Racing
Cheltenham Win 6 Preview | 11th March
13.20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle
NO DRAMA THIS END has done very little wrong in winning all three hurdle starts, including when an impressive winner over C&D in a Grade 2 event on his first go in this sphere and could turn out to be a superstar.
Willie Mullins’ SOBER and SORTUDO are good horses and could give Paul Nicholls’ charge plenty to think about but I still fancy the English representative to come out on top.
Tips: NO DRAMA THIS END, SOBER & SORTUDO
14.00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Some finishing runner-up on his first couple of chase starts, OSCARS BROTHER hasn’t looked back, collecting a pair of Grade 2 events and is well worth his place in this field.
This is clearly much tougher as he faces quicker ground but he’s rapidly progressive and could easily take a hand in the finish.
ROMEO COOLIO’s latest success was boosted by Kargese winning the Arkle yesterday and he’s worthy of respect stepping up in trip.
Tips: OSCARS BROTHER & ROMEO COOLIO
14.40 BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle
JINGKO BLUE must be well handicapped off a mark of 144. Twice a winner as a novice, he fluffed his lines in a Grade 1 here last season but impressed on his first two chase starts, which included a Grade 2 success at Windsor when beating the 148 Lowry’s Bar.
He only found Kabral Du Mathan too strong when an excellent second in the Relkeel Hurdle here on New Year’s Day and can run a big race under James Bowen. FRANCISCAN ROCK, FARREN GLORY and THE YELLOW CLAY all have the back-class to get seriously involved if bringing their best form to the table.
Tips: JINGKO BLUE, FRANCISCAN ROCK, FARREN GLORY & THE YELLOW CLAY
15.20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
STUMPTOWN has become one of the best cross-country horses of the modern era and produced a stunning weight-carrying performance to collect this pot twelve months ago by seven lengths.
Everything went wrong for him in the Grand National but he bounced back to land the Velka Pardubicka on his latest start and has been kept fresh for this since by Gavin Cromwell.
PIED PIPER is catching my eye at bigger odds though. The eight-year-old is very quirky but he saves his best for this venue with his Cheltenham form reading 131232. He’s made the frame on all previous runs at the Festival, so he’s a huge price if he brings his A game to the table.
Tips: STUMPTOWN & PIED PIPER
16.00 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase
MAJBOROUGH will undoubtedly prove a tough nut to crack based on the way he sliced a top-class field apart at Leopardstown and is a worthy favourite with certainly more to come.
IRISH PANTHER pushed Romeo Coolio so close in a Grade 1 last time out on just his second start over fences and it’s intriguing to see him go for this race instead of the Arkle. He looks poised to give a bold sight of himself.
Tips: MAJBOROUGH & IRISH PANTHER
16.40 Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
BREAK MY SOUL displayed smart form as a hurdler, doing really well for Nicky Henderson with several wins and placed efforts prior to splitting two good horses on stable debut in a Grade 3 event.
She then finished fourth in both the Punchestown Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle, outrunning her odd on both occasions. I think she’s slipped under the radar, while INTHEPOCKET is a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and could be set to make an impact.
Tips: BREAK MY SOUL & INTHEPOCKET
