Tuesday, Cheltenham
Willie Mullins has six of the 12 in this year’s Supreme (1.30pm) and the one I’ve come down on is MYSTICAL POWER. I think a fair few in here have chinks in their armour but I don’t really think Mystical Power does and I was very taken by his turn of foot in the Moscow Flyer at Punchestown last time. Mullins used this race as a stepping stone for Impaire Et Passe, so it’s a method he knows well.
Onto the Arkle (2.10pm) and while I do think Gaelic Warrior is a worthy favourite, there have to be reservations about him going this way around. A quicker pace will help, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in the car park as he can jump pretty violently to his right!
I’m going to back FOUND A FIFTY as he’ll benefit from a strong pace and I think the fact he has lots of experience in Grade Ones over fences will serve him really well. He jumps great and I still think there’s a bit of value in his price.
At bigger odds, I do think MY MATE MOZZIE will go nicely for Gavin Cromwell. He was only a length behind Found A Fifty in the Grade 1 at Christmas and he looks to have quite a similar profile to Gabynako, who ran a cracker for Cromwell to finish second in this race 12 months ago.
The Irish have a poor record in the Ultima (2.50pm), but that won’t be stopping me as I fancy THE GOFFER for Gordon Elliott. He probably would have been a bit closer in this race last year but for getting there a touch too soon, so off a two-pound lower mark, he has to go well. I’d imagine Gordon has had this race in mind for a long while and while he’s quite short now, I can see why the punters have come for him.
I really don’t see how STATE MAN gets beat in the Champion Hurdle (3.30pm). He’s the best hurdler around bar Constitution Hill and he just turns up and gets the job done with a minimum of fuss. He should be very, very hard to beat but I fancy IBERICO LORD to chase him home. The soft ground will help him and he’s been very progressive this season.
LOSSIEMOUTH is the banker of the day in the Mares’ Hurdle (4.10pm). I have no issues with her staying the trip as her breeding suggests she’ll have more than enough stamina. I was super impressed with her at Cheltenham last time and if you can get around even-money on a double with her and State Man, I’d say that’s very good value.
If you want one at a decent each-way price, then have a look at HISPANIC MOON. She was very impressive at Punchestown last time where she hammered Gala Marceau and, while she might not have the ability to beat Lossiemouth, she could run much better than her odds suggest.
It’s going to be very hard work come the Boodles (4.50pm) and I fancy the French raider MILAN TINO. I’d say connections were pretty chuffed when they saw him get a mark of 126 and if Sir Gino is as good as they think he is, he could be very well-treated. The form of his third to Jigme in Auteuil reads very well and I think he’ll run a big race in conditions he’ll have no issues with.
EMBASSY GARDENS can bring up the hat-trick for Willie and Patrick Mullins in the National Hunt Chase (5.30pm) – the race named after their mother and grandmother. He’s one of those horses that has just thrived since going over fences and I think there is more to come here. They rode him wrong in the Albert Bartlett last year, so I’m not worried about the fact he bombed out there and I expect a big performance from him this time around.
