The Weekend Preview

Back to action at Cheltenham

Whilst we are all anxiously waiting to find out the fate of the card at Cheltenham this Saturday as a result of frost on track, we can still look forward to what is in store if the card is to take place, on what is a fantastic two-day meeting of racing at Prestbury Park, one that has often put the spotlight onto exciting younger prospects through both the Triumph Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Trials.

AIS December Gold Cup Handicap Chase

This year’s renewal of the AIS December Gold Cup Handicap Chase looks to be just as exciting as it always is, and heading the market at 4/1 is the Paul Nicholls trained il Ridoto. The 5-year-old was last seen finishing fourth behind Ga Law in Paddy Power Gold Cup, in what was his first start of the season, making his return to racing action after having wind surgery. He is set to run of an official mark of 139 as he bids to win for a second time since moving to the Champion Trainers yard.

The top weight in the field is the Sam Thomas trained 6-1 shot Stolen Silver. Running of a mark of 150, the 7-year-old has course and distance winning form, having won the Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 2) in April of a mark of 143. He was last seen unseating three from home in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the November Meeting where he went of as the 4/1 favourite, and looks to return to winning ways this weekend.

At a larger price in the field, the Richard Hobson trained Fugitif looks to be an interesting contender. He was last seen finishing just over a length of in second in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on the 11th of November, which was his seasonal reappearance. He runs of a mark of 133 carrying just 10-11, the fourth lowest in this field of 15, making him an interesting outside chance at 12/1.

Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2)

The International Hurdle has seen its fair share of superstars across its past renwals, with previous winners consisting of Rooster Booster, Harchibald and The New One. This year is set to be no different, with a field of 5 declared hoping to be added to the prestigious list of past victors.

The 5/4 favourite is Champion Hurdle winning, and 6-time Grade 1 winner (Since moving to Nicky Henderson’s) Epatante. The 8-year-old was last seen finishing a distant second behind stablemate Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, on what was her seasonal reappearance.

However, despite being 12 lengths of the winner in her most recent run, she is not to face quite the same quality as Constitution Hill in Saturday’s renewal of the International Hurdle, meaning she is more than capable of bouncing back to winning ways if she is to set a similar standard to that we saw of her last season.

Epatante however, is set to face a new set of challengers than that she has previously met, with the Nigel Twiston Davies runner I Like To Move It entered hoping to cause an upset to favourite backers. He was last seen powering up the Cheltenham Hill to score a 5 ½ win in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, more than earning his place amongst this field at 3/1.

At 4/1 is Knappers Hill, running for Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls. Looking to make it 5 in a row this Saturday, Knappers Hill’s last defeat came in the Paddy Power National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Hurdle back in March where he was 15th of 17. Since this however, he has gone from strength to strength for the Ditcheat team, last seen winning the Unibet Elite Hurdle (Grade 2) at Wincanton, beating the likes of Sceau Royal and Knight Salute.

If Epatante is to return to the class she has proven in the past, she looks to have enough to beat what are a brand-new set of challengers hoping to stamp their place into Champion Hurdle contention.

2m4½f (2m4f100y) John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)

Without doubt, one of the most exciting horses in training last year was Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs. Having concluded the season before last as the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle winner at the Cheltenham festival, as well as the winner of the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) at Punchestown a little over a month later, he was set to take the step up to the bigger obstacles the following season, a switch he seemed to thrive under.

Following his triumphs in both his chasing debut as well as the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase, the Turners Novice’ Chase at Cheltenham was the next step, of course resulting in his infamous final fence fall when well clear.

That seemed to have little impact on him however, for he recorded an 18-length demolishing of the field at Fairyhouse just a month later in the BoyleSports Gold Cup Novice Chase. Since then, excitement has grown further and further, leading him to be the current ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March and 1/3 favourite to make a winning seasonal reappearance in a competitive Grade 1 this Sunday at Punchestown in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, won by trainer Willie Mullins 7 times out of the past 10 renewals of the race.

The favourites biggest challenger is the 4-time Grade 1 winning 7-year-old Fakir D’oudairies, who concluded last season by finishing 5th in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April, just under three weeks after winning the Melling Chase at Aintree by 5 ½ lengths, form which would suggest he poses a real threat to the favourites bid to make a seasonal reappearance victory.

Also amongst this high-class field is last year’s winner of the PaddyPower Irish Gold Cup Conflated, National Hunt Challenge Cup winner Stattler (also of the Willie Mullins yard), as well as past Grade 1 winner in his own right Fury Road, suggesting it will not be an easy outing for Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs, hoping to kick-start his season in fine fashion.

2m½f (2m160y) Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2)

Willie Mullins’ star 2-mile chaser Energumene ended last season by winning the Punchestown Champion Chase by 8 ½ lengths with stablemate Chacun Pour Soi finishing behind in second. His stellar season however saw its peak a month before this in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, where he went on to score an impressive 8 ½ length victory in rather treacherous conditions on day 2 of the festival. The 8-year-old has been beaten just once over fences, a defeat which came in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot last January, which turned into one the races of the season as Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin clawed Energumene back in a pulsating finish.

Energumene will take on 6 rivals in his seasonal reappearance this Sunday, most notably Captain Guiness of the Henry De Bromhead yard, who was last seen scoring the Grade 2 Fortia Chase at Navan last month.

Master McShee is also an interesting contender in the race, having been seen last back in April finishing second behind Galopin Des Champs in the BoyleSports Gold Cup Novice Chase (Grade 1), even if it was the 18 lengths behind. Before this run, he ran ¾ of a length of winner Sizing Pottsie in the Grade 2 Webster Cup Chase over 2 miles, showing he has the class to compete in this field.

Last year’s winner Energumene however, looks to be much too good for this field if he is to return to action at the same level we saw him conclude last season at, with the added factor that trainer Willie Mullins has taken the top prize in this race 13 times out of the previous 15 running’s since 2007, boosting confidence around a winning return for Energumene this Sunday.