Gary O'Brien Cheltenham Festival Q and A: "I think he wins"

I think he might ride Ballyfad, mainly because he’s had one less run over hurdles. They’re both point-to-point winners, and they would both be stepping up in trip in the Turners, but Ballyfad might be open to a bit more improvement. I would say Ballyfad has the better chance out of the two, and he’d actually be very high on my list to win it. 

If you look at the prices, he’s around 10-1 for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, and a best-priced 3-1 for the Albert Bartlett. That would indicate that he’s going to maybe go for the Albert Bartlett but, speaking to Willie over the past couple of days, he does seem to have a concern about him perhaps being a shade free in the Albert Bartlett. 

For the Supreme, without any great confidence – it looks a really good race – I think Old Park Star is the percentage call. 

I think El Cairos is a very good horse, but you can’t really suggest backing him at the price he is when he’s just won a maiden hurdle at Thurles. Fair enough, he was going to win at Leopardstown when he fell, but Old Park Star has achieved an awful lot more. 

For the Turners, I would just about side with Ballyfad, at this stage, but it’s an open race. I do respect the chances of No Drama This End – I wouldn’t have much between those two. 

And my Albert Bartlett pick is the one from left field, which might look as though it takes a bit of explaining, but I don't think it does.

They Call Me Hugo (a best-priced 50-1, at the time of recording) won very well in a weak race on his first start for Olly Murphy and then he went to Cheltenham at the December Meeting for a graded novice hurdle and I thought he was unlucky not to win as he was patiently ridden in a race that wasn't run at a breakneck gallop, and put in some good late work after being hampered at a crucial stage.

I think that was the difference between winning and losing and that there's plenty more to come from him.

I'd give him a pass for his defeat at Windsor after that as well. He  made a mistake at the last and perhaps connections, in hindsight, would have made a bit more use of him. I think he'll be in the mix as he could easily be unbeaten in his last three runs and yet he's priced up like he's a no hoper. 

It was a tough battle between those two horses that day. The winner (I’ll Sort That) is one of the toughest horses around – he wears his heart on his sleeves and goes off in front. I have a lot of time for him, and while he has had some tough battles, he has had a nice break since winning at Naas, so I would be respectful of him wherever he goes. When you’ve won a Grade One over 2,4f, the Turners Novices’ Hurdle would look the obvious fit for him, I would just worry that you are going to get contenders who have been running in two-mile Grade Ones, and stepping up in trip – Ballyfad and Skylight Hustle, potentially – and I just wonder if he might be vulnerable to those rivals. He’s well worth his place in the line-up, though. 

I think he would get the trip fine in the Albert Bartlett, but I just worry that, in a big field in that race, with the way he runs, he would surely receive a lot of pressure from the front end. That might just count against him. 

I’d be surprised. He went very close to winning a handicap on his latest start and has only gone up 3lb. He finished ten lengths clear of the third there, too, and I would not be shocked if they stepped him up in trip to try and eke out more improvement. Even if he had top weight in a handicap, there are some good claimers out there you could use to ease his burden. 

We also asked Gary some quick-fire questions regarding the key clashes at this year's Cheltenham Festival! After reading Gary's answer above, you may also want to check out Racing TV's Cheltenham free bets page.

Old Park Star! I just slightly prefer his style of running.

I'll go Kopek Des Bordes.

A tricky one. Probably The New Lion because I think that, just maybe, he's the least complicated of the trio.

I would have to go with No Drama This End. He's achieved a lot more, at this stage.

The Big Westerner, maybe, just because of what happened with Final Demand at the DRF last time out.

It has to be Majborough. If he repeats his performance at the DRF, then I think he wins.

It's a close call, but I think Bambino Fever will just about be able to reverse the form.

Easy one....Lossiemouth!  

I like Honesty Policy, but I still think Teahupoo has got plenty of life left in him, so it would be Teahupoo for me.

If he runs, then definitely Fact To File. 

....Galopin Des Champs!

Haiti Couleurs.

Spillane's Tower.

I Am Maximus, but only just! They've both got question marks over them.