UK Horse Racing Tips

Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins has some fine chances on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday and perhaps his best chance of all is Douvan in the Arkle Challenge Trophy (2.10). The French import has won all seven starts over hurdles and fences since joining the Co. Carlow trainer and has 6lb and upwards in hand of his rivals, according to official ratings. The Walk In The Park gelding has made a couple of minor mistakes in his chasing career so far, but he faces just six rivals, so it’s unlikely that his jumping will come under the same scrutiny as it would in a larger field and he remains open to significant improvement in any case. Unfortunately, the bookmakers are unlikely to be giving much away about the 6-year-old, but he has an outstanding chance on what could be a memorable day, even by Willie Mullins’ standards.

Selection: Cheltenham 2.10 Douvan to win

In the 3.50 at Sandown on Friday, Richard Johnson has a 4-9 (44%) strike rate on hurdlers trained by Henry Oliver during the last five seasons, so his booking for Spencer Lea – his only ride of the day – stands out like a sore thumb. The Overbury gelding returned from an absence of nearly two years to win a 0-120 event, over 2 miles 4½ furlongs, at Market Rasen last month and, although he steps back up in class off a 6lb higher mark, may well be equal to the task.

Although now an 8-year-old, he’s only had eight starts, six of them over hurdles, so he still remains open to significant improvement on his second start for his new yard. Course, distance and going should suit him admirably and he may be able to take this contest en route to better things, if he can be kept sound. Interestingly, Richard Johnson also rode him to his only previous success, over 2 miles 5 furlongs at Ludlow in February 2014, so the hint may be worth taking.

Selection: Sandown 3.50 Spencer Lea to win

In February, we wrote a very early article on the upcoming Cheltenham Festival and discussed some of the leading candidates for this year’s event. With one week until the meeting gets underway, we’re here to offer you a few more helpful tips and hints as to which horses look set to win at one of the most prestigious meetings of the National Hunt season – and here they are.

Douvan

In our previous piece, we fancied Faugheen to win on the festival’s opening day for the second year in a row, however he has been pulled after suffering an injury in the build-up to the event. Trainer Willie Mullins has plenty of incredible mounts running once again though, and fellow French-born thoroughbred Douvan may be the horse to watch in the Arkle Trophy on Tuesday.

Douvan romped home to win the Supreme last year and it would take a brave man to back against the Mullins-Ruby Walsh combination again in 2016. While Vaniteux is capable, Douvan, who is currently 2/5 with Coral to win the Arkle, is superior and should make all of the running to win comfortably. He certainly produced a dominating performance at Leopardstown in January to send a timely reminder to his nearest challengers.

Annie Power

For some, it might be a bit too soon to start trusting Annie Power again. Last year, she was clear in the Mares’ Hurdle and Ruby Walsh fell at the final fence – a huge stroke of luck for the bookmakers as they were set to be crippled for £50 million. This year, she’s back but will be entered in the Champion Hurdle instead after Faugheen’s injury. Annie Power is certainly capable but punters will be caught in two minds after last year’s mishap.

As the latest Cheltenham Festival odds reveal, Annie Power is priced at 6/4 with Coral to win the Champion Hurdle. Identity Thief may be her closest challenger and has the potential to cause an upset but Walsh should ride Annie Power to victory barring any unexpected jumping errors. On paper, she’s the best horse in the race and you should take her to eradicate any memories of last year’s defeat by bouncing back and winning this year.

Don Cossack

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the week’s racing and there are plenty of top contenders in this year’s race. It’s almost impossible to pick between the likes of Vautour, Djakadam and Don Cossack but the latter may be preferable after recent events. Prior to January’s Betbright Trial Chase at Cheltenham, Djakadam was the bookmakers’ favourite but a second fall at the circuit has put many people off.

Meanwhile, there are rumours that Vautour isn’t 100% and that leaves the door wide open for Don Cossack to romp home and snatch a Gold Cup victory for trainer Gordon Elliott. Without a shadow of a doubt, Don Cossack is a top-rated horse and he would be a deserving winner of this prestigious race but it’s almost too close to call. In fact, it could even be one of the closest races in Gold Cup history if Vautour is at his best.

“Vautour” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by  Carine06 

The winter chills are finally starting to subside and the crisp freshness of spring is peeking its way into our consciousness.

In the world of jumps racing, that can stand for only one thing. The Cheltenham Festival is looming large on the horizon.

The great extravaganza in the Cotswolds is edging ever nearer and, for supporters of Vautour, spring brings with it a season of hope.

Willie Mullins’ runner has been somewhat uneasy in the Cheltenham Gold Cup market since his late capitulation in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

That should not allow us to forget the spell-binding performance delivered by Vautour a year ago in his JLT Novices’ Chase success at the festival.

Did he fail to see out three-miles at Kempton? Or was he merely done by a canny ride from Paddy Brennan on Cue Card having cut out the donkey work during much of the closing stages.

These are the bits of the puzzle that must be worked out between now and Gold Cup day, March 18^th.

The recent news that ground conditions at Cheltenham are steadily improving after a wet winter will be music to the ears of the Vautour camp.

Last March, Vautour positively bounced off the sound surface in the JLT, bowling along in front before tearing away from his rivals and putting the race in safe keeping a long way from the winning post.

There are other races at the festival for which Vautour would seem to be presented with the proverbial penalty kick but the Gold Cup is the path chosen.

At Kempton on softened, mid-winter ground, Walsh’s mount travelled supremely and appeared to have the race at his mercy in the home straight.

“Cue Card” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by  Carine06 

Cue Card, in what has been a standout season for Colin Tizzard’s charge in staying chases, battled back and ran him down in the shadow of the post.

Given his time over, would Walsh play his hand differently? With a lead horse to aim at, Cue Card stuck his neck out and won. But, on review, it seems futile to suggest Vautour had stopped.

When he was making his way back into the parade ring after his JLT procession a year ago, Vautour had the praise of the racing world ringing in his ears. He was, it seemed, a future Gold Cup winner in waiting.

With plenty of juice in his price as a result of his Kempton reverse, Vautour remains a solid option in the blue riband.

Mugged by Cue Card on his first try at the extended trip, Vautour looks destined to have his favoured spring ground come Cheltenham.

Vautour remains a spring horse and is seen to his best effect with hint of sunlight on his back. Unbeaten in two trips to the Cheltenham Festival, this is not the time to doubt his credentials.

The 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup admittedly looks set to be a vintage renewal but it will be no surprise if Vautour comes up the hill in front for a third successive year.