Cheltenham Festival: Six leading British hopes for the handicaps

There can be no better feeling than sifting through the handicap entries for the Cheltenham Festival. The prospect of solving some of the toughest punting puzzles known to man can be a task like no other.

A total of 654 entries were revealed for the nine handicap contests on Wednesday afternoon. I’ve taken a look at six British-trained who can hopefully play leading roles. The weights will be announced next week but BHA ratings give us a fair idea of what to expect, at least among the home contingent.

Race: Ultima Handicap Chase. General Odds: 8-1

Kim Bailey won the 1999 renewal of this race with Bett’s Boy and saddled Happygolucky to finish second last year. In Does He Know, the Gold Cup-winning trainer looks to have another leading player.

The seven-year-old won his first two starts over fences, including at Cheltenham’s The Showcase in October, before finishing second back at Cheltenham at the November Meeting.

Given a break after that effort, he returned to action with a convincing 14-length demolition of his rivals in the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot this month. While his jumping lacked some fluency, the Alkaased gelding stayed on to good effect to record a decisive victory.

That win came on soft ground, but he has already shown his aptitude for a quicker. Also entered in the National Hunt Chase, connections seem more intent on running in this race and he rates as a leading player in his bid to provide Bailey with a second win in the race.

Race: Coral Cup. Odds: 10-1

A Listed bumper winner, Sam Thomas’ Good Risk At All looked a horse to follow when chasing home Jonbon in a maiden hurdle at Newbury in November.

He confirmed that impression when a neck second on his handicap debut at Warwick in January, for which he went up 3lb to a mark of 127. However, he showed that to be extremely lenient when cruising to a facile nine-length victory at Ascot this month.

The step up to an extended 2m3f clearly suited and, given the manner in which he travelled, the step up to 2m5f for the Coral Cup should be well within his compass. Up to a mark of 137, he could still be extremely well-handicapped. Thomas said on Luck On Sunday that the Coral Cup was his favoured option for him.

Race: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase. Odds: 8-1

Brave Seasca has been one of the success stories of the season, racking up a hat-trick of wins before finishing a creditable third to Arkle favourite Edwardstone in the Kingmaker at Warwick last time out. He emerged with plenty of credit in that contest, especially as he made a bad mistake at the fourth fence.

A ferocious gallop and the track at Cheltenham promise to suit. A mark of 146 looks attractive given Sky Pirate won this event in 2021 off 152. Given he has proven his versatility with regards to the ground, he looks Britain’s principal hope.

Race: Paddy Power Plate. Odds: 6-1

High-class in France, Celebre D’Allen has been simply brilliant in three runs over fences for Philip Hobbs. Successful on his first two starts on heavy ground at Ascot, there was lots to like about his latest win at Warwick on good to soft ground.

The 10-year-old was towards the back of the field for most of the race, before scything through the field on the approach to the home straight. He only took the lead after the last fence, but the three-quarter length success failed to highlight the facile manner of the victory.

He’s up to a mark of 141 and Cheltenham will be a whole different ball game, but he has experience on his side and crucially it looks as if the handicapper has still not got to grips with him.

Race: Pertemps Network Final. Odds: 9-1

The shrewdies have been hyping up Alaphilippe’s for this race all season.

A progressive novice hurdler last term, his season culminated with a respectable fifth in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s only run once so far this this term, when fifth to Sporting John in a qualifier for this event at Warwick, shaping with plenty of promise.

Fergal O’Brien’s charge looked like fighting out the finish on the approach for home, travelling powerfully under Paddy Brennan, but the petrol gauge turned to empty following the final flight, which he jumped in second.

That was a seriously eye-catching run and, to an extent, mission accomplished as he needed to finish in the top six to qualify. He’s not been missed in the market but looks to have been primed by connections.

Race: McCoy Contractors County Hurdle. Odds: 9-1

You always have to respect a Dan Skelton runner in this event. Successful with Superb Story (2016), Mohaayed (2018) and Ch’tibello (2019, Skelton looks to have a fascinating contender this time in West Cork.

He began the season with a gutsy victory over Adagio in the Greatwood Hurdle, highlighting his suitability for Cheltenham, before finishing a respectable fifth in an ultra-competitive handicap at Ascot in December.

The eight-year-old sustained a minor injury in that contest and has not run since. He therefore comes into the County Hurdle as the forgotten horse, and. a mark of 141 remains reasonable. There are a host of unexposed Irish contenders for this contest, but West Cork promises to give them all plenty to think about.