Cheltenham Countdown: Buddy to line the pockets of Royal punters

BRIAN DOWLING'S PICKS

Under a fortnight to go until the return of the Cheltenham roar.

Four magical days of the finest National Hunt racing in the heart of the Costwolds on racing’s greatest stage.

They will gather in thousands from near and far to roar home some of the finest racehorses the sport has ever seen.

And while the finishing touches are being put on everyone’s antepost selections, here's four to keep in mind.Threeunderthrufive

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Wednesday 2.10pm - 14/1

With Willie Mullins’ suggesting that Galopin Des Champs may perhaps go to the Turners’ to take on Bob Ollinger, it has seen his price ease at the top of the Brown Advisory Market.

It leaves the door open for the English who have a strong team in this event, and Threeunderthrufive could have a big say.

The Paul Nicholls’ trained seven-year-old has won all his chase starts bar one, winning his last five on the bounce.

He won over course and distance in November, beating Does He Know by four lengths, and that form got a major boost when Kim Bailey’s gelding bolted up at Ascot a fortnight ago.

He had further success at Doncaster and again at Warwick in January and looks set to go to the festival on a nice winning streak.

He seems to go well on most surfaces, with his wins ranging from good ground to soft, and while most of the Nicholl’s limelight will be on Bravemansgame, who will probably go off favourite should Galopin Des Champs get pulled out, Threeunderthrufive sneaks in under the radar and could go off a very appealing price.

He stays well, knows Cheltenham well, and is sure to go well.

Buddy Rich

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual – Wednesday 4.50pm - 9/1

A horse owned and trained in the Royal County, Buddy Rich looks set for a bold bid in the Grand Annual.

Gordon Elliot revealed in his latest stable tour that the John Keegan owned gelding could potentially be his only runner in the two-mile handicap, a race he last won with Chosen Mate in 2020.

Novices’ have a good record in Cheltenham handicap chases, and Buddy Rich will head to the festival with plenty of experience, having had six runs over fences this term.

His form reads 222214 this season, including when he was runner up to Third Time Lucki back in October on the old course.

Dan Skelton’s gelding has won in Graded company since as well as chasing down leading Arkle hope Edwardstone.

He was also beaten six lengths at Fairyhouse in November behind Dunvegan, who went on to win the Dan Moore Memorial as well as finishing runner up to Chacun Pour Soi at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He currently has an Irish mark of 138 and could be liable to maybe five or six pounds higher from the British Handicapper when the weights are announced.

However, seven of the last 10 winners have won off a mark between 140 and 150, as well as nine of the last ten winners being aged nine or younger.

Buddy Rich ticks plenty of boxes.

Impervious

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Thursday 4.50pm - 12/1

Colm Murphy is without a Cheltenham winner since renewing his licence in 2019, but he may not have to wait much longer.

The Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase winning trainer has only two entries over the course of the four days, but he holds a live chance in Thursday’s Mare Novices’ Hurdle with Impervious.

The daughter of Shantou cost €26,000 as a three-year-old and she bolted in at Cork on debut last August.

She followed up at Listowel before destroying a quality field at Down Royal last October. In behind her that day was Party Central back in fifth, who’s been a revelation since.

She wasn’t disgraced in Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse where a mistake at the last hampered her chances of perhaps finishing closer, and she’s been kept away since.

She shows a lovely turn of foot and looks versatile ground wise.

She's got some excellent form to her name and if there’s one man who get a horse ready for the big stage at Cheltenham, it’s Murphy.

Bardenstown Lad

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – Friday 2.50pm - 14/1

John McConnell has five course wins at Cheltenham to his name, but none of them have come at the festival.

He’s been knocking on the door in recent years and he came closest in this contest last year when Streets Of Doyen finished third, and he will bid to go two places better this time around when Bardenstown Lad lines up.

Under the same ownership of Ms Caroline Ahearn, McConnell’s seven-year-old has five runs under his belt this campaign, boding four successes, with one of them coming at Cheltenham back in October.

He showed great tenacity up the hill on that occasion and when push came to shove, he found more under Sean Bowen to kick on again and score by a length.

He followed up that success with an 11 length win in the Scottish Stayers’ Hurdle which should leave him primed for this.

He perhaps may not have the Grade 1 experience that Minella Crooner and Minella Cocooner have, but he looks a stout stayer in the making and should the rain stay away, he’s a player.