UK Horse Racing Tips

“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.

In the Racing Again 9^th March Handicap Hurdle (5.00) at Catterick on Tuesday, Seymour Eric may never scale the heights that once seemed likely earlier in his career, but was nibbled at in the market when showing slight signs of resurgence at Towcester last month and may be ready to win his first race for nearly three years. Now an 11-year-old, the Bollin Eric gelding has dropped 28lb in the weights since last visiting the winners’ enclosure and, having raced prominently at Towcester, weakened from three out to finish third of the eight runners, beaten 13½ lengths by the winner, Mondo Cane.

If he’s able to build on that, the return to 3 miles 1 furlong should be in his favour and, while he’s yet to win on going faster than good to soft, but with rain, sometimes heavy, forecast for Yorkshire overnight, he may well have underfoot conditions to suit. Of course, he comes with risks attached, but the fact that he was supported over 2 miles – a trip at least half a mile short of his best – last time suggests that he must have been showing something at home.

Selection: Catterick 5.00 Seymour Eric to win

It’s almost that time of year ago. On Tuesday 15^th March until Friday 18^th, race fans will have a whole host of high quality national hunt races to sink their teeth into, as the Cheltenham Festival is once again upon us. It seems like only yesterday that we were all cheering on Irish jockey Ruby Walsh to see if he could grab Top Jockey honours for the third year running in the 2015 Festival (suffice to say he did and he’s 4/11 to do it again this year) as well as Willie Mullins as he too made it three in a row as leading trainer, with an amazing eight winners over the four days (and in 1-10 this year, so it’s almost a given hell make it four in a row). I wonder what surprises the 2016 Festival will deliver for viewers and punters.

Much the same as in previous years, the Cheltenham Festival 2016 is split into four days of competitive racing action. It starts on March 15^th, also known as Champion Day, before Ladies Day on the 16^th, St Patrick’s Day on 17^th and least but not least, Cheltenham Gold Cup Day on 18^th March. Understandably considering the excitement that surrounds the festival each and every year, betting odds are already available for every race and some of them reveal a glimpse into how competitive, or otherwise, some of the races over the four days really are.

With a fairly large field it’s perhaps not surprising that a few horses are deemed to be in with a shot of winning the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is held on the 18^th. Those hotly tipped at time of writing include Don Cossack and Vautour, both at 4-1, Djakadam and Cue Card at 5-1 or thereabouts and Don Poli at 6-1. Personally, more of a wish than a venture into Cheltenham 2016 tips , I have my fingers crossed for Cue Card on account that the Jockey Club Racecourses’ £1m bonus can then be secured following previous impressive wins this season. What an achievement that would be.

Gold Cup aside, on the final day I’m also interested to see Olympic Gold Medalist Victoria Pendleton ride Pacha Du Polder in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase. You can get 33-1 on Pacha Du Polder currently though, so punters aren’t delivering a thumbs up quite yet. I’ll also have my eyes peeled for the Queen Mother Champion Chase on the 16^th. Paul Nicholls rides defending champion Dodging Bullets. With some work to do fitness wise though the horse has his work cut out and the odds show that, he’s at 10-1 while firm favourite Un De Sceaux is a super short 4/6.

Whether you’re hoping for a betting bonanza during the Festival or are just interested in watching the four days unfold, this National Hunt treat is bound to more than match the excitement of previous years. Not to be missed!

The 32Red Handicap (7.40) at Kempton on Wednesday is a competitive heat for the grade, but may provide Mezmaar with an opportunity to supplement his win over 7 furlongs at the Sunley-on-Thames course three weeks ago. Kevin Morgan’s lightly-raced 7-year-old is just 4lb higher in the weights than when driven out to beat Dutiful Son by half and length, in this grade, on that occasion and, with the runner-up beaten, but far from disgraced, in a better race at Lingfield next time, still looks reasonably treated.

On his last attempt over course and distance, the Teofilio gelding finished a never-nearer fifth, beaten 2¾, behind subsequent winner Noble Deed in a 0-75 contest, off a 3lb lower mark. He’s drawn a little wider on the track than ideal, but there should be no hanging about and, hopefully, Shane Kelly can deliver him fast and late to lift the spoils. Suffolk trainer Kevin Morgan has a fair, if unspectacular, 5-32 (16%) strike rate with his older horses on the Polytrack at Kempton, for a very healthy 47.50 points profit, over the last five seasons, so Mezmaar could go well at generous odds.

Selection: Kempton 7.40 Mezmaar to win