Barry Geraghty

Barry Geraghty’s Cheltenham Festival blog: Ballyburn to return to winning ways at the Festival

1 hour ago

| BY Barry Geraghty

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham, Thursday

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – 1:20pm

BAMBINO FEVER should be hard to beat and looks a solid favourite. I think she’s very solid and it’s interesting that she wears a tongue tie for the first time. She was impressive when winning the Champion Bumper last year and won well last time out at Fairyhouse, having clearly improved from her run when beaten by Oldschool Outlaw the time before. Oldschool Outlaw would be her main danger again, but I think she might need softer ground. There is some rain forecast for Thursday but I’m not sure it will come in time.

Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase – 2:00pm

MEETMEBYTHESEA has looked really progressive this season. He won twice earlier in the season over two miles and then was given a tough task against Lulamba in the William Hill Game Spirit last time out. He needed that run to qualify for this race, and with him finishing sixth of six it didn’t affect his handicap mark. He’s progressed from quite a low mark over hurdles so the handicapper hasn’t really had a chance to look at his full capabilities yet. He is the right favourite, as he brings lots of potential.

It’s a very tricky race where plenty can be given chances and Intense Approach could be one that runs well at a big price. He might be worth a small each-way in the hope he can outrun his odds.

Mares’ Hurdle – 2:40pm

Jade De Grugy was second in this race last year, but this looks like WODHOOH’s race to lose. She is so solid, she always turns up and the only horse that has beaten her over hurdles is Lossiemouth. She should take a good bit of beating here, with Jade De Grugy probably the one most likely to chase her home.

Stayers’ Hurdle – 3:20pm

I like BALLYBURN. He was a brilliant winner of what is now the Turners at the Festival two years ago. He does need to step up on his last run, when he was third behind Teahupoo at Leopardstown over Christmas, but he’s had plenty of time to recover from that. Before that he produced a great performance when only beaten a nose by Teahupoo in the Hatton’s Grace. If he can recapture that kind of form then I think he is a big player here at decent odds.

Ryanair Chase – 4:00pm

Unless the ground dries out too much and becomes too quick for FACT TO FILE, which looks unlikely, then he is the one they all have to beat. He could have been supplemented for the Gold Cup but this looks his race, which he showed when winning so well last year, beating Heart Wood by nine lengths.

Banbridge is really interesting too, especially if the ground continues to dry out. Heart Wood would be more interesting on softer ground.

Pertemps Final – 4:40pm

SUPREMELY WEST is two pounds lower than when Dan Skelton got him at the beginning of the season and does look like a well-handicapped horse. He ran a good race when third behind Ma Shantou over three miles on the Old Course in October to qualify for this race, and in three handicap starts since then, he has run well without really getting involved at the finish. It looks as though he has been laid out for this race since the autumn and with the Skelton team being so good at targeting races like this, as they have already shown this week, he could be the one to beat.

Kim Muir Handicap Chase – 5:20pm

WATERFORD WHISPERS ran a great race behind Backmersackme at Leopardstown last time. It has taken a while for him to get the hang of things over fences, but that was a big step forward. He was an unlucky loser in the Martin Pipe at the Festival a couple of years ago, so he has course form and I would say he is the one to be with here.