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Cheltenham 2021 - Review

The week belongs to Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore and Jack Kennedy. Minella Indo won the Gold Cup having lost the RSA on the line this time last year. Everyone loves a comeback story and this is one because following that defeat there was a fall at Leopardstown at Christmas and a very ordinary run in February. I thought he was very overrated and even though he fit the age range  (the last 3 winners of the race were 7 or 8 years old), I over looked him for Al Boum Photo. Funnily enough it had the feel of when Al Boum Photo won in 2019 because there wasn't a lot of talk about him. I still expected him to be beaten even when he flew the last but A Plus Tard couldn't run him down. He proved me and the doubters wrong today by adding the top prize in National Hunt racing to that narrow second last year and the Albert Bartlett two years ago. What a Cheltenham record! Fantastic for Jack Kennedy as well. He's had some week too - Black Tears beating the hot favourite Concertis

Smiling Eliza at Dublin Racing Festival Preview

Leopardstown 12.40pm

  • Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
  • 2m 2f, Good to Yielding


High School Days is back over hurdles after not impressing over fences. She was a long way behind Cilaos Emery at Gowran. last hurdle run was over 2m on yielding when she only finished a few lengths behind yesterdays ladbrokes hurdle 3rd Ivanovich Gorbatov at Punchestown last April but best form on soft ground. 

Alletrix won this last year on soft ground but she’s up 19lbs from then. Last run was at Punchestown when 15L behind yesterdays winner Quamino who was third that day. Also 11L 3rd behind Laurina at  Punchestown festival last year. 

Mrs Lovett didn’t impress last time out at Warwick over 2m4f but won well at Fairyhouse the time before over same distance on good ground and only went up 2lb for that. Up another 7lb for this today. Well ahead of High School Days when 4th on soft ground. 

Morga was behind Wonder Laish over 2m at Fairyhouse who in turn was very poor in the Ladbrokes Hurdle yesterday and last of 7 before that over 2m2f at Punchestown in a listed mares race. 4L behind yesterdays winner Off You Go at Galway on yielding over 2m.

Sapphire Lady was ahead of Off You Go at Fairyhouse on good over 2m but up 17lb for that and has won at Wexford over 2m4f on yielding. 

Cut the Mustard was 3L behind Jetez here last time out over 2 mile on good to yielding but up 9lb for that. The latter was well down the field in Ladbrokes Hurdle and 2nd behind Felix Desjay before that. Also behind Sapphire Lady at Fairyhouse. 

Court Maid is going for 4 in a row after beating Ballyneety by 2L over 2m on soft at Cork when keeping on well. Won at 3m on good ground before that and won at Cork again before that over 2m4f on good. Seems to go well on all ground and over any distance and carrying 2lb less this time. Big Chance. 

Augusta Gold won last time at Navan over 2m4f on good to yielding but up 12lb for that. Won at Downpatrick over this distance. Good each way chance. 

Clementina going for the hat trick after winning over 2m at Fairyhouse on New Years Day with Cristal Icon 10L behind on good ground staying on well. Won at Fairyhouse before that on good to yielding, keeping on well again. Down 7lb and has same 5lb claimer on board. Chances. 

Countess Cathleen behind Limini and Good Thyne Tara at Leopardstown over 2m4f on good to yielding and down 6lb for that. 

Sassy Diva was 2m good to yielding second at Thurles 3L behind honeysuckle who has rubber stamped that with victory at fairyhouse. Also a head second to Tintangle at Thurles over 2 on good. winner at Ayr before over 2m on good. Low enough in the weights on this form to have a great chance. 

Cristal Icon was well behind Clementina last time. Down a stone for that. 

One First Cut was 6L 3rd to Court Maid at Cork and 6th 7L behind The King of Brega at Thurles. 

Hidden Dilemma was 2nd at newcastle last on good to soft over 2m4f carrying 11/12. Won at Carlisle before that on heavy. Seems to go better with cut in ground. 

Smiling Eliza 12L 4th at Thurles last time out behind The King of Brega carrying 9/10 on good. A long way behind Surin before that and before that 20L 8th behind Rocky Blue. Has run against some very god horses recently and carries bottom weight.

Verdict:

The King Of Brega, who is not running in this race, might hold the key to this. One First Cut was 6.5L behind The King Of Brega but was 6.25L behind Court Maid. Clementina was 12L ahead of Baby Jake who was 15L being The King Of Brega.  Sassy Diva was 1.75L ahead of Like An Open Book who was 4L behind The King Of Brega


All this points me to CLEMENTINA.




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