Equinties - Cheltenham clues

Gm Equinauts

Cheltenham proved a difficult punting ground this weekend, but was a fine meeting for the eyes and more, for the notebook.

So, after two days of racing at the best jumping ground in the world, what useful things have we picked up, if any, as clues to work with next year?

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

ARKLE SPICED UP

With the ‘will he, won’t he’ debate of SIR GINO for the Arkle, the division was waiting for one horse to really grab it by the scruff of the neck ahead of this weekend. Yes, BALLYBURN could head here and L’EAU DU SUD has put up some fine numbers, but there’s no horse in the scene that leaves you in a cold sweat from anticipation at night.

Well, now there is. Enter MAJBOROUGH.

There was plenty of hype ahead of his chase debut, but with four-year-olds, there has to be a bit of reserved thinking just to see how they go on their first start out of juvenile company. However, he looked smart. He got in tight to a few, but he also stretched himself out well at a couple. Willie Mullins thought he was a chaser all over last season, and that looks to be coming to fruition.

He will stay further as he won a Triumph Hurdle last season, and he had to slog it out to win that day as well. He also beat two stablemates on Saturday, notably TULLYHILL who isn’t as good as people think he is. But still, the performance was great and arguably better than the one of his stablemate BALLYBURN.

Our comments about him staying further in time were backed up by Mark Walsh, who said: "He was very good. He made a few little mistakes as a novice would, and he had to do it the hard way in front, but he fairly motored over the last two fences when Paul [Townend] came to him on Tullyhill, and was very slick at them. I couldn't be happier.

"He's not a slow horse and he has plenty of gears, but he'll stay too.”

Imagine if he lines up in an Arkle next to L’EAU DU SUD, BALLYBURN, and SIR GINO. What a race. Steadily, this year’s Cheltenham Festival is turning into a must-watch meeting. Fascinating.

FRENCH REVELATION

JET BLUE won the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday for France, David Cottin, and James Reveley and whichever way you look at it, he was very impressive – but will the form stack up?

Maybe not. As we suggested in Saturday’s newsletter SKYJACK HIJACK was a bad favourite and one to take on and the rest of the field, although well-bred NH types are all too unexposed for us to know if they’re any good or not (we’ll come on to this later).

That said, credit where credit is due – the winner couldn’t have done it any easier over an untried trip on faster-than-tried ground around the tough undulations of Prestbury Park. These three things are very different from what he experienced in France.

What was quite cool was the move he made down the back straight. SKYJACK HIJACK tried to nick a few lengths before they got to the top of the hill, but Reveley covered the move in a matter of strides before pouncing later on. Smart stuff. So, will he come back to the Cheltenham Festival? Ultimately, yes. The conversations have already occurred between trainer and owner.

The spud race (Albert Bartlett) would be the race for him, and he is roughly 25/1. With the likes of BILL JOYCE and THE YELLOW CLAY, this race could be very competitive this year.

WEEKEND EYE-CATCHERS

WINGMEN - CHELTENHAM 12.10 FRIDAY

Why did Gordon Elliott run WINGMEN over 2m1f at Cheltenham on Friday? He was a 2m4f novice hurdle winner who showed plenty of stamina and a good engine. So, to see him declared on Wednesday for Friday was bold, but he ran a good race. Gordon Elliott said that jockey Sam Ewing was going flat out all the way, yet he was still there with a chance late-on. The early hard pace set by PALACIO meant his prominent style of racing cost him over the distance, but Elliott is looking to step him up in trip nto.

Martin Pipe? Outsider for the Albert Bartlett? He’s very interesting, that’s for sure, especially for fences next year.

And if you like this form line (COUNTRY MILE and WINGMEN), then you’ll love when ROADLESTRAVELLED is out next. Unbeaten under rules, he pumped COUNTYR MILE last time in a Grade 2 at Haydock and JJ has sadi they’re going to leave him alone for now… until spring JJ? Stinks of a Festival entry. Proper horse.

OUR POWER - CHELTENHAM 13.50 FRIDAY

OUR POWER is a horse who goes well fresh, so Friday’s performance was not unexpected, but he still put in a huge run off such a long break. Friday saw him race for the first time in over a year having fell in the 2023 Coral Gold Cup and he put in a sterling effort, only being beaten by the unexposed KING TURGEON. He missed the final few fences but still stayed on nicely - if he runs in something like that Coral Trophy at Kempton (which he won in 2023) he should go well. Just quickly, there was a sad post-script from this race regarding CHIANTI CLASSICO’s injury.

This is honestly gutting news, and he probably won’t race again. Such a sad event for such an honest horse.

WESTERN KNIGHT - CHELTENHAM 15.00 SATURDAY

JET BLUE was quite nice on the weekend in a weird race, but WESTERN KNIGHT was also impressive. He’s a big chasing type, but he travelled very strongly into the race and stayed up the Cheltenham hill quite nicely. He’s now had three runs over hurdles and he has a mark (currently) of 128, so that’s a rating to be exploited going forward. If not, he can keep his mark low for fences next season. Either way, watch him.

RISK ON

12.40 EPIC WEST

Won well lto and the yard have high hopes for him. Looks a two horse race with ANDASHAN who is yet to prove himself over obstacles. 11/10.

20.00 MHAJIM

A bit of a drifter but that’s owed to the money for James Owen’s fave. This lad ran well for a long way lto so should be better today dropped back slightly and can prove perhaps a good ew to nothing.

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