13:20
Cheltenham
Odds correct as of 2:34pm 14th Feb
Ireland has dominated the Cheltenham Festival for a long time now and it’s about time that the British wrestled back some control. If the home team is going to have a good Festival, Nicky Henderson will be one of the main men responsible. The Lambourn-based trainer has some very good horses to run at Cheltenham so we’re going to assess the chances of his leading contenders. Take a look at our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Old Park Star emerged as a serious candidate for the Festival’s opening race, off the back of an utterly dominant display in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock. Nico de Boinville employed positive tactics aboard the six-year-old and he travelled powerfully throughout. The way in which he pulled clear with ease was very encouraging and he won’t be far away at Cheltenham.
Lulamba has made an excellent start to life over fences and superstar status could be there for the taking. A smart juvenile hurdler last term, he was narrowly denied in the Triumph but avenged that defeat with an imposing success at Punchestown. Henderson’s gelding comfortably got the better of more seasoned performers in the Game Spirit Chase and he wouldn’t look out of place in the Champion Chase, so winning the Arkle shouldn’t be beyond him.
Jonbon is a remarkably consistent horse who has never finished outside of the first two in his career and this sort of trip is much more suitable at this stage. His Cheltenham record isn’t amazing but there’s less emphasis on speed in this race and he has the ability required to come out on top.
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