Cheltenham Festival - Jewson Novice Chase

Cheltenham Festival (Day 3, Race 1)

Jewson Novice Chase (1.30)

Picks: Wishfull Thinking (win) & Loosen My Load (each/way)

Bouggler: Won a Grade 2 and performed with plenty of credit over hurdles last season; Made hard work of winning but has bumped into two very good horses the last twice; This looks too hard.

Cootehill: Was a very useful hurdler (won listed hurdle at Kempton and big handicap at Market; Made good start over fences when winning twice but 3 poor efforts since temper enthusiasm.

Loosen My Load: Already proven he handles the course (won Grade 2 over hurdles) ; Started flawlessly in 3 from 3 over fences though, running away with Graded event; Travelled strongly in strong Grade 2 at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting but was tapped for toe in home straight (under penalty); Was giving large amount of weight to a decent pair of horses (winner and second both subsequent winners; Prominent in championship novice ranks) ; Didn’t cut much ice when fourth over Christmas but ground this time will suit, one of safest jumpers in field, and could have everything set up for him.

Mr Cracker: Gained third chase win when bolting home unchallenged in the Greenmount Park novice chase (Grade 2) at Limerick over Christmas; Ran well for a long way behind Noble Prince and Realt Dubh last time and while this is probably his trip on this ground, he has a lot do to be involved at the business.

Mr Gardner: Looked like he could fulfil promise over hurdles when smashing Fistral Beach by 28 lengths at Newbury and just as impressive when romping home on debut over fences; Ran with plenty of credit (would have potentially been much closer but for making a serious mistake); Unlikely to reverse form with Captain Chris should he run in this race.

Mr Thriller: Touted as serious prospect for Graded hurdles after running out a 15-length winner of the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle and then beating Champion Hurdle fifth at Haydock before ground and a mark of 160 stopped those ambitions; Was going to lay down a good challenge to Time For Rupert when falling 2 out on his chasing/seasonal debut (a good effort considering that this isn’t his favoured course); Well beaten in the Dipper chase and Cheltenham record doesn’t enthuse.

Noble Prince: A strong travelling, fluent jumper who’s remarkable versatile as he showed when fourth in the World Series Hurdle before landing beginner’s chase with ease at Punchestown in October; Well behind Realt Dubh over Christmas but got much closer in the Irish Arkle last time and arguably the one to beat here over a trip he should like more than 2 miles on ground he relishes.

Radium: Made good impression when winning Novice Handicap Hurdle here last year and went on to be second in Conditional Jockey’s Hurdle at last year’s festival; Gone a little backward since but still well there when falling in good novice chase 2 starts ago and tough win last time came against a good horse.

Robinson Collonges: Hacked up at Bangor in debut before unlucky fall behind Whishfull Thinking in Grade 2 (giving 6lbs; On way to a clear win); Easy win again at Hereford before a bad mistake 3 out ruined his chances in the December Gold Cup; Not given hard time afterwards and big chance here.

Wishfull Thinking: 3-time winning hurdler (unlucky to fall when holding serious claims in Coral Cup at the festival) who has who has quickly recovered from a fall on his chase debut to win Grade 2 at Wincanton and finish second to Reve de Sivola here (was giving 8lbs; Would have won but for better passage); Put in arguably the best performance in this field when giving a good trashing to quality handicap field here last time and one of main players.

Blazing Tempo: 2 from three over fences and didn’t lose too much in caste when going down giving weight to For Bill (mistake compromised her chances); Better ground may help and lively outsider type here.

VERDICT: A quality turnout happily confirms the need for an intermediate distance chase at the Festival. It’s hard to desert WHISHFULL THINKING after his cracking effort last time, giving weight and a beating to Calgary Bay. At the very least he’ll run a big race. Robinson Collonges should go well although we don’t know how much he’s learned from that mistake in the December Gold Cup, not forgetting that Wishfull Thinking has improved since then. Noble Prince will also take a big hand but at decent odds, LOOSEN MY LOAD is taken to go well at a trip he should like.