Cheltenham Festival (Day 3, Race 1)
Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (1.30)
Picks: Lush Life & Barafundle (each/way)
Knockara Beau: Has failed to recreate form of last year so far but impressed majorly when second to Grands Crus and when winning qualifier last time; Has to be given a big chance even off this weight.
Working Title: Form has been very in and out although he has two earlier wins to his name; Not impressed of late and will be doing well to get involved although yard in some sort of form.
Duke Of Lucca: Got better with experience last season ,ending up with close enough seconds behind Peddlers Cross and Reve De Sivola at Aintree and Punchestown festivals; Ran poorly on reappearance but has posted decent efforts on nearly all starts this season.
Mobaasher: Wasn’t as good over fences as he was over hurdles last season and has already bagged a win back over hurdles; Creditable fourth in Cleeve Hurdle afterwards and lacklustre effort in the Welsh National is really best forgotten.
Micheal Flips: Ran a bold race to come fourth in the Coral Cup having won the Lanzarote hurdle earlier that season; Made a good comeback and shaped well enough but stamina gave out behind Mobaasher and needs more here.
Pause And Clause: Was an impressive winner of the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the festival last season but just hasn't taken to fences; Made no impression when laboured and well beaten at Sandown last time and passed over.
Kayf Aramis: Has been put into Graded company since winning this very race two years ago, and has performed admirably since, never disgracing himself in process; Ran solid races on all starts this season and not discounted.
Lush Life: Took some serious scalps in his first season novice hurdling, including Menorah; Didn't seem suited by the longer trip when he was ninth at Cheltenham first time out but showed his liking for longer trip when winning competitive handicap hurdle here; Never in with a chance last time, when he was left behind after ridiculous start; Did well to finish 11th that day and can be forgiven here.
Barafundle: Had excellent season, bumping into good horse on seasonal debut and then unable to live with Grands Crus at Haydock, coming over 10 lengths clear of third; Took advantage off same mark when bolting in at Newbury 6 days later but kept fresh for this since and major player.
Gwanako: Ran only four times last season, but showed promise on all of those runs, making good headway coming to the business end of the Byrne Group Plate; was still in contention for minor honours when falling two out behind Edgbriar over C&D earlier this season and made good comeback over hurdles before finding the Cleeve too much; Given every single chance by handicapper.
Essex: Clearly best days are behind him, and not hard to oppose at this trip.
Mr Moonshine: Has been extremely progressive this season, winning small event by wide margin before coming third behind Nicene Creed and Cue Card; Turned heads with wide margin win buyt exposed in Grade 2 company and this likely to prove too tough on better ground.
Tarablaze: Was set for big thing after taking three out of four hurdles in 2008/9, including Grade 2; Has run well on all but one start since coming back, and can be forgiven poor run over fences; Mark of 138 is very fair for a horse likely to be fit for an in form team.
Buena Vista: Plotted for this last year and came home clear from Prince Erik, having been up in the van all the way; Shown glimpses of that ability (not least when hampered in strong race here in December); 5lbs higher in what’s probably a better race, although has a 5lbs claimer this time who has already proven himself to be useful.
Barwell Bridge: Good juvenile who ended last season with an excellent fifth in the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival and has done well this season too, runner-up in competitive handicaps at Haydock and over this course and distance; Not at best last time but ground massively in favour and that means he can’t be ignored.
Alfie Spinner: Has been in great form this year, coming fourth behind Salden Licht in a 2 mile handicap and then coming a close second in Pertemps Qualifier, showing his versatility; Only just lost out to Kilcrea Kim in good handicap hurdle at Sandown last time and another who can go well here.
Viking Blond: Put in dreadful effort here behind Ashkazar at New Year’s Day meeting but if you ignore that he’s been second behind Lush Life and Cross Kennon, form which makes him a good shot here; No excuse offered for last show but may stake a claim.
Rivage D’Or: Finally got off the mark after more than seven top three finishes when winning decent affair at Naas; Now he’s off the mark he’s probably got more to give although this miles tougher and handicapper has hammered him (goes from 121 to 127).
Sivota: Emerged with credit on first handicap run this season when making up a good amount of ground to come fourth in strong qualifier; Won last time he raced on good ground at Punchestown and has to be considered for stable that has already had 2 winners this week.
Son Amix: Gets in off a taking weight considering that he’s come fourth in a Grade 2 contest this season, and perfectly satisfactory trial when second to Across The Bay at Leopardstown; Big price and may well be involved on ground he likes.
Don’t Push It: Grand National winner of last year who’s being prepared for the same race again; Pulled up in this last year although it might be worth noting that he’s on lower mark and comes here off the back of a fairly promising effort in a strong Newbury race.
Queiros Bleu: Has shown good form in patches this year, winning at Killarney in Augst the last time he raced on good ground and following that up with a close second to useful hurdler here in October; Ran over a trip miles too short when last seen and got hampered, but still third and an outsider not to be ignored.
Heavenly Blues: Form of second at Punchestown was dealt major blow when the winner and favourite for the Coral Cup couldn’t place; Unappealing at weights.
Charterux: Won point, and maiden hurdle in taking style and thought good enough to contest Albert Bartlett last year (did well to finish ninth in attritional race); very creditable effort when sent out too far out in C&D handicap hurdle on sole start this season in January; Form stands up very well and the one to beat here.
VERDICT: A nightmare handicap and the strategy is to try and find two who are likely to make the places but have decent chances of winning as well. BARAFUNDLE was one of only three horses to give Grands Crus some sort of race this season and he can go well having been treated very fairly by the handicapper. LUSH LIFE was well beaten last time but had no chance thanks to a farcical start, and David Bass wasn’t too hard on him in any case that day. The main “threat” of any kind is Charterux, who is just a touch too short at the prices with further market support predicted.
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