LAM PLANNING TO SLAUGHTER
IT’S blowing up a Houli in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Young jockey Niall Houlihan partners impressive Welsh National winner NASSALAM (3.30) for the Festival’s greatest prize.
His trainer Gary Moore had intended to go straight to Aintree for the Grand National but the testing Cheltenham ground has prompted a rethink.
He sailed through the Chepstow mud to win the Welsh National by a whopping 34 lengths.
It was an impressive performance from this unexposed stayer and three of the last four winners of the Chepstow marathon to carry more weight to victory than Nassalam were all successful in the Gold Cup.
The heavy conditions will be too much for many of the contenders but my fancy will absolutely loverthem.
Have 1pt each-way at 50-1.
Plenty of bookies are paying out on four places.
Ton-up king Willie Mullins has, predictably, dominated the meeting and I can’t see that changing in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
The Festival’s most successful trainer has five runners in the Grade 1 staying contest and LECKY WATSON (2.50) might just be the best of them.
He was outpaced behind stablemate Readin Tommy Wrong when third in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle over 2m4f in January. His previous form reads very well.
He was beaten just half a length by subsequent Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Slade Steel at Navan, having made a winning hurdles debut over 2m7f at Thurles.
The hood he wears for the first time should help this strong stayer settle upped to 3m for the first time.
Have 1pt each-way at 11-1. Most bookies are going four places. It’s not been a great week for trainer Gordon Elliott so far, but I reckon he can end the meeting on a high with WHAT’S UP DARLING (5.30) in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle.
He won a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Navan before chancing his arm in the Royal Bond.
Although he was unable to get competitive in that Fairyhouse Grade 1, it was simply his lack of pace that was his downfall. It was a similar story at Gowran Park last month.
There’s every chance he is well weighted for his handicap debut and his first try at 2m4f.
Have 1pt each-way at 16-1. Most firms are paying out on five places.