After a great day one, be bold and go for Bravemansgame
Hnicholls hurdler has been likened to the great Denman and can score for the home brigade against Irish raiders
Yesterday was the strangest day I have had on a racecourse. Nothing could replace the Cheltenham crowd and atmosphere but, my goodness, Rachael Blackmore gave it a proper go. It is no secret that racing was desperate for an inspiring, positive story and she absolutely delivered.
Cheltenham on Champion Hurdle day is normally a cauldron of noise and excitement, but yesterday it was a ghost town and it needed something extra special to light up the day. We got it all right, with the sensational win from Rachael and Honeysuckle, making history.
Honeysuckle was a third short-priced winner after Appreciate It and Shishkin stormed home in the first two races with two seriously impressive performances, and if Concertista had not been beaten by a head then bookmakers really would have been singing the blues.
Vintage Clouds gave us another lovely moment: his fifth tilt at the Festival and success at last in the Ultima. I was so pleased for Ryan Mania, his jockey, who has had a rough time and was out of the game for five years.
I spoke to hierarchy at the track after the November meeting to politely say their empty main grandstand was the most depressing sight in sport and they have done an amazing job “dressing” the racecourse, and feedback suggests things look pretty normal on television. Plus, the overriding feeling seemed to be how lucky we were just to have a Cheltenham Festival at all.
I wrote yesterday that Galvin was my banker and he did the business in the last race. So, I hope I can deliver again on a day two that begins with another
Ed’s bet of the day
Sir Anthony Mccoy said the field in the Coral Cup (2.30) can be so big you can hardly see the obstacles and some of the race is spent with your eyes closed and praying. I am praying for Guard Your Dreams here. He was flying late in the Betfair Hurdle when he was sixth and will relish this longer trip. smaller-than-normal field, but a proper Ireland v Britain clash in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (1.20). Bob Olinger was all the rage on the preview circuit last week, while Willie Mullins has another strong contender in Gaillard Du Mesnil. However, I am confident the home brigade can prevail with Paul Nicholls’s Bravemansgame.
He is part-owned by my good friend John Dance, owner of legendary mare Laurens.
John became disillusioned with the game on the Flat, but this horse seems to be rekindling his enthusiasm and, after his impressive Challow win, Nicholls even compared him to Denman. “The Tank” tasted defeat for the first time in this race 15 years ago, but if Bravemansgame is anything like as good, he will win this.
We could see next year’s Gold Cup winner in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (1.55pm). Monkfish
is Ireland’s banker of the meeting and what a shame we will not get a Danoli-style roar when he hits the front. Ruby Walsh raves about him. Monkfish is big and tall but also a brilliant athlete, with feet like a ballerina. It sounds like he might do something quite special today.
The Champion Chase (3.05) is the big Cheltenham race Mullins has never won and they have always believed Chacun Pour Soi
would take them to that holy grail. He is priced up like he has been there and done it at Cheltenham, which he has not. Despite Altior’s absence, there is still depth to the race and Nube Negra is a danger to all with his stalking style, First Flow is in the form of his life and last year’s winner, Politologue, is guaranteed to run his race. A Champion Chase to savour. It seems bizarre that my beloved Tiger Roll is running and barely getting any column inches. I would so love to see him run well in the Glenfarclas Chase (3.40), although I fear the fire in the Tiger no longer burns so bright. But he owes no one anything. Easysland should defend his title.
Mullins will win the Bumper (4.50), it is just a question of with which one. Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard look outstanding, but Willie always speaks about Ramillies in glowing terms, and he is usually not far wrong.