It’s unusual how rapidly issues change in sport. Heading into the Dublin Racing Competition Marine Nationale was being heralded as the subsequent Arkle winner off the again of a mere newbies’ chase victory and Gaelic Warrior had the Turners at his mercy. Two odds-on reverses and a festival-ending damage later and the script has been rewritten.
Marine Nationale is on the sidelines and Gaelic Warrior pitches up right here regardless of easily stretching out to a few miles lower than a yr in the past on the Punchestown pageant. Given what we noticed at Leopardstown final time mixed with Gaelic Warrior’s value, it’s comprehensible why punters could be queuing as much as take him on in his first-time hood.
Proper-jumping tendencies are stalling Gaelic Warrior’s profession and he veered that manner once more when unseating Paul Townend on the final within the DRF Grade 1 match race with stablemate Truth To File. It’s controversial that if Cheltenham had not grown into the monster it has change into, Gaelic Warrior may by no means have gone this fashion round once more.
That’s not to detract from Gaelic Warrior’s standing as a top-class expertise. Going left-handed didn’t preclude him from ending runner-up on the previous two festivals and his pummelling of Il Etait Temps at Limerick over Christmas was electrifying.
Gaelic Warrior and Truth To File in a match race eventually month’s Dublin Racing CompetitionCredit score: Alan Crowhurst
In a parallel universe the place the Arkle is staged at Fairyhouse, Kempton, Punchestown or Sandown, there’s little doubt Gaelic Warrior would shine. For his supporters, dropping to the shorter journey will at the least coincide with fewer fences to leap and fewer alternative to squander valuable floor at championship pace.
There have been straightforward Arkles to name lately however this isn’t one. There’s nothing between Il Etait Temps and Discovered A Fifty on their assembly within the Irish equal and they’re on Gaelic Warrior’s tail within the early betting. The suspicion is Il Etait Temps is ready to elevate his sport at Leopardstown in a way we’re but to see at Cheltenham. Discovered A Fifty may share Gaelic Warrior’s choice for galloping the opposite path.
It’s straightforward to grasp why help has slowly mounted for JPR One. He’s Britain’s greatest two-mile novice chaser on Racing Submit Scores and that counts for many when the Irish ones are both unreliable or beating one another.
JPR One did seem to idle as soon as the Lightning Novices’ Chase was within the bag with Matata preventing again for a half-length loss final time, however the Arkle is a distinct race on a distinct monitor and Matata went near matching JPR One’s 155 RPR on his earlier run at Cheltenham. He was simply edged out by Grand Annual fancy Libberty Hunter when conceding 11lb and on that type is overpriced.
That assertion may additionally apply to My Mate Mozzie on a line via Discovered A Fifty when the pair met at Christmas, albeit he in all probability desires faster floor. Momentum is growing round revitalised 2021 Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios is more durable to fathom, whereas the deeply unexposed Hunters Yarn gives the look we’re but to see his greatest.
Given the massive swimming pools on provide the Placepot is an understandably fashionable wager with punters on the pageant. Whereas the opening day card incorporates two 20+ runner handicaps, the Arkle may show the hardest leg for a lot of gamers to efficiently negotiate.
Race evaluation by Robbie Wilders
RP Recommends: learn how to wager on the Arkle
By Tom Park, viewers editor
You’re both with or towards Gaelic Warrior right here. He’s probably the most proficient horse within the race, little question, however he comes with dangers. It’s laborious to foretell which manner his value will transfer, so in case you’re backing him bet365 is your greatest shot, with their Finest Odds Assured concession obtainable from 8am.
In case you’re taking him on, Sky Wager’s 4 locations is a beneficiant provide given there are solely 9 runners right here.
Mullins hopeful the hood can work the oracle with Gaelic Warrior
El Fabiolo, Douvan and Un De Sceaux are simply a few of the premier two-mile chasers Willie Mullins has saddled to victory within the Arkle, and whereas this yr’s version in all probability lacks the imperious presence of one in every of that high quality, Closutton nonetheless appears to carry the important thing with a formidable three-pronged problem led by Gaelic Warrior.
On his two visits to the pageant, Gaelic Warrior ran vastly encouraging races, ending second within the Boodles in 2022 earlier than filling the identical spot behind stablemate Impaire Et Passe in final season’s Ballymore. His proclivity to leap proper obtained him beat on his secure debut at Cheltenham when he was agonisingly denied by Brazil at the present time two years in the past and that trait has been a persistent characteristic in his run-style, however his formidable engine is indeniable.
The primary two begins of his novice chase marketing campaign have been breathtaking, notably when he swatted away stablemate and the reopposing Il Etait Temps in Grade 1 firm at Limerick, however he ran nicely under himself in a match on the Dublin Racing Competition behind Truth To File, finally unseating on the final when being left nicely behind.
He wears a first-time hood now and Mullins is hopeful it could possibly curb his enthusiasm pre-race which he feels could have contributed to that below-par outing.
“We’re placing a hood on Gaelic Warrior,” mentioned Mullins. “The model of his leaping two begins in the past instructed he may return to 2 miles and, when he ran a bit disappointingly at Leopardstown subsequent time, all of us put our heads collectively and got here up with the plan to go for the Arkle. Most of his type is excellent bar the final race which it’s important to put a line via. I don’t know what occurred, probably he went too quick early, and he obtained very upset within the parade ring beforehand in order that’s why the hood is on.
“He’s jumped nicely within the hood at residence and Paul [Townend] was very eager so as to add it for Cheltenham. He goes there with a very good probability and he’s run nicely at Cheltenham earlier than. Generally he’s inclined to go a bit to his proper over his jumps which isn’t best, however I’d slightly have one leaping proper along with his skill than one leaping straight with out it.”
Twin Grade 1 winner Il Etait Temps continued his love affair with Leopardstown final month and will get on notably nicely with Danny Mullins, whereas Hunters Yarn is the unexposed contender of the Irish problem having accomplished simply the as soon as over fences when operating away with a Fairyhouse newbies’ chase by ten lengths on his newest begin.
Mullins mentioned: “ll Etait Temps at all times runs a very good race and Danny [Mullins] appears to conjure some nice runs from him having received two Grade 1s collectively. Hunters Yarn is enhancing on a regular basis and if punters are on the lookout for some each-way worth within the race, he could possibly be the one.”
‘He positively appears to be like to set the usual of the British’ – Tizzard leads residence problem with JPR One
Any horse who sports activities their proprietor’s initials carries a fairly large diploma of expectation, and JPR One will bid to lastly realise his lofty fame for John Romans on the Cheltenham Competition.
Whereas he boasted some respectable type over hurdles, chasing has spurred the seven-year-old to a brand new stage and coach Joe Tizzard believes he’s the most effective of the house contingent on Tuesday, having defeated Matata and Grasp Chewy in his Lingfield warm-up in January.
JPR One (Brendan Powell) jumps the final fence and beats Matata within the Lightning Novices’ ChaseCredit score: Edward Whitaker
JPR One will probably be Tizzard’s greatest probability of a breakthrough on the assembly since taking on the licence from his Gold Cup-winning father Colin at first of final season. The household operation will bid to finish a six-year pageant drought with heroic Gold Cup winner Native River the final to strike from the Spurles Farm operation in 2018.
“He’s in nice type and he comes right here after a beautiful prep at Lingfield,” mentioned Tizzard. “I’d say he’s going to want a lifetime greatest to win it however we couldn’t be happier with him.
“He positively appears to be like to set the usual of the British horses and it’ll be fascinating to see he will get on towards the Irish. I don’t assume there’s a standout amongst them, they’ve principally been beating one another. We’ll give it a go and hopefully he can run nicely.”
It is going to be JPR One’s first go to to Cheltenham since his gut-wrenching final-fence unseat when nicely clear on this race’s trial in November. He was travelling easily and three lengths clear earlier than Brendan Powell dramatically tumbled.
“That was simply a kind of issues however he was going very nicely earlier than it occurred and jumped properly,” the coach added. “He ran very well up till that time so we’re wanting ahead to going again.”
What they are saying
Gordon Elliott, coach of Discovered A Fifty
He’s in nice type and I feel he’s obtained a rock-solid probability. He has barely put a foot flawed all season, he jumps nicely and he stays so there’s a lot to love about him. It’s a wide-open Arkle and I feel he’s obtained each probability.
Henry de Bromhead, coach of Quilixios
He’s in good type and all the things has gone nicely with him over the previous few weeks. We have been operating over the flawed journey once we tried him over three miles and he appears a lot happier now over shorter. It’s an open race and he’s obtained an opportunity.
Gavin Cromwell, coach of My Mate Mozzie
I used to be blissful along with his run behind Discovered A Fifty at Leopardstown and we determined to go right here as an alternative of the Grand Annual. I’m hoping he can combine it with these and he’d have an opportunity if issues fell proper for him. He has type on mushy floor given he practically received a November Handicap on heavy at Naas on the Flat, however I feel he can quicken higher on nicer floor.
Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant coach to Nigel Twiston-Davies, coach of Grasp Chewy and Matata
We’ve been tremendous proud of each of them. It’s a more durable race, however I’d nonetheless be with them and so they’ve earned their proper to be right here. Grasp Chewy was a Grade 2 winner earlier within the season and Matata has been operating some nice races.
Cheltenham Tuesday previews:
1.30: Tullyhill ‘the completed article’ says Willie Mullins as he prepares assault on wide-open Supreme
2.50: ‘He appears to be like nicely handicapped now’ – who’re the risks to Ultima favorite Meetingofthewaters?
3.30: State Man a certainty for a lot of – however Nicky Henderson ‘fairly optimistic’ his super-sub can lay down a problem
4.10: Will ‘banker of the week’ Lossiemouth deal with the step up in journey and land one other pageant success?
4.50: ‘I feel he’ll run nicely at a value’ – evaluation and coach quotes for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
5.30: ‘I simply thought he was made for this’ – Nationwide Hunt Chase carries additional significance for Willie Mullins
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