Cheltenham Festival 2024: Review Of British Racing Across The Festive Period
The new year brings a tide of optimism and expectation as we edge another step closer to the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. We’re now under 10 weeks out from the opening day of the meeting and I for one cannot wait.
We saw a number of Festival clues throughout the festive period, with several impressive performances on both sides of the Irish Sea. And one extraordinary success from a certain French-based horse. But more on him later…
So, on this day just after the first batch of Cheltenham Festival entries are released, it’s time for me to look back on the Christmas racing and what we learned with a view to running at Prestbury Park in the spring.
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Pre-Christmas
GIDLEIGH PARK is a leading contender for the Ballymore Novices Hurdle. It’s great to see Harry Fry with another talented one and he’ll be hoping that Gidleigh Park can go one better than the late Neon Wolf did back in 2017.
He beat some nice prospects with consummate ease and is clearly held in high regard by connections – with good reason. He’s expected to run at Cheltenham on Trials Day and I’ll be keeping a very close eye on him that day.
A bit of a talking horse heading into the season, WELCOM TO CARTRIES showed his battling qualities when winning a maiden hurdle at Ascot on 22nd December. He beat a few expensive types and he looks a proper, proper stayer.
Harry Cobden had to earn his riding fee but his mount responded generously and the further he goes, the better he’ll be. Interestingly, the Grade 2 River Don Novices Hurdle is next up for him – Stay Away Fay ran in that race enroute to the Albert Bartlett last season…
It looks like DJELO is leading the way for the British in the novice chase division and you’d have to be impressed at the manner of his success in the Grade 2 Howden Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot, with the Venetia Williams runner pulling six lengths clear of KANDOO KID.
The runner up has been put up 5lbs for that performance, but I still think there’s scope in his mark off 141. I’d like to see him aimed at the Plate Handicap Chase as I’d give him a decent enough chance of running well in a race like that.
LET IT RAIN was a superb winner of the Listed bumper at Ascot on 22nd December - and Dan Skelton refused to rule out a Champion Bumper bid – although they stated that she would only run if the ground was soft.
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26th December
JANGO BAIE claimed Grade 1 glory for Nicky Henderson in the Formby Novices Hurdle but was he fortunate to do so? I think the majority tend to agree that FARREN GLORY – winner of the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novices Hurdle at Fairyhouse – was travelling best when he fell.
Take nothing away from the Henderson runner though and it was great to see James Bowen win his first Grade 1. The bookmakers weren’t that impressed though and you can back him at 33/1 to win the Supreme Novices Hurdle on the opening day of the festival.
We’ll discuss IL EST FRANCAIS a little later on…
It was brilliant to see CONSTITUTION HILL back and he looks as reliable as ever, skipping over his hurdles for a bloodless success in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park.
It was nothing more than a piece of work for him and he did it effortlessly.
The Irish contingent will need him to be some way below his best to stand any chance of reversing last year’s Champion Hurdle form. He’s no price in the antepost markets but he is the horse of the moment and it truly is a joy to watch him in full flight.
HEWICK won a dramatic King George VI Chase, despite falling out the back of the television early on in the race. It looked like SHISHKIN was going to win before a stumble put him out of the race and then it was between ALLAHO and BRAVEMANSGAME to fight out the finish.
However, the fast-finishing Hewick powered past his rivals to win the race for Shark Hanlon and it was superb to see a smaller yard win the big prize on Boxing Day. Going forward, who knows if Hewick would confirm the form, but he wouldn’t be for me…
Shishkin is the fly in the ointment for the rest of the Gold Cup field. I’m pretty sure he would have won the King George had he stayed on his feet, but Hewick would’ve been only a few lengths behind. We’ll see how the form works out in time!
27th December
Not for the first time on Welsh Grand National day, the ground was horrendous at Chepstow and there was a wealth of non-runners – BURDETT ROAD the highest profile of those.
However, his loss was SALVER’s gain and he absolutely sluiced up in the conditions. He might not go and win the Triumph Hurdle but he’s certainly talented and connections will be doing a rain dance in March…
Just five horses completed in the Welsh Grand National and NASSALAM handled conditions best of all to win the Chepstow feature. He was excellent value for his win but was hit hard by the handicapper. Off a mark of 161, handicaps are likely out of the question.
SIR GINO has been touted as a potential Triumph Hurdle candidate for some time and you’d have to be impressed with how he put the race to bed on his first run for Nicky Henderson. It was an excellent performance and he is one of the ones to beat in March. Get him on board if you haven’t already.
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30th December
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite JERIKO DU REPONET showed a blistering turn of foot to win at Newbury and he looks a serious, serious horse. While connections continue to cool the hype, he looks a real prospect for the opening race of the Festival.
Henderson suggested that he needs another run and he’ll surely follow the Jonbon route and head to Haydock in late January. If everything goes to plan for the Seven Barrows team, he could line up in March as a Grade 2 winner and he’ll be a major player in the Supreme.
The Challow Novices’ Hurdle looked wide open on paper and CAPTAIN TEAGUE got back to winning ways with a hard fought success. WILLMOUNT was a big drifter and he was pulled up, though Henderson said afterwards that they’d found a reason for his poor run.
JOHNNYWHO was eye-catching back in fourth, staying on stoutly to finish a never-nearer two lengths behind the winner. The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle surely beckons for him and he may be one of the best British candidates for that particular race.
Over at Taunton, QUEENS GAMBLE threw her hat in the ring for the Mares Novice Hurdle and Harry Derham will be hoping that she gets to Cheltenham in peak condition. She will need to jump better on the whole but the New Course will surely suit her skillset.
1st January
STAGE STAR was very disappointing at Cheltenham, but Paul Nicholls confirmed on Tuesday morning that he had pulled a muscle and was sore afterwards. I’m a forgiving type and I’d be willing to give him another chance in March, especially on ground that is likely to be much less testing.
The performance of New Year’s Day was undoubtedly BOB OLINGER in the Relkeel Hurdle and it was fantastic to see him back to his brilliant best. He travelled with exuberance and those in attendance at Prestbury Park were overjoyed to see him in the winner’s enclosure.
PERFORMANCE OF THE FESTIVE PERIOD
Il Est Francais looks like an absolute star. He took my breath away in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices Chase and some very good horses in behind him just couldn’t go the pace – it was a pleasure to watch him attack his fences from start to finish.
He’s a relatively short price to win the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day in 2024 but I certainly wouldn’t be putting anyone off backing him. Given an RPR of 168 for that victory, I’d give him a rating of closer to 175 myself. I thought he was that good.