Hard to see how anyone gets near Majborough in Champion Chase
Majborough put together a complete performance to win the Dublin Chase at the DRF in February. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Majborough can defy the recent trend of favourites coming unstuck in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase by winning the Cheltenham Festival day two feature for Willie Mullins, Mark Walsh, and JP McManus.
Seven odds-on shots have been turned over in this race in the last decade, a list that includes the Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux, Douvan, and El Fabiolo and the McManus-owned Defi Du Seuil and Jonbon.
One mistake in this speed test can be decisive and Majborough’s jumping hasn’t always been the most assured, most notably in last year’s Arkle when a succession of errors cost him victory.
But, aided by the application of cheekpieces, he finally put it together at the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) last month, slamming Marine Nationale by 19 lengths in the process.
That was a scintillating performance from the front and should he run to that level again, it’s hard to see how any of his nine rivals can get anywhere near him.
On that basis, Majborough gets a confident vote to give McManus a first Champion Chase success.
In a race short on depth, Irish Panther can reward the bold call of Eddie and Patrick Harty to run here rather than stick to novice company by leading the chasing pack home.
The other two Grade Ones on the card are far more competitive but Kaid d’Authie has a similar profile to Majborough and can back up his impressive DRF win by winning the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
Kaid d’Authie was very much the Mullins second string at Leopardstown but he pestered hot favourite and stablemate Final Demand from early on and had him beaten a long way before the finish. There’s no obvious reason why Kaid d’Authie won’t confirm that form but there’s a host of other dangers, with Romeo Coolio a particularly fascinating contender if his stamina lasts home over this significantly longer trip.
The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old already has three Grade One wins to his name this season but the last two have come over a trip just in excess of two miles. The Elliott team view Romeo Coolio as a Gold Cup horse in the making and if that dream is to remain alive beyond this week, he’ll need to run well here. However, his lack of experience of a marathon trip is a significant unticked box.
For that reason, Wendigo is feared more.
An unlucky fifth when hampered at a crucial stage in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival, the Jamie Snowden-trained seven-year-old ran a big race when third in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton, a track that plainly didn’t play to his strengths. He should be far more comfortable at this venue and ought to be in the mix at the finish.
The Turners Novices' Hurdle kicks off the day two action and the Elliott-trained Ballyfad, agonisingly denied a Grade One success by Talk The Talk at the DRF, can confirm Leopardstown form with King Rasko Grey.
Ballyfad was done for speed at the finish at Leopardstown so this step up in trip ought to suit. It should suit King Rasko Grey as well but Ballyfad is narrowly preferred.
It could be a wonderful Wednesday for Elliott as Favori De Champdou, an impressive winner over course and distance on Festival Trials Day in January, has strong claims in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, a race his trainer has won five times.
As ever, the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle looks fiercely competitive but The Yellow Clay must have strong claims if he returns to the form that saw him split The New Lion and Final Demand in last year’s Turners.
Things haven’t gone to plan so far this season but he has a touch of class and the application of cheekpieces combined with the 5lb claim of talented conditional jockey Michael Kenneally are clear positives. Storm Heart could prove his biggest threat.
Love Sign d’Aunou can provide Willie Mullins with a record-extending 15th success in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
A 24-length winner of a heavy-ground Naas bumper on his Rules debut in January, Love Sign d’Aunou sets the standard here and looks likely to go off one of the bigger priced Mullins-trained favourites of the week. At a big each-way price, Charismatic Kid, who ran below expectations at the DRF, might bounce back to hit the frame.
The Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase looks fiercely competitive but a chance is taken on Release The Beast landing the spoils for Paul Nolan.
Last year’s winner Jazzy Matty should also go well for trainer Cian Collins.
1.20 BallyfadÂ
2.00 Kaid d’AuthieÂ
2.40 The Yellow ClayÂ
3.20 Favori De Champdou (NB)Â
4.00 Majborough (Nap)Â
4.40 Release The BeastÂ
5.20 Love Sign d’AunouÂ
1.20 King Rasko GreyÂ
2.00 WendigoÂ
2.40 Storm HeartÂ
3.20 StumptownÂ
4.00 Irish PantherÂ
4.40 Jazzy MattyÂ
5.20 Charismatic Kid
