Gavin Cromwell
Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill blog: Cheltenham Festival stable tour
William Hill amabassador Gavin Cromwell provides a runner-by-runner guide of his Cheltenham team two weeks out from the Festival.
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Tuesday, Cheltenham
We have our biggest Cheltenham Festival team ever this year and we’ll potentially start off our week on the Tuesday with Only By Night in the Arkle (2.00pm). We’re still not certain on where we’ll go with her, but we’re certainly leaning towards the Arkle. It’s not really about the trip, we’re just weighing up which race will cut up more.
We’ve three entries in the Ultima (2.40pm) and the likeliest runner for us there will be Malina Girl. She’s probably badly handicapped considering she’s seven pounds higher than her last winning mark, but hopefully she can run well.
We have Total Look and Robbies Rock in the Fred Winter, both of which are set to run. Total Look was put up seven pounds by the British handicapper, which I thought was plenty. That said, if his jumping improves he’ll have a good chance. It will have to improve some though, because it hasn’t been great.
Robbies Rock was harshly treated as well, getting a seven-pound rise too. With a clear round of jumping hopefully he might have a place chance.
Now Is The Hour goes in the National Hunt Chase and I think he’s off a high enough mark given he’s never won over fences. The trip shouldn’t be an issue and softer ground would be ideal, but in my opinion he’s far too short in the betting.
Wednesday, Cheltenham
We kick off Wednesday with the Coral Cup (2.40pm) and Al Gasparo is the most certain runner of our three entries there. He seems in good form at the moment, he’s fresh and ready to go. I’m not sure how well-handicapped he is, but I’d be hopeful he can give a good account of himself.
Stumptown and Vanillier are both likely to take their chance in the Cross Country Chase (3.20pm). We weren’t surprised to see Stumptown raised eight pounds given how well he won at Cheltenham the last day. He’s clearly a very good horse but he’s got a lot of weight to carry – hopefully he’s good enough. If he’s at his best then I’d say he’s one of our best chances of a winner.
Vanillier was very good at Punchestown with the blinkers on and we’ll likely reach for them again. He’s off what looks a nice weight and hopefully he can be a big player here.
The King of Prs is one of five entries for us in the Grand Annual (4.40pm) and he’s likely to run. We’re happy enough with him at home and he’s in good shape. It’s going to be a hard task off a career-high mark but the race should suit him.
Midnight It Is is likely to run here as well. Soft ground would be most suitable for him and this race is Plan A for him.
On the other hand, soft ground wouldn’t suit My Mate Mozzie, who ideally we would run in this race on better ground. It’s also an option for The Other Mozzie, but we’ll have to speak to the owners to make a final decision on whether to run here over two miles or in the Novices’ Handicap Chase over two-and-a-half. Ground will play a part in that decision.
Thursday, Cheltenham
Sixandahalf gets our Thursday underway in the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (1.20pm). She’s only had one start over hurdles but she jumped really well and she seems in good shape. Without stating the obvious, she’s probably one of our best chances at the Festival.
We’ve got four entered in the Novices’ Handicap Chase (2.00pm), which looks a very competitive race with a few unexposed horses in there. The Other Mozzie could potentially go here, it really depends on the ground. If it’s better ground then he could run of the two-and-a-half mile trip, but if it’s slower then we might go back to two miles in the Grand Annual.
Thecompanysergeant has an entry here but, given the strength of the race, we’re still yet to decide whether he’ll run here or in the Plate.
We’re most likely to go to the Pertemps (2.40pm) with Will The Wise, although he holds and entry in the Albert Bartlett which we can’t rule out for certain. He’s off a career-high mark over hurdles and Cheltenham may just come too soon given he only won on Sunday in testing conditions. We’ll see how he goes over the next two weeks and hopefully he can be a player here.
Later in the day we have the Plate (4.40pm) and Path D’Oroux is likely to step up in trip to run here. It’ll be his first time over 2m4½f and we’re hoping that’ll bring about improvement. He’s been consistent over two miles but over the longer trip I’m hopeful he’ll be a big player. He’s one I think could be one of our dark horses and might be a good each-way shout.
As previously mentioned Thecompanysergeant could go here. He’s only had one run for us but he ran well and should come on for it. He’s in good shape and has plenty of experience over fences. I think he’s capable of winning off his current mark, whether or not that’ll be at Cheltenham we’ll have to wait and see.
Law Ella has run consistently well without getting her head in front. She has an entry here but also at Leopardstown on Sunday. There’s a good chance she’ll go there which would mean she won’t run at Cheltenham.
We have three likely runners in the Kim Muir (5.20pm) to finish off Thursday. Mint Boy has multiple entries but will most likely go here. I’m not sure how well-handicapped he is but he’s in good form so hopefully he could run well.
Yeah Man is certainly likely to run here, but Ask Anything won’t go having been disappointing the last day.
Yeah Man looked to be running a nice race at Haydock before unseating the last day, and I actually though he ran okay in the Thyestes – he was out of it a bit too early but stayed on well in the finish. If he could improve on that run then he’ll certainly be in the mix.
Friday, Cheltenham
Hello Neighbour is probably going to be our only Grade 1 runner this year as he goes in the Triumph Hurdle (1.20pm). There are two English horses at the head of the market and it’s always difficult to compare them with the Irish contenders.
That said, I’m very happy with him at home and he’s in good shape. He’s had a great start to life over hurdles and hopefully that can continue. I can only focus on my horse and we’ll have him in the best shape possible for the race. We’ll see how it all unfolds on the Friday!
We won’t have a runner in the William Hill County Hurdle (2.20pm) this year after Pinot Gris was put up seven pounds by the British handicapper. We were disappointed with the hike he got in the weights and I thought it was a bit unfair to be honest. The better option looks to be keeping him at home.
We have a fair few entries in the Mares’ Chase, including Only By Night who can’t be counted out of running here although she’s likelier to go to the Arkle.
Last year’s winner Limerick Lace will return here after a disappointing season. She’s pretty versatile and should be fine on any ground. She’s hard to figure out and we were happy with her before both of her starts this season, but she just didn’t perform. It could just be an attitude thing with her, so hopefully we can get on the right side of her for Cheltenham and we won’t know unless we try.
I don’t think Bioluminescence will run unless the ground comes up very soft. We decided to run her at Fairyhouse last week, a meeting which was originally meant to be at Thurles on better ground. She ran okay giving 10 pounds to the winner and she could still go, but it’ll need to be very soft ground.
Brides Hill will only run if the ground is nice and if it’s not she won’t run. That said, she’d probably be my dark horse to look out for because if she does get her preferred conditions then I’d say she’ll have a chance here.
Je T’Ai Porte is a big outsider at the moment but I’d say she’s likely to run. A place chance is probably her best hope because she’s just not good enough to win a Grade 2. That said, she’s a good horse in her own right and could have a place chance if things fall her way.
There’s a small chance Will The Wise will go for the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. He’s certainly likely to go to Cheltenham and on the off chance he doesn’t go to the Pertemps then he’d run here. That’ll probably only be the case if we thought the race was really cutting up.
We finish off the week with four entered in the Martin Pipe (5.20pm). Bridie’s Beau won’t go as he’s having a break. Tonaghneave Well and Fenway Park will both depend on whether or not they actually get in.
We gave Tonaghneave Well a bit of a break after a solid start to the season and if he gets in he could run well. Fenway Park will just go wherever he can get in, but he’d only really have a place chance wherever he runs.
