Cheltenham Festival Lucky 15

The momentum really seems to be gathering behind IMPAIRE ET PASSE in the Ballymore, so much so that he is now clear favourite for the race. Willie Mullins had always pinpointed this race for him so it was no great surprise to see him scratched from the Supreme. He won on debut over 2m3f at Naas, quickening away like a very smart horse. He was dropped back to 2 miles to win the Moscow Flyer at Punchestown looking very exciting. The way those closely associated are talking he could still be anything and he is one of those horses I cannot wait to see.

Hermes Allen is comfortably the best of the British having made it 3-3 to win the Challow. That race is rarely a good marker for the Ballymore though and even with the form franked I’m struggling to warm to him against the Irish. I think the danger will come from stablemate Gaelic Warrior who impressed again carrying a big weight to win a handicap at the DRF and he has done little wrong. They think he’ll be more effective over this longer trip and he should run a big race hopefully behind the selection. Good Land won nicely at Leopardstown and is another horse that adds real spice to a very strong looking renewal.

The Stayers’ Hurdle is often a tricky puzzle and it hasn’t exactly proved any easier this time around but I have been really impressed with TEAHUPOO since going up in trip and I think he is going to run a big race for Gordon Elliott. They have always held him in high regard and you’d have to love the attitude he showed to run down Klassical Dream in the Hatton’s Grace with Honeysuckle trailing back in third. He backed that up staying on strongly to win the Galmoy Hurdle and looks like he is going to relish this test. With the rain now in the forecast I think he is being underestimated and anything around 4/1 looks a price worth taking.

Blazing Khal is still favourite for the race despite suffering a nasty gash after winning at Navan. There were fears the infection was going to spread to his joint at one stage but thankfully he recovered. As a result he did miss 2 weeks of work trainer Charles Byrnes confirmed so he has had far from an ideal preparation and looks short enough in the betting. Home By The Lee has won his last two impressively but was well held in sixth in the race last year and probably has work to do. Flooring Porter who has won this race for the last two years hasn’t looked the same horse this time around but he can never be ruled out. Marie’s Rock now heads to the Mares so I make the selection an even stronger play.

As always a fascinating renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and one that very much revolves around GALOPIN DES CHAMPS who is on his own path to Cheltenham Festival redemption after coming down after the last in the Turners last year. He has been faultless since winning impressively at Fairyhouse and then going 2-2 this season slamming Stattler at the DRF last month. He doesn’t look to have any issue with the trip with Townend struggling to pull him up at Leopardstown and looks the one they all have to beat. He has really learned how to be a racehorse now and switches off beautifully in behind so if they try and go hard early that will only play to his strengths and if there is no pace he can go forward too so his versatility is another huge positive.

Bravemansgame is also coming back to Cheltenham with a point to prove after being hammered by Bob Olinger in the Ballymore and then missing his intended engagement with L’homme Presse in the Brown Advisory due to heavy ground. He was impressive in the King George and is now 6 wins from 7 starts over fences. He has to prove he can handle Cheltenham though and that hill will surely exploit any chinks in is armour? Last years winner A Plus Tard returns to defend his crown but we have only seen him once since beating Minella Indo 15 lengths and that was when he pulled up behind Protektorat in the Betfair Chase. If he is back to his best he could run huge but that would have to be a concern. Add in Grand National winner Noble Yeats and last years 4 miler winner Stattler and it makes for a great race.

This looks a two-horse race this year with Allegorie De Vassy and Impervious locking horns for the first time. The former has been impressive since coming over from France going 2-2 over hurdles and then winning both chase starts hard on the bridle. She is yet to be tested and does have a slight tendency to jump out to her right which obviously wouldn’t be ideal around Cheltenham. She has a lot of potential so shouldn’t be overlooked but I am keen on IMPERVIOUS getting the better of the argument. She has gone 3-3 over fences and stayed on powerfully in testing ground to beat Journey With Me at Punchestown. That is rock solid form and I can see her relishing the Cheltenham hill.

Hard to imagine the front pair not firing but even so Jeremys Flame does deserve a mention as she is battle hardened and did impress thrashing Zambella at Huntingdon back in January. She has been put away since and connections will be hopeful she can acquit herself well here. Zambella perhaps wasn’t at her best that day and she could run well from an each way perspective but she’d need it to all go her way as once her jumping comes under pressure she doesn’t find a great deal. Elimay obviously won this last year but doesn’t arrive in the same form having suffered a heavy defeat behind Magic Daze at Naas last time.