We’ve passed the halfway mark of this year’s Cheltenham Festival after yesterday’s showing and three equine stars, the likes of which the game needs desperately, didn’t disappoint onlookers in Gloucestershire on day two.
Samcro justified all the hype of an Irish hotpot with a facile win in the Ballymore, Presenting Percy claimed the RSA under a sublime ride from Davy Russell and left Pat Kelly with a Gold Cup horse on his hands, and Altior confirmed that he’s the best in training when winning the Queen Mother in the gutsiest of fashions.
Moving onto day three with a spring still in the step from those thrills and we’ve picked out two we think can go well at decent prices on this, St Patrick’s Day at Prestbury Park.
Ryanair Chase
Un De Sceaux is simply a harvester of Graded races who looked as good as ever when winning at Ascot last time.
As keen as he tends to run, though, deep ground over this trip might see his stamina stretched to its limits, for all that he’s the one they’ve all got to beat.
His position at odds-on in the market leaves scope for a little each-way play against him and that’ll be our course of action.
Sub Lieutenant is at home in this sort of company and chased home the market favourite in this race last year.
He was last seen when popping up behind Gold Cup winner Sizing John And Djakadam in the John Durkan on punishing ground at Punchestown.
He’s been given a rest after those exertions and he should get a nice toe into this with plenty that like to be ridden handily opposing.
This trip on this ground will suit him perfectly.
While the lack of a third place in this small field is a killer, we’re still willing to get involved.
Henry De Bromhead’s charge is simply too big a price on what he’s achieved already at 20/1.
Stayers' Hurdle
Jed O’Keefe’s Sam Spinner tops the market and this one and his performance in the Long Walk announced his ability and his attitude as twin threats to all comers in this division.
For all that he's got a great chance, we'll take him on in what might be the must competitive of the championship races so far this week.
Bacardys reverts back to hurdles for Willie Mullins after an unsuccessful rattle at the bigger obstacles and it looks a good move for him.
Third in a Champion Bumper in his younger days, he went on to win two Grade 1s over hurdles.
The step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem and he’s perhaps been underestimated by the market with his less-than-smooth transition to chasing leaving his profile less glossy than a couple of others here.
That can be ignored and he can go well at 11/1.
