year's Champion. As for The New One, I was impressed with how he quickened after the last to win the Neptune, and dropping back to two miles shouldn't be a problem. At Fishers Cross won the Albert Bartlett cosily, and if Big Bucks doesn't return to his best next season then he'll be a serious contender for the 2014 World Hurdle. But one wonders if he'll go novice chasing next season. And finally, Bob's Worth showed what a battle hardened chaser he is when winning the Gold Cup. He was 4th best approaching the home turn but ultimately outstayed the others. He's likely to repeat his victory next year IMO.
To be honest for me it was mixed. I thought the Champion Hurdle was a bit of a pisstake with the reigning Champion forced to make the running. The Supreme novice was dictated by an uncontested Ruby Walsh front-running ride. The real stars were The New One, who showed a blistering turn of foot at the end of two and a half miles to see off two smart Irish novices, Sprinter Sacre who is now potentially the best 2 mile chaser we will ever see, and Bobs Worth who has an attitude of a true champion, and then Our Connor, who must be the most impressive Triumph Hurdle winner ever. That said, Soldatino was miles clear of the rest when he won so it depends on how good those behind were. From the festival I would leave this as a 10 To Follow: 1) THE NEW ONE (Champion Hurdle)- Totally and utterly proved me wrong with a magnificent performance and has all the attributes to go and win a Champion Hurdle, especially the proven stamina beyond 2 and a half miles. 2)SIR DES CHAMPS (Gold Cup)- Ran an incredibly promising race and proved he does belong at the top level. He may turn up in the King George for better ground next December and I think he may end up an impressive winner of the Gold Cup next year under a slightly different ride. He does have a mammoth task on though! 3)SPRINTER SACRE Enough said. 4) UN ATOUT Made some terrible mistakes, looked in poor condition, but still ended up a clear 4th in a solid enough Supreme. He will improve both up in trip and indeed over fences. A massive potential. 5)RULE THE WORLD- Another exciting novice chaser and will be primed for a crack at the RSA next year, with Un Atour possibly Jewson bound depending on how Gigginstown call it. 6) MONKSLAND (World Hurdle/Arkle/RSA)- He didn't turn up at Cheltenham but the World Hurdle told me he'd have won it hands down. Not sure whether Noel Meade will want to go novice chasing with him but he has a serious engine and is a smart horse. World Hurdle, RSA or possibly a tilt at the Arkle as he isn;t short of speed and there are no apparant 2m novice chase superstars in waiting- law of averages says not after these two years! 7)CHATTERBOX (RSA Chase)- If this thing learns to jump he is going to be a monster. If he hurdled anything like decent then he'd have gone close in the Neptune. His engine is massive and he looked threatening turning in before another slow jump. He'll love 3m and looks like a bigger version of Bobs Worth- will he have all that heart though?! 8)Pont Alexandre (RSA)- I wouldn't be mad keen on him at a short price but his jumping looked his strongest asset over hurdles and Mullins thinks he looks like a chaser. Being outpaced by The New One and Rule The World is no disgrace. 9) CHAMPAGNE FEVER (Arkle)- He was always going to be a chaser and he looks like he could be a favourite for the Arkle. Tough to pass, rhtyhmical- he might take a bit of beating up that hill again. 10) ROCKY CREEK- Skipped Cheltenham but it has to be said the 3m novices did not look amazing at all and he must have gone close if running. I imagine he will take a similar path to Silviniano in that he will go to Cheltenham without a tough RSA on his back and will begin next season with a tilt at the Hennessey Gold Cup, so if he can win that maybe he will come to Cheltenham as part of a Nicholls double-hand in the Gold Cup- his first since Denman and Kauto in 2011.
Chatterbox definitely caught the eye. He lost lengths at nearly every hurdle and turning in he was bang there! I wouldn't be surprised if they went back in trip with him either as he doesn't lack speed. The one I would swap would be SDC as I can't see Sir Des Champs ever turning the tables with Bobs Worth at Cheltenham. That looks a very strong ten to follow though.
Best (i) Sprinter Sacre’s awesome performance in the Champion Chase, (ii) Our Connor’s demolition of the Triumph Hurdle field. The way he quickened took the old breath away, and (iii) Simonsig winning the Arkle. Although not a vintage performance I cheered him home like a lunatic. Worst (i) Continuing to have THAT woman’s name on the title deeds of the Champion Chase, (ii) Mr Henderson bowing like some ridiculous military man when presented with his Cheltenham Gold Cup trophy by a minor Royal, and (iii) Hearing that McCoy was to ride Sir Des Champs.
Many highlights to this years Festival but one tops the lot for me... Hurricane Fly regaining the Champion Hurdle to re-establish himself as the finest 2m hurdler since the mighty Istabraq!! Although The New One and Our Connor were fantastic in winning their races I'm not prepared to jump ship from this wonderful, wonderful beast and fancy him to win it a third time next year!! Only 358 days to go!!
Agreed - Rocky Creek will be a serious player in the staying chase division next season as long as he stays sound (fingers crossed). Ruby might once again have a big decision to make over which horse to ride in the Gold Cup next year.
I can't see it, I think he will turn out like Pacha Du Polder or whatever he is called. The key novices this year for me aren't up to the standard of last years bunch. I don't see either the RSA field or the Jewson field improving to Gold Cup standard
I’ve actually been a big fan of Rocky Creek ever since his novice hurdle days and think he is some horse when getting his conditions. However, that is the key line as he does seem to need the word ‘soft’ in the going descriptor to display his best. I think one of the worst keep secrets in racing is that Mr Nicholls, at this stage, intends to target the 2013 Hennessy with this horse and would imagine no bookie chappie, when prices are made available, will be quoting anything eyecatching re Rocky Creek’s chances. Him and Simonsig apart though I also though wouldn’t get too carried away about this terms novice chasing class. The fact that Captain Conan has won 2 Grade 1’s in this sphere really says it all, I think.
Anything caught your eye over hurdles this season Sir Barney with a view to going novice chasing next season? Champagne Fever looks a likely sort, and maybe Chatterbox? I think I'll rewatch the novice hurdle races this week and have a good look in behind. In the Albert Bartlett, obviously the winner but also the 2nd make plenty of appeal as likely staying novice chasers.
I was really taken by African Gold Oddy, he looks like a ready made chaser and given a bit of time to mature more he will be a good horse for the Twisters. I would also be interested in seeing Tanerko Emery over fences too, he is a nice horse who is clearly talented and should improve again over big obstacles. Some interesting ones, but I do think Champagne Fever could be the best of them over fences, but I would want him over a longer trip over fences.
The horse that finished second to The New One,Rule The World,is by far and away the best Novice Chasing prospect imo...beautiful beast. The fourth in the Supreme,Un Atout,is also a lovely horse who will come into his own year. Could be a hot year in the novice department but it is such a shame that the UK pattern race calendar allows our novices to avoid each other all year and also at the Festival now with the ridiculous Jewson race. Diffrent story in Ireland where novices traditionally win their beginners 'chase and tackle graded class straight after.
Oddy, Mr Henderson’s Close Touch who won the EBF Final just before the Festival looks a top, top prospect for novice chases next term. Also, Cocktails At Dawn who is also in the hands of the forum’s favourite trainer is still I maintain a very good type. The old adage ‘whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus’ is certainly apt re these 2 as both are out and out chasing types and whilst the former may, thus far, have achieved a lot more than the latter over the big ‘uns both could rise to the old top. Meanwhile, please no-one forget Montbazon. The ‘hope of the county’ hasn’t been seen on the track for just over a year but providing he returns in the same form prior to has injury the old boy has the potential to take high rank amongst the 2013/14 novices.
