Neil Morrice shares his race-by-race preview for day 1 of Cheltenham Festival 2023 as well as some quick-fire tips for racing at Sedgefield, Southwell and Newcastle on 14 March 2023.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2023 – DAY 1
Race 1 SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1)
No8 IL ETAIT TEMPS
Trainer: Willie Mullins – Jockey: Danny Mullins
It’s without any bias that I give you IL ETAIT TEMPS as my pick in the Festival opener – an exciting move into new territory for Hollywoodbets with its first-ever runner at Cheltenham. Ever since the grey began carrying the purple and yellow colours he’s risen to new heights, latterly turning the tables on FACILE VEGA from Leopardstown at Christmas to beating his stablemate fair and square in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
News on the bush telegraph is that Facile Vega came back with a genuine excuse and flew in a gallop last week, but I prefer to go with the latest evidence to hand, and take IL ETAIT TEMPS to foil Facile Vega and MARINE NATIONAL in an Irish 1-2-3, with unbeaten CHASING FIRE the best of the rest and well worth inclusion in exotics, as he’s done nothing wrong.
Prediction: 1st IL ETAIT TEMPS, 2nd Facile Vega, 3rd Marine National, 4th Chasing Fire
Race 2 SPORTING LIFE ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1)
No7 SAINT ROI
Trainer: Willie Mullins – Jockey: Mark Walsh
Victory for JONBON would be an eighth in the race for Nicky Henderson, but though yet to be beaten as a chaser the seven-year-old was made to struggle in his match with the inferior Calico at Warwick. The manner of that performance suggests Jonbon wants every yards of two miles, and this can see further Irish domination with SAINT ROI the value to outpoint EL FABIOLO.
The latter made a bad mistake four out before regathering himself to go clear on the run-in in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown. He’s clearly in a good place and has usurped Jonbon for favouritism in many places. SAINT ROI had impressed in landing a Grade 1 at that course over Christmas but unseated in the Irish Arkle. Held up that day, he lost his pilot after jumping the second down the back. All of 20 lengths adrift of trailblazer DYSART DYNAMO at the time, the race was only at its halfway stage, and there’s conjecture as to what might have happened is SAINT ROI had not suffered from that freakish departure.
Prediction: 1st SAINT ROI, 2nd El Fabiolo, 3rd Jonbon
Race 3 ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE
No10 CORACH RAMBLER
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox
If the North is going to sniff success this week it’s almost certainly going to happen in the handicaps, and this betting bonanza gives CORACH RAMBLER the chance to follow up his success of 12 months ago. The nine-year-old did well to come from an unpromising position at the top of the hill to reel in his rivals one by one and stay on strongly up the final hill. The assessor dropped him 1lb for a solid enough earning run in the Coral Trophy at Newbury, and he’s going to post just 6lb higher than in 2022.
With novices filling the first places last year my eye is drawn to OSCAR ELITE, who returned from a mid-season break to bolt up at Ascot last month, and who looks very well in on the pick of his form last season. His stable hasn’t hit the high spots you associate with it this winter, but granted the rub of the green OSCAR ELITE can be seriously involved. NASSALAM is best going left-handed and has run a couple of very solid races in Class1 handicaps here this season. It looks for all the world as if he’s been laid out for the race.
INTO OVERDRIVE is super progressive and gives the North a further string to its bow. He’s been wrapped up in cotton wool since taking out the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day and showed when scoring at the same course in the autumn that he goes well coming back from a break. If there’s one that’s gone under the radar it might be locally-trained FANTASTIKAS, who though losing his way is well-treated on the best of his novice chase form.
Prediction: 1st CORACH RAMBLER, 2nd Oscar Elite, 3rd Nassalam, 4th Into Overdrive, 5th Cloudy Glen
Race 4 UNIBET CHAMPION HURDLE (Grade 1)
No1 CONSTITUTION HILL
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
The Champion Hurdle is the undoubted highlight of the first day, but it’s also the race that takes the least analysing. That’s because CONSTITUTION HILL is a worthy heir apparent to the hurdling crown, and should dispatch his foes with the minimum of fuss. His breathtaking triumph in the Supreme Hurdle her in 2022 has been followed by equally convincing displays in the ‘ Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton (both Grade 1s). Never off the bridle on each occasion, he can remain unbeaten under Rules and provide Henderson with a record ninth success in this race.
STATE MAN could well repeat the forcing tactics that saw him floor Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, but even though he’s emerged as clearly the best on form of the Irish, I wouldn’t be surprised to see VAUBAN raise his game granted a stiffer test and a first visit here since taking out last season’s Triumph Hurdle.
Prediction: 1st CONSTITUTION HILL, 2nd Vauban, 3rd State Man
Race 5 CLOSE BROTHERS MARES’ HURDLE (Grade 1)
No3 EPATANTE (NAP)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
The bet I’m most looking forward to on Day 1 is EPATANTE, in a race that is without question the most fiercely contested in its history. Winner of the 2020 Champion Hurdle, the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old chased the shadow of HONEYSUCKLE in her next two runnings, but while the latter appears to have lost a fair amount of her lustre, EPATANTE has maintained a very high level of form, chasing home Constitution Hill on her first two starts this season before smoothly taking out a Grade 2 contest at Doncaster at the end of January.
HONEYSUCKLE might have been underwhelming this season but it will take a brave man to write her off in what could be her final race. I think she will bring her A-game to the table, but could be swamped for speed by my selection. LOVE ENVOI was a winner here last year, and after taking out both her starts this season will greatly enjoy the pronounced cut in the ground. The betting suggests MARIE’S ROCK could be a stronger prospect from Seven Barrows than Epatante, though I’m confident that if the latter goes to post in as good form as she’s been at home she will be hard to beat.
Prediction: 1st EPATANTE (Nap), 2nd Honeysuckle, 3rd Love Envoi
Race 6 BOODLES JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE
No8 BAD
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
One of the most talked about horses running this week is BAD, who after just three outings and having a first run for a new trainer is as dark as you like. The grey was beaten in two races at Bordeaux before opening his account at the same course back in November. He’s now with a trainer whose horses are really starting to get their act together, and is the sort who I think will either bomb in, or bomb out.
A handful of the Irish contingent are closely matched on form, with SIR ALLEN one I really like. He prevailed in a race at Naas that has thrown up the winner of this in three of the last four years and looks set to take away another decent-sized cheque. RISK BELLE and TEKAO each ran with credit at the Dublin Racing Festival while PERSEUS WAY has done nothing wrong and next to BAD looks the best of the home-trained contenders.
Prediction: 1st BAD, 2nd Sir Allen, 3rd Perseus Way, 4th Risk Belle
Race 7 WELLCHILD NATIONAL HUNT CHALLENGE CUP AMATEUR JOCKEYS’ NOVICES’ CHASE
No4 GAILLARD DU MESNIL
Trainer: Willie Mullins – Jockey: Mr Patrick Mullins
For those looking to jump out of jail GAILLARD DU MESNIL is not going to offer value. He’s a shade of odds-on with Hollywoodbets but remains the most likely winner. Third in the Irish Grand National last Easter, he finished third in the hottest novice chase run in Ireland behind Mighty Potter and for some good judges that I respect is his country’s Nap of the week.
The John McConnell-trained MAHLER MISSION has done little wrong, and showed a liking for this course in the autumn. If the favourite encounters a blip, he could be the one to capitalise. Another that needs to be taken seriously and could give both problems is MISTER COFFEE, who somehow admitted defeat after looking all over the winner of the Kim Muir here last season. Nicky Henderson’s charge has tons of ability, but struggles to put his head in front.
Prediction: 1st GAILLARD DU MESNIL, 2nd Mister Coffey, 3rd Mahler Mission
SEDGEFIELD
Race 1 No1 CHASE A FORTUNE (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
Absolutely hacked up at Catterick and in A1 position to follow-up
Race 3 No7 TELLHIMLISTEN
Trainer: Jennie Candlish – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
Romped home under penalty at Warwick on Sunday. Hat-trick firmly on cards.
SOUTHWELL
Race 4 No6 SECRET CONTACT
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Hayley Turner
Off the same mark as when second on handicap bow last week, should relish a longer trip and go one better.
Race 5 No2 DESERT COP (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Has inherited much of his dam’s blinding speed. Not obviously thrown in on handicap debut, but he’s good.
NEWCASTLE
Race 4 No5 KODIMAN (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Cameron Noble
Kodi Bear gelding posted a near miss on Southwell debut. Wiser for it, can open his account now tackling longer trip.
Race 7 No6 BELLAGIO MAN
Trainer: Antony Brittain – Jockey: Cam Hardie
Deservedly put a head in front at Southwell and poised for another earning run off only 2lb higher.
