Here are ten Irish Horses that racegoers followed for the Cheltenham Races in 2020 …
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Asterion Forlonge
Willie Mullins has taken the curtain raiser at the Festival four times since 2013 and he has to have strong claims of doing so once again with this unbeaten six-year-old grey. On his two most recent runs, he has shown improved form to win a maiden hurdle by ten lengths before being thrown into Grade One company at Leopardstown, where he dotted in by a somewhat similar margin. He is clearly going the right way and is a danger to all as the racing odds for this horse have shortened.
Arkle Chase – Fakir D’oudairies
Fakir D’oudairies will be a player here, particularly if the ground stays soft. The ground had started to turn against this horse in his subsequent race at Leopardstown and Notebook was able to take full advantage on St Stephen’s Day. Notebook has had to endure another hard race since and that may have just taken the shine off him a little.
Champion Hurdle – Couer Sublime
Couer Sublime is a strong horse who ran a blinder of a race when runner up in the JCB Triumph Hurdle last year. He found only Pentland Hills too strong that day in what was a field full of subsequent winners including the likes of Quel Destin, Tiger Tap Tap and recent Grade three Hurdle winner Pic D’orhy. He made a stunning seasonal reappearance at Down Royal back in November before disappointing slightly behind Sharjah and Petit Mouchoir at Leopardstown.
Mares’ Hurdle – Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is being touted to contest this race as an alternative to the Champion Hurdle despite having won the Irish version at Leopardstown just a few weeks ago. She rallied back in game fashion and would not be denied her seventh straight win. The betting on this horse is generous because on paper this race looks nowhere near as competitive and she looks to be the one they all have to beat.
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – Envoi Allen
Envoi Allen has won seven consecutive horse races since December 2018, including a couple of Grade Ones at Fairyhouse and Naas. He also won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last year so he has vital prior experience of Prestbury Park and can put it to good use. According to BoyleSports horse racing odds, he is likely to be sent off as a short odds favourite for this race, but on what he has shown so far, he is the one they all have to beat.
RSA Chase – Minella Indo
Minella Indo made his chasing debut on bottomless ground at Gowran Park, where he bumped into an in form Laurina. He then beat the consistent Captain CJ by a length and a half on his next start over fences. Henry De Bromhead is likely to have him cherry ripe for this and with Rachael Blackmore likely to ride, the combination must be feared.
Queen Mother Champion Chase – Chacun Pour Soi
Chacun Pour Soi readily dismissed stablemate Min at Leopardstown earlier in the month following a lacklustre seasonal reappearance behind A Plus Tard around six weeks earlier. He is extremely lightly raced and jumps for fun. He hails from one of the best jumps yards in the world. With further improvement likely, he can definitely shake up Altior and Defi Du Seuil.
JCB Triumph Hurdle – Fujimoto Flyer
Fujimoto Flyer isn’t a horse that rolls off the tongue, but he created a positive impression on his two wins over hurdles so far. He recorded a facile eighteen-length win over the odds on favourite Harvest Bow at Killarney before winning a listed hurdle by nine lengths at Auteuil. In a race that has a habit of throwing up a few shocks, he is worthy of a second look, particularly if the ground stays soft.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – Monkfish
Monkfish is improving at a rate of knots and could just be the type to deliver this prize back to Willie Mullins with him having won this race in 2017 with Penhill. Irish runners have a good recent record in this race (Minella Indo, Penhill, Martello Tower) and it will be of little surprise to see that trend continue.
Cheltenham Gold Cup – Delta Work
Delta Work has been to two previous Cheltenham Festivals and as a result won the Pertemps Network Final in 2018, before running a mighty race to finish third in the RSA Chase last year. He was in desperate need of a run when fourth of five in a Grade One at Down Royal in November. That run certainly cleared away the cobwebs as he has won back to back to races at Leopardstown subsequently including a Gold Cup. He has to be high on any shortlist.
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Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
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