Cheltenham Countdown: Blazer clearly better than his Betfair Hurdle run suggests
He didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages at an early stage, but it made little difference to the outcome, as he was beaten too far out for it to be a fair reflection of his ability.
While suggestions he is a Grade 1 horse are merely speculative at this stage of his career, I think it’s reasonably safe to assume he is better than his current rating. With that in mind, he remains of interest, and will do so for whatever handicap he turns up in at Cheltenham.
The Betfair Hurdle was won by Agrapart, who benefitted from a fine ride from Lizzie Kelly, and his victory further enhanced the Tolworth Hurdle form.
The Nick Williams-trained runner finished a well-beaten third behind Yorkhill and O O Seven in the Grade 1 race at Sandown and, with the runner-up having given the form a boost when winning at Musselburgh, it was a good week for connections of Yorkhill.
With Road To Respect winning his maiden hurdle at Thurles, and O O Seven, Mall Dini and Cyrius Moriviere all having won subsequent to finishing behind the Willie Mullins-trained runner, Yorkhill enhanced his reputation from the comfort of his stable.
But which race will he go for at Cheltenham? A week ago, the market suggested his Festival target was an open-and-shut case, pointing directly at the Neptune Hurdle as his odds for the Supreme drifted to 16-1 with the firms and 70 on the exchanges.
This week, however, owner Graham Wylie was quoted as saying the options remain open for his horse, the inevitable result of which was a shortening of his odds for the Supreme.
While that offers the slightest hope for those of us who have backed him for the Festival opener, the fact remains the market seldom gets it that wrong, and last week’s drift was far too dramatic for it to be without substance. At this stage, it’s hope more than expectation that he will turn up in the Supreme.
Whichever race he turns up in at the Festival, he has got to be given serious consideration, regardless of whether that means taking on Min or Yanworth.
Mullins and Wylie’s Black Hercules looked to have Sunday’s Grade 2 Ten Up Novices’ Chase at his mercy until tipping up at the last, and where that leaves him in regard to Cheltenham is hard to assess. As represented here a couple of weeks ago, he’s not my idea of an ideal type for the Festival, but even his most ardent of supporters must have some concerns now.
In contrast, stable-companion Sambremont may have been fortunate in the Flyingbolt Chase on the same card but that was over an inadequate trip, and he is a progressive sort, who could have a say in the four-mile chase. He is no bigger than 14-1 for that race, for which Mullins has a remarkably strong entry.
- It’s the season for Cheltenham Preview Nights, and one worth considering is being held in Larry Tompkins’ Pub on Monday, February 29. The panel includes Grade 1 winning jockey Jonathan Burke, leading trainers Tony Martin and Tony Mullins, broadcaster and journalist Geoff Lester, and Joe Seward from LifeFM as MC. Entry is €5, which will be donated to Crumlin Children’s Hospital, and the night gets underway at 7:30pm.
