Hi all,

Inside today’s main you can read my thoughts on day three and four of the Cheltenham Festival. Plus, there’s two more eyecatchers from the meeting.

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Review – Part 2

Here are my highlights from the final two days of this year's Cheltenham Festival.

Thursday

The action switched to the New Course on Thursday, although the going was officially labeled as soft, the recorded times suggested it wasn't too far from good to soft, at least until the final race. In contrast to the preceding days, Thursday contained drama, excitement, surprises, and flashes of brilliance. And of course, we were treated to a fair share of bigger-priced winners to keep things interesting!

Skelton's Showcase: Trainer's Double Triumph at Cheltenham Festival Beyond Handicap Hurdles

It was the day when trainer Dan Skelton showcased his ability to train Cheltenham Festival winners beyond handicap hurdles. Firstly, his Grey Dawning triumphed in a thrilling Grade 1 Turners Novice Chase. Skelton's decision to drop him back to 2 miles and 4 furlongs, rather than taking on Fact to File in the Brown Advisory, proved to be the right call. The race resulted in a rare 1-2-3 for the British in a Grade 1 contest. There's no doubt that connections will set their sights on training him for next year's Gold Cup. While Grey Dawning shouldn't be underestimated, I personally believe that Fact To File holds the edge between the two.

Thursday continued to shine for Skelton as Protektorat rallied strongly to outlast Envoi Allen and secure victory in the Ryanair Chase. The decision to go for the shorter trip proved to be perfect for the impressive Protektorat, who thrived in the fast pace set at the distance. Envoi Allen appeared poised for victory approaching the final fence, last year's winner found nothing on the run in, allowing Protektorat to stride clear.

Teahupoo Triumphs: Stayers' Hurdle Victory Validates Fresh Approach

The decision to keep Teahupoo's fresh for the Stayers' Hurdle was validated as he triumphed over a lacklustre field of stayers to claim the prize. With the division lacking notable contenders in recent years, Teahupoo's dominance suggests that unless a strong competitor emerges, he's likely to secure victory in next year's race as well. Stablemate Sire Du Berlais couldn't replicate last year's victory in the race, but the 12-year-old displayed that there's still plenty of fire in the belly with a commendable fifth-place finish. Unlike twelve months ago, he didn't benefit from the strong pace he thrives on, but he showed resilience by staying on strongly towards the finish line. The Grade 1 at Aintree that he won last year beckons once more, and in a better-run race, he's certainly capable of reclaiming the title.

Jeremy Scott & Ben Jones Gain Breakthrough Festival Wins

Golden Ace managed to overcome some less than fluent jumping to secure victory in the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle, marking a maiden Cheltenham Festival success for her trainer Jeremy Scott. Despite her imperfect jumping, Golden Ace showed the best turn of foot in a race that unfolded at a steady pace. Odds on favorite Brighterdaysahead arrived from Ireland with high expectations, but the 2 miles and 1 furlong distance proved too short for her in a race that ultimately turned into a sprint. For trainer Fergal O’Brien it was a case of what might have been. His mare Dysart Enos, who was ruled out of the race due to a late setback, had beaten the winner comfortably last season and would have been suited by Thursday’s speed test.

Shakem Up'arry's victory in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase was a major win for me, and it was equally gratifying to witness jockey Ben Jones cap off his breakthrough season with a Cheltenham Festival success. I find it puzzling why trainers like Philip Hobbs, Emma Lavelle, and even the winning trainer Ben Pauling don't utilize Jones more frequently. While it may present challenges for Pauling, who also employs Kielan Woods, Jones's skill as a jockey is undeniable, making him the superior choice.

Thursday Eyecatcher:

Popova was having her first start since qualifying for the Pertemps Hurdle Final last November. It was evident she had been carefully prepared for the race, but unfortunately, the timing of the rain worked against her, as she performs better on a sounder surface. Nonetheless, she put in an encouraging performance, finishing 8th of 22, despite not getting the best of passage in the straight. With a winnable mark and better ground conditions, she's poised for success in the future.

Friday

More rain came on Thursday night and Gold Cup was run on ground which was according to the times soft to heavy.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is my favourite race of the year and this year’s race didn’t disappoint.

Galopin Des Champs Reigns Supreme in Cheltenham Gold Cup

Aside from Hewick who wouldn’t have figured on testing ground and Shishkin all the big names turned up for the race. It was genuine Gold Cup field in the races centenary year, and we got a genuine Gold Cup winner.

Galopin Des Chanps stormed to Gold Cup Glory with a super display of jumping and galloping. Only the presence of a loose horse (Fastorslow) posed any real threat to his back-to-back successes over the final two fences.

Gerri Colombe bounced back to form, securing a runner-up finish. However, despite his valiant effort, he could only watch as the winner stretched his lead after the second last, leaving him to chase in vain. Gerri Colombe is a good jumper of a fence, yet struggles to maintain momentum upon landing, often losing ground in the process.

Gerri Colombe is a decent jumper of a fence but doesn’t land running and loses momentum after jumping a fence. When the fences were stiffer the latter didn’t matter so much.

Grand National winner Corach Rambler displayed his renowned stamina by persevering to secure a commendable third-place finish. On paper it looks a perfect trial for the Grand National. However, the demanding race likely took its toll on him.

Meanwhile, Le Homme Presse put in a grand effort, showcasing his talent and determination. He travelled strongly but his stamina waned after being headed two out, resulting in a fourth-place finish.

Fastorslow was still going well just behind the leaders when unseating his rider at the 16^th. While we can't say for certain where he would have finished, it's unlikely that he would have been able to challenge the eventual winner for victory.

Majborough Shines in Triumph Hurdle Victory

Majborough, a horse with stamina and scope, ultimately outclassed his speedier stablemate, Kargese, to win the Triumph Hurdle. While he may not fit the mould of a typical Triumph Hurdle winner, his victory signals a promising future, likely transitioning to fences eventually. Physically, Majborough stood out as one of the most impressive contenders in the lineup, alongside the third-place finisher, Salver. Salver played a crucial role in setting a solid pace and demonstrated his potential as a future chaser by holding on for a commendable third-place finish.

Paul Townend's Masterclass: Absurde Sprints to County Hurdle Triumph”

Paul Townend delivered the ride of the week, showcasing his skill and precision aboard Absurde to clinch victory in the County Hurdle. Despite Afadil being granted a six-length lead and the pace being slow for much of the race, Townend maneuvererd Absurde expertly, capitalizing on the flat speed that had previously earned him success in the Ebor Handicap. In a race that turned into a sprint in the straight, Absurde's speed proved the decisive factor, ultimately overpowering the favorite, L'Eau Du Sud.

Albert Bartlett Heartbreak: The Jukebox Man Falls Short as Steller Story Triumphs

Heartbreak ensued for me in the Albert Bartlett as The Jukebox Man was narrowly beaten on the line by Steller Story. The Jukebox Man secured an easy lead and held a four-length advantage coming to the last hurdle, appearing to be traveling better than the eventual runner-up. If he had tackled the final hurdle more effectively, victory would have been his. The final 110 yards were a frustrating and agonizing watch.

Back in November I wrote in this column this about Stellar Story after his win at Navan.

“There should be plenty more improvement to come from him and he looks the type who will relish a battle and a further step up trip. He can win more races this season and akin to his stablemate Croke Park…he appears to be a genuine contender for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle”.

Sadly, I was right about him relishing a battle.  😔

Friday Eyecatcher:

In a week where there were relatively few eyecatchers, I found a couple of worth mentioning, from Friday’s action. Given the health of the Nicky Henderson yard I thought No Ordinary Joe ran a cracker in the Marin Pipe Handicap Hurdle. He travelled strongly for most of the race and only began to fade after the final hurdle. He could go for a 2m 4f handicap hurdle at Aintree but it’s a race he didn’t really fire in after such a good run here last year.

However, my attention was ultimately drawn to Samui after his solid 9th place finish in the County Hurdle, 8 ¼ lengths behind Absurde. Samui caught my eye because he finished strongly and appeared to be doing his best work towards the end of a steadily run race. Considering it was his first run in 168 days, he's likely to benefit from the outing, and I believe there's another 2-mile handicap hurdle win to be had with him over the spring and summer months, especially given his effectiveness on a sounder surface.

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Verdict

Firstly, let's give credit where it's due to the often-overlooked heroes of the festivals: the ground staff. Their crucial role in preparing and maintaining the track throughout the four days of racing, especially in the face of challenging weather conditions like the heavy rain in February and last week, deserves recognition. Their dedication and hard work certainly haven’t been missed by me.

It was truly a festival of two halves. The first two days left much to be desired, with only a few standout novice performances to redeem them. However, the final two days offered a much-improved spectacle, more befitting of the prestigious meeting.

We witnessed the best horses triumphing in the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup, which is always a good thing. Additionally, there were some outstanding performances from novices, hinting at a promising future for the sport.

On the track, there's certainly plenty to look forward to, provided all horses can maintain soundness—an ongoing challenge, as highlighted by the unfortunate events surrounding Constitution Hill.

Off the track, there's a gloomier outlook. Crowds are down, and the sentiment among many racing fans leading into the festival—that things are not working well with National Hunt Racing—will not have been alleviated by the events of the last four days.

Cheltenham's Tipping Journey: A Close Call Amidst Minor Losses, while the New Irish Flat Season Starts Strong

In terms of tipping, Cheltenham resulted in a minor loss, which could have turned into a profit if The Jukebox Man had managed to hold on in the Albert Bartlett. The fine margin of a head made the difference between ending in the red or black over the four days—a reminder of how close success can be. Overall, while it's disappointing not to come out ahead, it wasn't a disastrous outcome, and my tips for the month are still in positive territory. Nevertheless, despite being better prepared than ever, it's a shade disappointing to not achieve the desired outcome.

Cheltenham may have fallen slightly short of my expectations, but that's old news now. The new Irish flat season kicked off with a bang, featuring an 11/1 winner (Real Force) at the Curragh and another victory with Chazzesmee, advised at 11/2 to Victor Value subscribers.

I used the methodology outlined in yesterday’s column i.e. concentrating with on horses with a history performing well in March & April. I applied the approach I discussed in yesterday’s column, focusing on horses with a track record of performing strongly in March & April, particularly on heavy ground if that's the prevailing going.

Taking a cursory glance at Tuesday’s racing I decided nothing was getting the betting juices going.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John