Gavin Cromwell

Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill blog: Cheltenham Festival handicap weights reaction

3 hours ago

| BY Gavin Cromwell

William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell reacts to the Cheltenham Festival handicap weights.

Cheltenham Festival handicap weights reaction

Most of our horses were put up at least a couple of pounds by the British handicapper. Starting off in the Fred Winter, Ole Ole was given four pounds and he should get a run. He’s a very slick jumper, the race will suit him and he could be competitive.

Secret Force might struggle to get in but I’d love him to as I think he’d be well-suited to the race.

Midnight It Is got three pounds and has entries in the Plate and Grand Annual. My preference would be to run him in the Grand Annuel on soft ground, but if it’s on the better side we’ll probably go to the Plate.

Bioluminescence got a couple of pounds, but the main thing for her is proper soft ground. She’s got entries in the Plate and Mares’ Chase, but also the Leinster National the weekend before Cheltenham. She’ll go wherever the ground suits her best.

Will The Wise only got a pound and, with entries in the Plate and Jack Richards, I’d say the Plate is the more likely option. That’s not for definite and again we’ll be keeping an eye on the ground.

Born Braver is quite ground dependent and that will play a part in whether he goes for the Leinster National or National Hunt Novice Chase. He’s been given another three pounds by the British handicapper but if he gets a bit of nicer ground then he could go well.

The Lovely Man is a horse who likes that softer ground and, having been left alone by the handicapper, looks unlikely to get a run at Cheltenham. He’s entered in the Leinster National and looks likely to get his conditions there.

Union Station is another of our four with entries in the Leinster National. He got five pounds for Cheltenham which I though was a bit harsh given he’s still a maiden. He’s entered in the National Hunt Novice Chase and Kim Muir, but he’s probably not too well-handicapped. I’d say we’d be likelier to go to Cheltenham as I’m sure the owners would love to have a runner there.

The Passing Wife got given another four pounds, meaning he’d have to carry top weight in the Martin Pipe. He also has an entry in the two-and-half-mile handicap hurdle, but we’re strongly considering supplementing him for the Albert Bartlett. He’s got class, but we don’t know whether he has enough to win a Martin Pipe off top weight. The additional four pounds has certainly swayed us more towards the Albert Bartlett.

Welonlyhavdeone got three pounds but will need a fair few to come out if he’s to get a run in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle. His form has been in and out, but he’s had a wind surgery since his last run. If that does the trick and he gets in, he could be run well as an outsider.

We knew Stumptown was always going to have to carry top weight in the Cross Country and he’s running off a mark five pounds higher than he was last year. He is a specialist in the Cross-Country discipline, but if he was to run in a handicap chase off that mark you wouldn’t find him. He has to give away a lot of weight, but that doesn’t have as big an effect as in the conventional handicaps. He won the race last year and I think he’s shown he’s still worthy of being at the top end of the betting.

Vanillier was given four pounds, but he’s still two pounds lower than he was for the race last year. He won his last start and he’s in good form at home. An ease in the ground would be important to him and I think he could run a really solid race. He shouldn’t be too far away.

We also have Final Orders in there, who’ll run off the same mark as he did here on Trials Day. He’s had a wind surgery since then which I think has worked well. Nice ground is important for him, as he’s by Camelot and isn’t a very big horse with small feet. He has a nice racing weight and if he gets his ground he could run a big race.

Ballysax Hank got given a pound and Addragoole has an extra three pounds. Both of them will want better ground in the Grand Annual. They both go there off the back of good enough runs and I expect them both to run a big race.

The biggest hike was for Yeah Man, who has been given an extra 10 pounds on his hurdles mark. It is a considerable amount, but that said, he did run a really good race in the qualifier and still has a nice racing weight.

Even with an additional three pounds, it looks like Bridie’s Beau will struggle to get a run in the Kim Muir. We’ll have to wait and see if he can sneak in, but I expect he’ll be an outsider if he does.

Sixandahalf is one of two for us in the William Hill County Hurdle. She’s been given three pounds. She’s in good shape, has been working well at home and is likely to take her chance.

Hello Neighbour got one pound added. He’s a Grade 1 winner going back into a handicap and he’s in good nick, so he should run well here.