 |
|
|
|
| Punter's Diary by Malcolm Heyhoe |
 |
| Updated: 26th February 2008 - GG.com |
Marvels In March
When March arrives on racing’s doorstep barely a day goes by without someone in the industry banging the drum for the four days of the Cheltenham Festival. This single fixture sums up an entire season on the jumps and pre-Festival hype and anticipation have been at record levels this season.
Typically March’s racing action begins more quietly on the 1st of the month with Newbury’s Connaught Gold Cup Handicap Chase, a contest that has suffered a decline in numbers and therefore quality for the 2008 renewal. This valuable prize has been Maljimar’s target ever since he scooted up at Cheltenham in January and he may have most to fear from sharply progressive and northern-trained novice, Nevertika.
Racing’s caravan moves on to Sandown on March 8 for the Sunderlands Imperial Cup. This good prize is often won by a lightly-raced type that has managed to conceal its true ability during the current season. David Pipe emulated his father’s famous record of four previous wins by landing the prize with the plucky Gaspara twelve months ago and maybe Tino Tino, an easy winner at Warwick the other day, might fit the bill this time around. Watch out also for Andrew Balding’s lightly-raced novice Albinus, who has also been lined-up for the race.
The 2008 Cheltenham Festival clicks into gear on March 11 with the Champion Hurdle standing
as the star attraction. Irish horses have dominated this great race in
recent seasons and the Emerald domination could well continue courtesy
of Sizing Europe, who has looked by far and away the
most progressive young hurdler seen all season long. His decisive defeat
of Osana at Cheltenham in November is particularly strong
form and it would be no surprise to see this exalted pair slugging it
out up he famous hill on the Festival’s opening day.
 |
The top two-milers enjoy their moment in the sun on the second day of the meeting, March 12, and this looks like being a three-way fight between reigning champion Voy Por Ustedes, and the two Paul Nicholls-trained contenders, Master Minded and Twist Magic. Splitting this closely-matched trio is almost impossible but perhaps the underfoot conditions will tilt the race one way or another.
If the ground comes up on the soft side at Cheltenham then Master Minded would have the elements in his favour but on a sounder surface Voy Por Ustedes might be the one to retain his crown especially in a strongly-run race around a track that he excels at with two victories at the last two Festival meetings.
 |
On Thursday March 13 the Festival serves a double treat of two championship races courtesy of the Ryanair Chase and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. In the former contest the David Pipe-trained Our Vic will
try to land this prize at the third attempt but he may again be thwarted
in his bid for Festival success by a new kid on the block in the shape
of Ireland’s young pretender, Mossbank, who looked very good when pursuing Denman to the post in the Lexus Chase at Cheltenham over Christmas.
In the World Hurdle Inglis Drever is a hot favourite to secure a remarkable third success for trainer Howard Johnson, who has recently shutdown his stable for a short spell owing to a bout of coughing in the yard. Inglis Drever will be hard to beat but we have to go back 20 years to find another successful nine-year-old in Galmoy, and perhaps the improving Kasbah Bliss and the dark horse The Market Man may give the reigning champion a run for his money.
 |
On Friday March 14 the Cheltenham Gold Cup sets
a thrilling seal on a stupendous week’s racing and this year’s
renewal features a clash of the heavyweights in Kauto Star, who has swept all before him in an imperious campaign this season and bully-boy Denman, who has done the same but against lesser rivals in weaker races. The form book suggests that Kauto Star should prove too strong for Denman while a little bit of cut in the ground could give 50-1 outsider Halcon Genelardais a chance to reach a place at a big price. The form of his valiant Welsh National second off top weight is particularly strong.
At the close of Cheltenham week on March 15 Uttoxeter stages the Midlands National and watch out for Arnold Layne, an
out-and-out and improving stayer who has already won a lesser race
around Uttoxeter’s tight circuit. Finally, the turf Flat season
begins with the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster the following week on March 22 and the two to note for the big mile handicap are Zaahid and Lang Shining. Both
have been trained for the race and couldn’t be in better hands.
Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips
Archive February 2008
