 |
 |
|
|
| Punter's Diary by Malcolm Heyhoe |
 |
| Updated: 28th February 2011 - GG.com |
Marvellous March
March's jumps action tiptoes quietly onto stage courtesy of Newbury's Saturday meeting on March 5. Pride of place at this one-day fixture goes to the Greatwood Gold Cup, a valuable handicap chase over 2m 4f. On the same day day, Kelso stages a prestigious meeting with Storm Brig a strong fancy to land the Premier Novices' Hurdle, the day's feature race at the picturesque Borders track.
The heat is turned up on the month's action courtesy of Sandown's traditional pre-Cheltenham meeting on March 11, with the Imperial Cup serving like a magnet for all those trainers who have eyes upon the huge bonus on offer for a horse that wins the Imperial Cup and then follows up with a success at the Cheltenham Festival. Nicky Henderson's Aegean Dawn is fancied to complete the double and he has been put by to achieve that daunting goal.
 |
Still, if death and taxes are inevitable then so too is the prospect of Binocular defending his Champion Hurdle crown in the day's feature race on March 15. There can be no better hurdling technique in jumps racing than the one deployed by the reigning champion and he will take some beating in the Champion Hurdle of 2011. Ireland's Hurricane Fly could give him most to do and it will be fascinating to see how he fares racing at Cheltenham for the first time.
 |
Paul Nicholls considers Master Minded a banker to regain his crown but the current champion will be no pushover under the brilliant handling of Barry Geraghty. It has been a slightly under-whelming season for Nicholls with more disappointments than triumphs at the top level.
On Thursday March 17 we have the race of the festival in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle when Big Buck's, an even money chance now with Chandler, faces up to the Grand Crus, the new kid on the block in the staying scene. David Pipe's young challenger is one of the most exciting finds of the current season and the way he beat his rivals by 10 lengths on the bridle in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last time makes him a most dangerous rival for Big Buck's and the meeting between the two is keenly awaited.
 |
On Friday March 18 the curtain comes down on the Festival with the eagerly anticipated clash of the generations in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when Kauto Star, Denman and reigning Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander come up against a potent challenge from the younger generation represented by Long Run, the stylish King George winner and the smooth-travelling Hennessy hero Diamond Harry.
The Gold Cup has been a poor race for older horses and it is hard to see the Paul Nicholls pair, Denman and Kauto Star, who will be 11 years old this March, being good enough to hold off the stern challenge from the young bucks. Age caught up with Kauto Star in the King George notwithstanding a poor scope after the race and he was blown away by Long Run. We should expect more of the same from the younger generation in the Gold Cup.
March's jumps action closes on a quieter note with the Midlands National at Uttoxeter to March 19 where a thorough stayer is required to plough through the Somme-like conditions that persist at the Staffordshire track. It was a surprise to see racing abandoned there in February after just one night's rain prior to racing, and perhaps that meeting's loss will help preserve the ground for the March beanfest.
Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips
Archive February 2011
