Weights favour Bolger’s Boy
Enda Bolger has a great record in the race and as one of two runners in the race for the stable this afternoon, Arabella Boy looks favoured by the weights.
The eight-year-old has plenty of experience in this type of race and while he unseated Nina Carberry on his only try over this course, he has much in his favour.
In the eight runnings of the race, only two winners have carried more than 11 stone, and with just 10-9 on his back, the selection looks sure to go well.
He holds many of his fellow Irish raiders on previous form and, at around the 4-1 mark, he’s not bad value, either.
There’s no denying the potential of My Tent Or Yours, who heads the market for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but the apparent brilliance of his Newbury victory may have been exaggerated somewhat by the race turning into something of a sprint.
Being flat-bred, he excelled, skipping clear to win as he liked.
But Cheltenham, particularly on today’s testing ground, will ask questions of his unconfirmed stamina and the fact that he pulls very hard in his races will not aid his cause.
He’s a potential star but given the concerns and the level of competition, he looks too short in the betting.
We certainly haven’t seen the best of Philip Hobbs’ horse over fences and on more than one occasion this season the seven-year-old has really caught the eye.
He ran a fine second behind the promising Module at Newbury, despite his saddle slipping, and wasn’t seen to best effect when runner-up to Theatrical Star last time out.
His best form over hurdles came when an unlucky second, beaten a short head, behind Captain Conan in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown last year.
He’s rated below that form over fences, and looks capable of improving. If his jumping stands up, he’ll go very close.
