1.30 Cheltenham
Beltor 8/1
I was absolutely blown away by the performance Beltor put in the last day as he was still able to quicken away in great style despite pulling the arms of Tom O'Brien for virtually the entire race and if a first time hood and stronger pace allow him to settle better I think he's going to take a huge amount of beating. A decent enough horse on the flat for Michael Dods and then Sir Mark Prescott, Beltor joined the Robert Stephens' stable for a juvenile hurdling campaign this season and he made the perfect start to his national hunt career with an impressive success on his hurdling debut at Ludlow towards the end of January. Running with the choke out from the outset (nowhere near as bad as he did LTO) and looking a little inexperienced at times, Beltor's hurdling was very fluent for the most part and he travelled powerfully throughout the contest. Under a confident Tom O'Brien, Beltor came with his challenge approaching the last and he quickened under minimal fuss to score a comfortable victory. He beat two horses that ran in the Fred Winter (both poorly) but it was a very impressive hurdling debut and you couldn't have asked for much more. Beltor was stepped up in class to the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle at Kempton towards the end of February on his 2nd and last hurdling start and I was absolutely blown away by his victory as he must be a freak to win like he did after pulling so hard for the entire race.
Failing to settle off a steady pace, Beltor's hurdling was again largely fluent and he travelled powerfully throughout the contest once again. He came to challenge absolutely swinging off the bridle and led on the bit at 2 out and when asked to quicken by Tom O'Brien he did so oh so easily to win by 5L in what was a stunning performance. He must have used up a serious amount of energy being so keen in the contest and to still have enough left in the locker to hit the lead on the bridle and quicken clear shows me that he has an absolutely massive engine and the form of that race looks strong with the runner up All Yours running a fine 5th in the Fred Winter off a mark of 137 on Tuesday. If trained by a bigger name, there's no doubt in my mind that Beltor would be half the price he is now or shorter but Robert Stephens has certainly handled his 4 year old very well thus far and I see no reason why he can't get him to improve again. Given that he was so keen the last day, it's no surprise to see Beltor sporting a first time hood (much like stablemate Modus did on Wednesday when 2nd in the Bumper) and I think he's going to appreciate the strong pace that this race will surely be run at. Additionally, although both starts over hurdles came on soft, his best flat form can on a quicker surface so it's possible that he'll improve for better ground even more and I think he's a massive, massive player in this contest. Nicky Henderson has a really strong hand in this contest with three very fancied runners in the market and they must be respected but overall I don't think this is the best crop of juveniles we've seen and I've been incredibly impressed by Beltor thus far. If not being overawed by the occasion, I think Beltor has a tremendous chance of landing the Triumph Hurdle and I really believe that the 8/1 on offer is a total insult and expect him to show how good an animal he really is by taking this.
2.05 Cheltenham
Quick Jack 7/1
Another handicap and another Tony Martin plot in the offing and although he's rated 17lb higher than his last run in a handicap hurdle 412 days ago it looks as though this has been the target for a long time for the same connections who won this with Ted Veale two years ago. A great credit to connections given his success on both the flat and over hurdles, I'll start first with his National Hunt form as he left behind 3 terrible runs in Maiden Hurdles that were clearly designed to get a good mark when he made a successful handicap debut back in September 2013 off a mark of 95 and followed that up with a pretty impressive success over this C+D off an 18lb higher mark on his next hurdling start in November that year in a race that has worked out ridiculously well. Held up in the rear by Ruby Walsh, Quick Jack was given a confident ride as he travelled very smoothly throughout the contest and he was driven out to score by a little over 2L from what turned out to be some very well handicapped animals. The runner up Deep Trouble (rated 118 that day) is now a 147 rated hurdler, the 3rd Three Kingdoms (rated 124 then) went on to become a 140 rated hurdler and Grade 2 winning novice chaser whilst the 5th home Vibrato Valtat (rated 121) has since gone on to be a 140 rated hurdler and Grade 1 winning chaser and for all a mark of 113 is miles away from the 136 he races off today he beat a field of similarly well handicapped horses convincingly and proved his liking for Cheltenham which definitely bode very well for today. His final start over hurdles came in January 2014 when 3rd off a mark of 119 in the top class Boylesports hurdle at Leopardstown when he perhaps didn't quicken as expected in soft ground when sent off a ridiculously short 7/4 shot but he lost little in defeat that day behind the well handicapped pair of Gilgamboa and Flaxen Flare. Since then, he's been kept to the flat where he was successful in a valuable handicap at Galway off a mark of 85 before being narrowly denied in the Cesarewitch off a mark of 94 and it's clear this 6 year old is still improving in all disciplines. An admirably consistent horse in both codes having either won or been placed in his last 10 runs (last 7 in fields of 16 or greater), it seems absolutely assured that he'll run his race and with the excellent Shane Shortall taking a very valuable 5lb off his back I think he's got a tremendous shot in this off a mark of 136 and I'm hopefully he give connections this prize for the 2nd time in 3 years.
2.40 Cheltenham
Shantou Bob 40/1
It's absolutely criminal that a ridiculous 40/1 is available about Shantou Bob if putting a line through his last run which came during a period when the Greatrex yard were under a cloud (0-28 in January) and where he was reported to have made a noise and if the breathing operation and the step up to 3 miles give him the improvement that I expect they will then I think he's a huge player in this contest. A winner of his sole point to point, Shantou Bob was a comfortable winner of his only bumper run in May last year before getting his hurdling career off to the perfect start at Ffos Las when beating a couple of useful sorts in Padge and Fletchers Flyer (reopposes today and is half the price) with a strong staying performance over 2m4f back in October before easily winning under a penalty from an ok horse in Sidbury Hill at Lingfield a month later over just shy of 2 and a half miles to make him unbeaten in 3 starts under rules. He was then stepped up into Grade 2 Company on his next and 2nd last start at Sandown in December over 2m4f when he once again looked as if he was crying out for a step up in trip when going down by a nose to Vyta Du Roc in a race that has worked out very well.
Having chased the leader in the 5 runner field, Shantou Bob was first off the bridle and dropped to last after 3 out before his stamina kicked in and he stayed on very powerfully just to be denied and he would have won the race in another stride. The winner that day Vyta Du Roc was narrowly beaten in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle subsequently by Parlour Games and he would have definitely finished 2nd behind Windsor Park in the Neptune if he didn't nearly fall at the last (Parlour Games 2nd) and although Shantou Bob was in receipt of 3lb from that rival it was a terrific effort. Additionally, the 3rd Tara Point has comfortably won a Listed Novice hurdle on her only subsequent start and it's really strong form. On his last start Shantou Bob just wasn't himself during a time that the yard's horses weren't right when sent off an odds on shot for a Grade 2 at Warwick and if ignoring that run Shantou Bob has superb form. Much like the yard's Cole Harden who won Yesterday's World Hurdle, Shantou Bob has had a breathing operation and needs to bounce back from a below par run in January and I see absolutely no reason why he can't bounce back in the same manner. The forecast rain will definitely help Shantou Bob significantly (but will severely hinder stablemate Paint The Clouds!) and I think this 7 year old will relish the step up in trip to 3 miles for the first time as he looks like he'll stay all day. With the yard proving their well being by landing the feature yesterday, I think it's an absolute insult to have Shantou Bob priced up at 40/1 and I've had a decent each way bet on him as I think he's a real player in this contest. If bouncing back from his last run in a similar fashion to Cole Harden, I see absolutely no reason why a huge run isn't on the cards and I think his form looks very strong in the context of this race.
Beltor 8/1
I was absolutely blown away by the performance Beltor put in the last day as he was still able to quicken away in great style despite pulling the arms of Tom O'Brien for virtually the entire race and if a first time hood and stronger pace allow him to settle better I think he's going to take a huge amount of beating. A decent enough horse on the flat for Michael Dods and then Sir Mark Prescott, Beltor joined the Robert Stephens' stable for a juvenile hurdling campaign this season and he made the perfect start to his national hunt career with an impressive success on his hurdling debut at Ludlow towards the end of January. Running with the choke out from the outset (nowhere near as bad as he did LTO) and looking a little inexperienced at times, Beltor's hurdling was very fluent for the most part and he travelled powerfully throughout the contest. Under a confident Tom O'Brien, Beltor came with his challenge approaching the last and he quickened under minimal fuss to score a comfortable victory. He beat two horses that ran in the Fred Winter (both poorly) but it was a very impressive hurdling debut and you couldn't have asked for much more. Beltor was stepped up in class to the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle at Kempton towards the end of February on his 2nd and last hurdling start and I was absolutely blown away by his victory as he must be a freak to win like he did after pulling so hard for the entire race.
Failing to settle off a steady pace, Beltor's hurdling was again largely fluent and he travelled powerfully throughout the contest once again. He came to challenge absolutely swinging off the bridle and led on the bit at 2 out and when asked to quicken by Tom O'Brien he did so oh so easily to win by 5L in what was a stunning performance. He must have used up a serious amount of energy being so keen in the contest and to still have enough left in the locker to hit the lead on the bridle and quicken clear shows me that he has an absolutely massive engine and the form of that race looks strong with the runner up All Yours running a fine 5th in the Fred Winter off a mark of 137 on Tuesday. If trained by a bigger name, there's no doubt in my mind that Beltor would be half the price he is now or shorter but Robert Stephens has certainly handled his 4 year old very well thus far and I see no reason why he can't get him to improve again. Given that he was so keen the last day, it's no surprise to see Beltor sporting a first time hood (much like stablemate Modus did on Wednesday when 2nd in the Bumper) and I think he's going to appreciate the strong pace that this race will surely be run at. Additionally, although both starts over hurdles came on soft, his best flat form can on a quicker surface so it's possible that he'll improve for better ground even more and I think he's a massive, massive player in this contest. Nicky Henderson has a really strong hand in this contest with three very fancied runners in the market and they must be respected but overall I don't think this is the best crop of juveniles we've seen and I've been incredibly impressed by Beltor thus far. If not being overawed by the occasion, I think Beltor has a tremendous chance of landing the Triumph Hurdle and I really believe that the 8/1 on offer is a total insult and expect him to show how good an animal he really is by taking this.
2.05 Cheltenham
Quick Jack 7/1
Another handicap and another Tony Martin plot in the offing and although he's rated 17lb higher than his last run in a handicap hurdle 412 days ago it looks as though this has been the target for a long time for the same connections who won this with Ted Veale two years ago. A great credit to connections given his success on both the flat and over hurdles, I'll start first with his National Hunt form as he left behind 3 terrible runs in Maiden Hurdles that were clearly designed to get a good mark when he made a successful handicap debut back in September 2013 off a mark of 95 and followed that up with a pretty impressive success over this C+D off an 18lb higher mark on his next hurdling start in November that year in a race that has worked out ridiculously well. Held up in the rear by Ruby Walsh, Quick Jack was given a confident ride as he travelled very smoothly throughout the contest and he was driven out to score by a little over 2L from what turned out to be some very well handicapped animals. The runner up Deep Trouble (rated 118 that day) is now a 147 rated hurdler, the 3rd Three Kingdoms (rated 124 then) went on to become a 140 rated hurdler and Grade 2 winning novice chaser whilst the 5th home Vibrato Valtat (rated 121) has since gone on to be a 140 rated hurdler and Grade 1 winning chaser and for all a mark of 113 is miles away from the 136 he races off today he beat a field of similarly well handicapped horses convincingly and proved his liking for Cheltenham which definitely bode very well for today. His final start over hurdles came in January 2014 when 3rd off a mark of 119 in the top class Boylesports hurdle at Leopardstown when he perhaps didn't quicken as expected in soft ground when sent off a ridiculously short 7/4 shot but he lost little in defeat that day behind the well handicapped pair of Gilgamboa and Flaxen Flare. Since then, he's been kept to the flat where he was successful in a valuable handicap at Galway off a mark of 85 before being narrowly denied in the Cesarewitch off a mark of 94 and it's clear this 6 year old is still improving in all disciplines. An admirably consistent horse in both codes having either won or been placed in his last 10 runs (last 7 in fields of 16 or greater), it seems absolutely assured that he'll run his race and with the excellent Shane Shortall taking a very valuable 5lb off his back I think he's got a tremendous shot in this off a mark of 136 and I'm hopefully he give connections this prize for the 2nd time in 3 years.
2.40 Cheltenham
Shantou Bob 40/1
It's absolutely criminal that a ridiculous 40/1 is available about Shantou Bob if putting a line through his last run which came during a period when the Greatrex yard were under a cloud (0-28 in January) and where he was reported to have made a noise and if the breathing operation and the step up to 3 miles give him the improvement that I expect they will then I think he's a huge player in this contest. A winner of his sole point to point, Shantou Bob was a comfortable winner of his only bumper run in May last year before getting his hurdling career off to the perfect start at Ffos Las when beating a couple of useful sorts in Padge and Fletchers Flyer (reopposes today and is half the price) with a strong staying performance over 2m4f back in October before easily winning under a penalty from an ok horse in Sidbury Hill at Lingfield a month later over just shy of 2 and a half miles to make him unbeaten in 3 starts under rules. He was then stepped up into Grade 2 Company on his next and 2nd last start at Sandown in December over 2m4f when he once again looked as if he was crying out for a step up in trip when going down by a nose to Vyta Du Roc in a race that has worked out very well.
Having chased the leader in the 5 runner field, Shantou Bob was first off the bridle and dropped to last after 3 out before his stamina kicked in and he stayed on very powerfully just to be denied and he would have won the race in another stride. The winner that day Vyta Du Roc was narrowly beaten in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle subsequently by Parlour Games and he would have definitely finished 2nd behind Windsor Park in the Neptune if he didn't nearly fall at the last (Parlour Games 2nd) and although Shantou Bob was in receipt of 3lb from that rival it was a terrific effort. Additionally, the 3rd Tara Point has comfortably won a Listed Novice hurdle on her only subsequent start and it's really strong form. On his last start Shantou Bob just wasn't himself during a time that the yard's horses weren't right when sent off an odds on shot for a Grade 2 at Warwick and if ignoring that run Shantou Bob has superb form. Much like the yard's Cole Harden who won Yesterday's World Hurdle, Shantou Bob has had a breathing operation and needs to bounce back from a below par run in January and I see absolutely no reason why he can't bounce back in the same manner. The forecast rain will definitely help Shantou Bob significantly (but will severely hinder stablemate Paint The Clouds!) and I think this 7 year old will relish the step up in trip to 3 miles for the first time as he looks like he'll stay all day. With the yard proving their well being by landing the feature yesterday, I think it's an absolute insult to have Shantou Bob priced up at 40/1 and I've had a decent each way bet on him as I think he's a real player in this contest. If bouncing back from his last run in a similar fashion to Cole Harden, I see absolutely no reason why a huge run isn't on the cards and I think his form looks very strong in the context of this race.
