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Mullins ace one to follow in 2018
IT’S half-time in the jumps season and 2018 is promising so much for national hunt fans.
There have been some colossal performances so far but the signs are that the best is yet to come.
The brilliant Altior has not yet been sighted while it remains to be seen if Thistlecrack, Cue Card, Douvan and Defi Du Seuil can recapture their form of last season.
The novice chase division is red-hot with Footpad and Sceau Royal setting the standard over two miles and Willoughby Court the one to beat over longer trips. But one horse who could muscle in on more big prizes is Willie Mullins’ Ladbrokes Trophy winner Total Recall.
He is 25-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Betfair but with the ante-post market wide open for jump racing’s blue riband that may offer some value – although he will have to improve markedly.
Might Bite got the job done in the King George VI Chase although he seemed to labour in the ground. The Gold Cup seems likely although he could be a deadly proposition in the Ryanair Chase over 2m 5f.
With Altior seemingly on the road to recovery, the stage could be set for a classic duel with Politologue in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Paul Nicholls’ rising star has won three from three so far this season and is maturing into a seriously talented two-mile chaser.
The slick-jumping Buveur D’Air is already a warm order to retain his Champion Hurdle crown and his position in the market was strengthened by Faugheen’s flop at Leopardstown yesterday.
The staying hurdle division was crying out for a star and bargain buy Sam Spinner answered the call in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot just before Christmas for North Yorkshire trainer Jedd O’Keeffe.
However, he still has to prove he handles the contours of Cheltenham although, if he does, he would be a popular winner.
The Irish challenge for the Cheltenham Festival is likely to be typically strong and one horse who could offer some each-way value is Balko Des Flos.
Henry De Bromhead’s improving six-year-old ran a career best when second in the Christmas Chase at Leopardstown and the Ryanair over 2m 5f could be the best option for the Galway Plate hero.