‘In-between’ horses continue to get cold shoulder from Cheltenham
The reason is quite simple: there is no suitable race for them. It is not a problem if talking about seasoned chasers.
They have the pick between the two-mile Champion Chase, the three and a quarter mile Gold Cup, or the two miles and five Ryanair.
Novice chasers and hurdlers are more than well catered for as well. They can both travel any one of three roads.
The chasers can head for the Arkle (two miles), RSA Chase (three miles) or the Jewson (two and a half).
The hurdlers have the Supreme Novices’ (two miles), the Neptune (two miles and five), or the Albert Bartlett (three miles).
But, for whatever reason, many of the top hurdlers are denied such a choice. They can only go in two directions, for the two mile Champion Hurdle or the three mile World Hurdle.
There is no intermediate distance and it makes little sense to me. Such a thought process is somewhat accelerated by the fact that this season’s contests house horses which appear to be literally unbeatable.
Hurricane Fly now looks impossible to oppose in the Champion Hurdle, while the seemingly indestructible Big Buck’s will go off a short price in the World Hurdle.
I’ve heard it said the reason there is no two and a half mile contest for hurdlers out of novice class is that it could dilute the Champion and the World Hurdles.
But the Ryanair, which was formerly the Cathcart, has never done any harm to the two-mile Champion Chase or the Gold Cup.
And the Albert Bartlett Hurdle and the Jewson Chase, which are relatively new to the Cheltenham programme, have been welcome additions and had little or no effect on the more high-profile novice events.
Willie Mullins has three serious horses, which basically have no business heading to Cheltenham, namely So Young, Mikael D’Haguenet and Zaidpour.
On all known form none of them is anywhere near quick enough to challenge for the Champion Hurdle.
And you would have to say that, as good and all as they are, it requires at least a minor leap of faith to picture them matching strides not just with Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle, but also Oscar Whisky.
But that is the road, if connections want them to run at the Festival, they are going to be forced to go down.
There are two others who stick out like a sore thumb as candidates for a two and a half mile championship race and they are Oscars Well and Rock On Ruby.
They are going to contest the Champion Hurdle and, perhaps, would do so even if the option was there of running over an extra half a mile. But could you imagine that pair and Mullins’ trio all taking each other on over, arguably, their ideal trip? Does it make sense or what?
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A couple of weeks ago we recommend here having a little on Boston Bob to win at Cheltenham at 6-1 with William Hill.
The firm are unique in being the only ones to offer odds on a horse winning at the festival, as against having to specify a particular race. That price is now 4-1.
Boston Bob gave his prospects a major boost with a powerful display in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown on Sunday.
As one of his biggest fans, I thought he had a massive job on attempting to give stable companion, Make Your Mark, no less than 10lbs.
Make Your Mark bolted away with a maiden to the tune of ten lengths at Leopardstown previously and a week yesterday the form appeared especially smart.
By the next afternoon, though, doubts began to play on one’s mind.
Competitive Edge had been second to Make Your Mark in that race and when he finished a disappointing fourth to Aupcharlie on the Saturday then that changed everything.
As it turned out Make Your Mark could only manage third to Boston Bob, after the progressive Lyreen Legend, who was also getting 10lbs, emerged as the biggest danger.
This week Boylesports were offering Boston Bob at a massive 8-1 for the Neptune and you’d love to rip into that. But we can’t until we know exactly what Willie Mullins’ plan is.
The scenario may be a little clearer after the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow week.
Mullins intends running Sous Le Cieux in that, but even afterwards, I suppose, we will have to continue to be conservative and not back Boston Bob for a particular race until we know precisely where he is actually heading.
Looking at Flemenstar demolishing the opposition in the Grade 1 Arkle at Leopardstown on Sunday made you wonder about Bog Warrior, who hasn’t been seen since taking a heavy fall at Leopardstown at Christmas.
He ran away from a heavily-backed Flemenstar at Navan in November and then took the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse with any amount in hand.
Let’s hope he is back on track-sooner rather than later.
