Snaith Barometer: 187
Target: 222
War Front Making A Big Impact In SA
Striker Reveals He Is Really Close To Retirement
Retirement was probably the last thing on Piere Strydom’s mind on December 7 last year after he had won the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas on the Brett and James Crawford-trained Fatal Flaw, but a nasty fall on December 31 at the Vaal has taken its toll. (JC Photos)
Piere Strydom said today from St. Francis Bay, where he has been having a break, “I’m really close to retirement, but I’ve just got to make a date and call it. Maybe the July will be the day, but I don’t know when, I have got make a call when I’m going to say enough is enough.”
Striker has ridden 56 winners this season and has the highest strike rate on the national log, 27.32%, and for most of the season he has looked evergreen and capable of continuing for a few more seasons.
However, he revealed, “That last fall took its toll, I have struggled to get over some of the injuries, because I pushed myself as well to get back early enough to ride See It Again in the Met and to ride Dyce. So maybe I came back a bit soon. I did do well straight after that, but I could feel it. A lot of people will say I had announced my pending retirement a long time ago, but I have never actually announced a date before.”
Immediate Edge Raised To A Capped 94, Breeze Over 100
Immediate Edge, who looks to be Hollywoodbets Durban July bound, was only able to be raised six points to 94 due to an operator’s condition. (JC Photos)
NHA Press Release
Handicapping Ratings Update
WORLD SPORTS BETTING AQUANAUT HANDICAP (Listed)
BREEZE OVER’S rating was increased from 94 to 100 following his victory in the Listed World Sports Betting Aquanaut Handicap, over 2400 meters at Turffontein on Saturday. The consistent fourth-place finisher, RAISEAHALLELUJAH, was identified as the most suitable line horse for rating this race, leaving his rating at 103.
Two other runners also received upward adjustments. The runner-up MARAUDING HORDE’S rating increased from 105 to 108. TWENTY DRACHMA’S, who was 2 points under sufferance in this handicap, was adjusted from 89 to 93 for beating the line horse by 1.5 lengths.
Two runners had their merit ratings lowered after the race. RULE BOOK dropped from 94 to 92, and CRIMSON KING dropped from 106 to 105.
WORLD SPORTS BETTING HAWWAAM STAKES (Listed)
IMMEDIATE EDGE, who remains unbeaten in his three starts, had his rating increased from 88 to 94 after his brave win in the World Sports Betting Hawwaam Stakes (Listed) over 2000 meters. The Handicappers unanimously agreed that the third-place finisher, DIWALI ROCKET, was the most suitable line horse for this race, keeping his rating unchanged at 91.
Due to the specific conditions of this race, the winner had to be capped at a maximum of 6 points and placed runners to 3 points. Consequently, IMMEDIATE EDGE had to be limited to a rating of 94 despite performing at a much higher level. The narrowly beaten runner-up WILD INTENT had to be capped at a rating of 99 despite performing at a higher level. The only other increase went to the fourth-place finisher, CASUS BELLI, who was increased from 80 to 83.
PANNING GOLD was the only runner to receive a rating drop, going down from 84 to 80.
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team
Pendenra Stud bring One Classy Filly To Yearling Sale
Lot 208 Pendenra Stud’s only horse at the Premier Yearling Sale will be this filly by Real Gone Kid out of a Right Approach one-time winner, who was a daughter of dual Gr 3 winner Secret To Success.
A boutique farm situated close to Robertson; Pendenra Stud is ideally placed for people who wish to board their mares close to some to some of the top stallions in the country.
Pendenra have already enjoyed plenty of success on the track, and made waves at January’s Summer Sale, where the farm’s sole yearling on offer was knocked down for R500 000.
Judy Davies will be bringing a very classy filly to the upcoming Premier Yearling Sale, and this filly looks sure to find favour with buyers.
Named Lady Jean (Lot 208), she is from the first crop of exciting young sire Real Gone Kid, a son of four-time Australlian Champion Sire Snitzel.
Out of the Jet Master sired champion In The Fast Lane, the speedy Real Gone Kid (whose granddam is the exceptional producer First Arrival), won six of 13 starts in a career which saw the chestnut account for the likes of champion sprinters Rio Querari and Kasimir.
Lady Jean, a half-sister to the useful Area Fifty One, is out of Secret Plan, a winning half-sister to a pair of black type horses in the form of Secret Chamber and Silent Partner respectively, while Secret Plan, in turn, is out of Gr 3 SA Fillies Nursery/Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes winner Secret To Success.
A half-sister to champion Special Key, herself the dam of top-class sprinter Thunder Key, Secret To Success is herself directly descended in female line from one of history’s greatest broodmares, Horama.
For more information on this filly, interested parties are asked to speak to Judy Davies on 076 814 7944.
Golden Ace Wins Most Dramatic Champion Hurdle In Living Memory
Lorcan Williams on Golden Ace celebrates a shock win in the Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham festival. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Outsider triumphs on day one of Cheltenham festival
Constitution Hill and State Man both fall independently
Greg Wood at Cheltenham (The Guardian)
Amid falling crowds, increasing numbers of odds-on shots and a relentless stream of winners from the Willie Mullins yard, it has been a popular theory in recent years that the Cheltenham festival was becoming a little too … predictable. But it was debunked in the space of four chaotic minutes of extraordinary drama on Tuesday.
Jeremy Scott’s mare Golden Ace, at 25-1, emerged as one of the most unexpected of all Champion Hurdle winners, at the end of a race in which both Constitution Hill and State Man – the champions in 2023 and 2024 respectively – were fallers.
Racegoers in the grandstand react as Constitution Hill falls in the Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham festival Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
A much-anticipated renewal of hurdling’s championship event, with Constitution Hill’s 10-race unbeaten record on the line as he attempted to seize back his crown, followed a predictable script to the fifth flight, with Constitution Hill, the odds-on favourite, settled in third behind his main market rival, Brighterdaysahead. But his proud, perfect record was gone in an instant a few seconds later, as the favourite clipped the top of the hurdle and tipped over.
His exit left Brighterdaysahead as the hot favourite in running, but she was already being ridden by Jack Kennedy as State Man, the defending champion, loomed up on her outside around the home turn.
State Man was clearly travelling much better than Brighterdaysahead and surged into an apparently decisive five-length lead on the run to the last, with Golden Ace moving into second. Just as it had for Constitution Hill, though, a clip of the hurdle was enough to send him crashing out, leaving Golden Ace – who was running in the Champion Hurdle only at the insistence of her owner, Ian Gosden – to pick up the spoils.
Both Constitution Hill and State Man emerged from their falls unscathed, while Lorcan Williams, Golden Ace’s jockey, summed up the general mood as he waited to pick up his prize afterwards.
“I’m shell-shocked,” Williams said. “Literally, I cannot believe it. She wasn’t travelling as well as I wanted in the latter part of the race, all I was thinking was that we could do with a bit further. Then I thought, ‘we’re staying on well for second’, and things started to happen.”
Williams admitted he and Scott had been “pushing [to run Golden Ace in] the Mares’ Hurdle massively”, earlier on the card, before being overruled by Gosden. “Massive call,” he said. “I’m just glad he did it.”
For Scott – a former dairy farmer and point-to-point trainer who sold off his herd to pursue a full-time career as a trainer – paid tribute to Camilla, his wife, and the rest of the team at his yard as he celebrated only the second festival success of his career, following Golden Ace’s defeat of Brighterdaysahead in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle last year.
State Man falls at the final hurdle and hampers Brighterdaysahead as Golden Ace, second right, goes clear to win the Champion Hurdle. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
“I couldn’t even dream it,” Scott said. “Thump me, because I must be fast asleep at the moment. I think my team at home will be as flabbergasted as I am. Camilla does a lot of the work at home and she has the patience of a saint. She’s the genius, rather than me.
“My owner and I were not at loggerheads, because ultimately he pays the bills [and] he was very keen to have a runner here today. We thought we could nick a little bit of prize money and we didn’t feel we could possibly beat Lossiemouth [in the Mares’ Hurdle] so it’s extraordinary how things work out.”
Nicky Henderson, Constitution Hill’s trainer, reported afterwards that his eight-year-old was “very bright and breezy” after his fall. “He seems fine,” Henderson said.
“He has been in terrific form [at home], but poor old State Man as well. You couldn’t believe those two silly old fools have gone and done what they have done today.
“When you are jumping as fast as they jump you have got to get it deadly accurate. It is tough, and we have to live with it, as we know what we are playing with. You have to live with these things, but it is cruel as we waited two years to get back here.”
All the focus was on four hot favourites for the Grade One races as the meeting opened here on Tuesday, and as it transpired only two managed to justify their short odds.
Kopek Des Bordes drew a blood-curdling roar from the crowd as he came up the hill to win the opening Supreme Novice Hurdle, while Lossiemouth – as Scott had anticipated – took the Mares’ Hurdle for the second year running.
Majborough, however, the 1‑2 favourite, was only third in a thrilling four-way conclusion to the Arkle Trophy, as Henderson’s Jango Baie finished fast and late to grab the spoils from Only By Night, with L’Eau Du Sud, who had jumped the last in front, back in fourth.
“It was a brilliant ride [by Nico de Boinville] as he had to sit and suffer,” Henderson said. “We thought we were going to make the running but he had no chance because he couldn’t go fast enough, simple as that. Luckily he flew the last and landed full of running, and suddenly the gap was going down. I didn’t know he could go that fast, I must admit.”
Normandy Stud Offers Classic Types At Premier Sale
Lot 158 is a Twice Over full sister to stakes-placed Grinkov. She is from the family of Mother Russia.
This 3 November filly is a prime opportunity of getting into the Mother Russia family. She is a full-sister to the stakes-placed Grinkov.
Few stud farms in South Africa boast as proud a track record as does Normandy Stud. The farm has bred a lengthy list of Gr 1 winners over the years, with Normandy bred stars ranging from champion stayer Aquanaut to star sprinters Sergeant Hardy and Rio Querari.
Also responsible for such champions as Mother Russia, whose legacy continues to be felt in the stud book, and Winter Solstice, Normandy will be bringing a classy string of yearlings to the Premier Yearling Sale. It is worth remembering that seven of the 11 were foaled in November, and three more were in October. So, many of them are still very immature and will continue to improve.
Normandy’s Oscar Foulkes had the following comments to make about some of the stars to be found in Normandy Stud’s classically bred draft for the Premier Sale:
Lot 158 f. Twice Over – Ekaterina
This 3 November filly is a prime opportunity of getting into the Mother Russia family. She is a full-sister to the stakes-placed Grinkov. Her half-sister, Yekaterina, has produced a 100% record, including the stakes-placed Miss Putin (sadly retired as a two-year-old, due to injury).
Lot 34 f. Hawwaam – Lady Warrior
We did this mating to collect as many lines of the Almahmoud family as possible (she was the granddam of Northern Dancer). This filly carries 12 lines of that great matriarch, along with duplications of many other esteemed ancestors. She’s a cracking individual, by the exciting prospect Hawwaam.
Lot 86 c. One World – Someone Exciting
This is a very smart colt by the boom sire One World. He’s the first foal of a four-time winning daughter of the stakes-winning Lady Perez.
Lot 125 c. Legislate – Azarenka
This 14 November foal is super athletic and just getting better and better as he fills into his frame. His dam was a talented runner who didn’t reach her potential as a result of a chipped knee. At stud she has a 100% record, including the highly promising Bourbon Warrior. Legislate’s record from small numbers will be the story of his life – he has just 18 three-year-olds, including several smart 2000m prospects.
Lot 141 c. Twice Over – Celigny
On the subject of late foals, this guy was born on 20 November. Like his dam, he is very high quality, and I’m expecting her to have imparted some of her sire’s speed. Celigny is from an international family that has produced Grade/Group I winners in every generation. Two of her daughters have produced stakes-winners, including the Fillies Guineas winner, Chansonette.
Lot 191 c. Elusive Fort – Night on the Hill
If this colt was by the likes of Vercingetorix, the auctioneer would be calling for an opening bid in the hundreds of thousands. He’s a serious looker and remarkably advanced for a 19 November foal. He’s from the Divine Music branch of the Terpsichore family.
For more information on Normandy’s Premier Sale draft, interested parties are asked to contact Oscar Foulkes on 083 297 3402.
Prosper Stud Offers Eight Stunning Lots At Premier Sale
This Erik The Red colt is out of Judpot mare Crackpot, who is from the family of Gr 1 winners Topa Inca and Urabamba among others.
PROSPER STUD OFFERS EIGHT STUNNING LOTS AT PREMIER SALE
Prosper Stud is an ideally situated farm, with the property based just outside of Robertson, and thus in very close proximity to some of South Africa’s top stud farms and stallions.
The farm, a regular vendor at Cape sales, will be offering eight excitingly bred yearlings at the 2025 Premier Yearling Sale.
Highlights of Prosper Stud’s Premier draft include:
Lot 146: Cracker c Erik The Red – Crackpot
Multiple graded stakes winner Erik The Red has made a bright start with his first runners this year including recent winners Tenjiku and Polar Light. Smart racemare Crackpot won seven times and ran third in both the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes and Listed Jockey Club Stakes. She has already produced a pair of winners, both of whom were sired by Erik The Red’s close relative Master Of My Fate, and this is the family of Gr 1 winners Topa Inca and Urabamba among others.
Lot 151: Sir Orbit c Malmoos – Down To Earth
Promising young sire Malmoos made his mark at the Summer Sale, where members of his first crop made up to R1 100 000. The colt on offer is out of Down To Earth, a twice winning half-sister to this season’s promising two-year-old Spacebound as well as to Gr 3 Lebelo Sprint hero Taikonaut and Listed Perfect Promise Sprint winner Mercury Rising. This colt’s Gr 2 placed granddam Earth’s Orbit was sired by champion sire Captain Al, also the sire of Malmoos. Further back, this is the family of champions Foveros and Hinterland.
Lot 164: Fantastic Sparkle f Erik The Red – Fantastic Lady
By a son of Captain Al who is closely related to Triple Crown winner Malmoos, this filly is a half-sister to two winners. Her dam Fantastic Lady is a half-sister to the stakes placed Flaxton, with Fantastic Lady herself a daughter of a Gr 3 placed daughter of Golden Slipper winner and top-class sire Rory’s Jester.
Lot 225: f Elusive Fort – Valediction
By the same sire as top-class fillies Siren’s Call, Lauderdale and Secret Potion, as well as Gr 1 July/MET winning sire Kommetdieding, this filly is out of a four time winning daughter of Captain Al.
From the great Party Time family, her granddam is a full-sister to globetrotting July winning champion Trademark. This filly is bred on the same Elusive Fort/Captain Al cross as the aforementioned Kommetdieding.
Lot 232: Winning Doc c Erupt – Winning Sister
By the sire of smart performers Moonlight Trader, Unzen, Buster Barnes and Mount Pinatubo, this colt is out of a winning Dynasty full-sister to Gr 2 Post Merchants winner Daring Dave.
His granddam is a winning of top-class US sire Grand Slam, and third dam is a full-sister to Gr 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf winning champion Manila.
For more information on this draft, interested parties are asked to speak to Jikke de Wet on 083 288 8112.
Beaumont Stud Brings Super Seven To Premier Sale
Lot 30 is a Master Of My fate colt who is a full-brother to the smart Mastagambit and half-brother to promising filly Kyalami Girl.
Beaumont Stud has enjoyed a good run of success of late, with the farm’s recent winners including smart sprinter Meu Capitano, debut winner Jet Force and classy galloper Storm Brasco.
Famed for breeding dual South African Horse of The Year Variety Club, Beaumont will be offering a seven strong string at the upcoming Premier Yearling Sale. This draft is comprised of yearlings sired by proven sires Legislate, Master Of My Fate, Pathfork, and What A Winter, as well as by exciting young sire Real Gone Kid.
Potential stars include:
Lot 30: c Master Of My Fate – Keyra
By the sire of Gr 1 winners Atticus Finch, Sentbydestiny, Tempting Fate and Zarina, this colt is a full-brother to the smart Mastagambit and half-brother to promising filly Kyalami Girl.
This colt is out of the Western Winter mare Keyra, a dual winner who finished third in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes. The well related Keyra is a half-sister to Gay Regina, the Gr 2 winning dam of Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes winner Bulsara and granddam of Gr 1 Vodacom Durban July winning champion Marinaresco. Inbred to Elliodor, this Master Of My Fate colt’s third dam Welsh Woman produced Celtic Grove, South Africa’s Horse of The Year in 2000.
Lot 119: c Legislate – Always Dancing
Champion Legislate is a stallion with outstanding statistics. The Horse of The Year is siring 12% stakes winners to foals, while Legislate is also sire of 62% winners to foals. Always Dancing is a winning three-parts sister to Gr 2 Merchants/Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes winner Mardi Gras (also sired by Oratorio).
A half-sister to Gr 3 Starling Stakes winner She’s A Giver, the dam of Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery runner up Mount Pinatubo, Always Dancing is out of the Gr 1 placed Var mare Valeta. The latter is a full sister to Listed Bauhinia Handicap winner La Volta, the dam of Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winning sire Master Archie.
Always Dancing’s granddam is Gr 1 Majorca Stakes winner Sarabande, the dam of graded stakes winners Mardi Gras and Chesalon. The latter was sired by Fort Wood, the grandsire of Legislate.
Lot 198: c What A Winter – Princess Chloe
Four time Gr 1 winner, and triple Equus Champion, What A Winter has sired nearly 30 black type winners, headed by champion sprinters Isivunguvungu and Russet Air, and fellow Gr 1 winners Clouds Unfold, Humdinger, and Warrior’s Rest. The son of Western Winter was South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YOs in 2019-2020 and Leading First Season Sire of 2016-2017.
Princess Chloe, dam of three winners including the useful Dubai Hills, is a twice winning daughter of champion sire and champion broodmare sire Captain Al, and she is out of multiple graded stakes winner Joshua’s Princess. The latter won all the Gr 2 South African Fillies Guineas, Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks and Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, with Joshua’s Princess winning or placing in seven graded races.
Lot 254: f Pathfork – Dark Song
Irish Champion Pathfork is one of South Africa’s underrated stallions. The son of Distorted Humor has sired a host of top-class performers led by Equus Champion Royal Victory, and fellow Gr 1 winners Main Defender, Mighty High and Pearl Of Asia.
From the family of Northern Guest and Redoute’s Choice, Pathfork is also responsible for such top-class graded stakes winners as Bingwa, Marchingontogether, My Friend Lee, Olivia’s Way, Red Chesnut Road, and Jet Start.
Dark Song is a winning daughter of the ill-fated Kingsbarns, whose progeny included champion Gabor, and the stakes placed Winter Heart.
This is one of the great families in the stud book, with its members including star sire half-brothers Invincible Spirit and Kodiac, French Oaks winner Rafha, Australian star Pride Of Dubai and South African champion Enaad. This is also the family of Gr 3 Allied Steelrode Yellowwood Handicap winner Olivia’s Way, a daughter of Pathfork.
For more information on Beaumont’s Premier draft, interested parties can contact Anton Shepherd on 082 652 7005 or email him at beaumontstud@mweb.co.za
Jonbon Can Take The Queen Mother Chase
Jonbon has been tipped to win the Gr 1 Queen Mother Chase. (Picture: Sky Sports)
Formguides And Selections For Cheltenham Festival Wednesday
At The Races
1 3:20 PM SA Time – Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race)
THE YELLOW CLAY, who was sixth in the Champion bumper here 12 months ago before finishing as the runner-up in the Punchestown equivalent last May, has flourished over hurdles and is an attractive proposition bidding to maintain his unbeaten status in this discipline. The son of Yeats travelled stylishly when recording a Grade 1 success at Naas in January and should be spot on for his Festival return. Final Demand and The New Lion have also yet to taste defeat and are serious players. The former could hardly have been more impressive when bridging the gap from winning a Limerick maiden to score readily in the top-tier at Leopardstown last month. He rates the pick of Willie Mullin’s sextet as the trainer bids for a fourth consecutive winner of this race. The latter simply seems to be getting better with each run and is the most striking contender for the home-trained team, although Potters Charm and Sixmilebridge have live each-way chances.
Top Tip: The Yellow Clay (11)
Watch out for: Final Demand (1)
2 4:00 PM – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices’ Chase) (GBB Race)
With no English challengers going to post for this year’s renewal, the Irish raider who makes the most appeal is BALLYBURN, who is one of four contenders for the Willie Mullins yard. The son of Flemensfirth romped home in the Gallagher at last year’s Festival and has progressed with each of his three starts over fences this campaign. His best effort came last month when giving a five-length beating to Croke Park, who came into that Leopardstown contest seeking a hat-trick at the top level. The seven-year-old looks to have been perfectly primed for this assignment and he can give his trainer back-to-back successes in this race. His stablemate Dancing City is no slouch, as he secured three Grade 1 wins over the smaller obstacles last year and is unbeaten in two outings over fences. The son of Feel Like Dancing could have lots more to offer, so he has to be respected, along with Better Days Ahead.
Top Tip: Ballyburn (1)
Watch out for: Dancing City (3)
3 4:40 PM – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
Having landed the last two renewals of this contest, Dan Skelton’s sole representative Be Aware must be taken seriously. The six-year-old finished a cracking second in the Greatwood here in November and he may not have been at his best when subsequently beaten at Ascot. The son of Martaline has untapped potential over this distance and an 81-day break will have freshened him up. However, Nicky Henderson has scooped this prize four times since 2010 and IMPOSE TOI may further enhance his fine record. The JP McManus-owned gelding arrives on the back of a career-best victory in a class 2 event at Newbury and a 7lb higher mark is unlikely to prevent another bold bid. First-time cheekpieces may eke out further improvement from the son of It’s Gino and a seventh career victory may beckon. Comfort Zone posted an excellent third at Leopardstown over Christmas and he is the pick of the Irish contingent, followed closely by last year’s runner-up Ballyadam and Jimmy Du Seuil.
Top Tip: Impose Toi (11)
Watch out for: Be Aware (17)
4 5:20 PM – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)
It is difficult to get away from STUMPTOWN. Gavin Cromwell’s charge has to concede weight all round but boasts a really good record at Cheltenham (2-5 including two placed efforts) and he’s 1-1 over C&D. He unseated his rider on his Cross Country debut at Punchestown last May but hasn’t looked back since, with three straight wins in this sphere making him the one to beat. The eight-year-old won much more easily than the winning margin suggests when he got the better of Mister Coffey here in December and everything points to a big run. Gordon Elliott’s horses are always taken seriously in this race and Galvin, a former Grade 1 scorer and Festival winner in 2021, looks the pick of his six runners. Vanillier is another Cromwell horse to watch out for as he beat the reopposing Coko Beach by some 18 lengths at Punchestown last month and also won the Albert Bartlett here in 2021. Busselton and Latenightpass may appeal to those looking for an each-way play in the race.
Top Tip: Stumptown (1)
Watch out for: Galvin (2)
5 6:00 PM – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
This illustrious contest hasn’t been too kind to favourites over the years, with the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Douvan and Shishkin all being defeated. There are doubts surrounding a few of these, though, and Nicky Henderson will be hopeful that JONBON can justify a short price. The classy son of Walk In The Park recorded yet another Grade 1 success when proving far too strong for the reopposing Energumene in the Clarence House at Ascot last time out. The nine-year-old may not get the respect he deserves at times but victory here would surely rubber stamp him as one the very best of this current crop. It would be dangerous to allow Solness, now a dual Grade 1 winner following his success in the Dublin Chase, an easy time of things in front and he’s the main threat. Marine Nationale has been chasing his tail recently but the 2023 Supreme winner cannot be overlooked.
Top Tip: Jonbon (4)
Watch out for: Solness (8)
6 6:40 PM – Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
Last year’s winner Unexpected Party bids for a repeat off 6lb higher. Dan Skelton’s charge warmed up for this with a good effort at Windsor and can launch another serious challenge. The King Of Prs fell in last year’s renewal, but won a Grade 3 handicap in good style at Fairyhouse in January and can feature with a clear round. JAZZY MATTY landed the Fred Winter here back in 2023 and was narrowly beaten, despite the unfavourable terms, over these fences in October. A subsequent prep over hurdles at Thurles will have him primed for action and Cian Collins’ six-year-old is fancied to run a big race. My Mate Mozzie returned to action with respectable second at Leopardstown and could land a blow, while both So Scottish and American Mike merit consideration.
Top Tip: Jazzy Matty (15)
Watch out for: Unexpected Party (7)
7 7:20 PM – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
Willie Mullins has dominated the Champion Bumper for the best part of three decades, winning it 13 times including last year with Jasmin De Vaux. A quite memorable success too, given he was ridden by his son Patrick Mullins to notch up a century of Festival wins for the Closutton maestro. He is well represented again, saddling five, and Copacabana looked the real deal when bolting up on debut at Navan. He will no doubt prove popular, but his stablemate GAMEOFINCHES just edges it on the basis that he was equally as impressive on his Rules bow at Punchestown last month and has a bit more experience from his time in the pointing sphere. Bambino Fever looks the pick of his two mares having created a striking impression at the Dublin Racing Festival, while Listed Navan winner Kalypso’chance boasts a similar profile to her and is another to bear in mind.
Top Tip: Gameofinches (5)
Watch out for: Copacabana (1)
Today's Question
Who has been the leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival the most times?
The pictures shows the subject
FIELDS, Thursday, 13 March
Turffontein Inside
Today’s Question Answer
Willie Mulllins has been leading trainer at the Festival eleven times to Nicky Henderson’s nine and Martin Pipe’s eight. Mullins has been outright leader on all eleven occasions, whereas Henderson and Pipe shared a few of their titles with other trainers (it simply goes on the number of winners at any given festival).
