Alan King, a 7/1 shot with bet365 to be the Cheltenham Festival’s top trainer*, has an 18 strong team to go to war with this time, headed by Vor Por Ustedes in the Champion Chase and Franchoek, the current market leader for the Triumph Hurdle. Since breaking his Festival duck in 2004 with Fork Lightning, King has trained at least one winner in each of the following seasons, and won three of the most prestigious races at the meeting last year. That record makes him a trainer of significant interest when analysing this year’s races.
Champion Hurdle (2m 1f):
Katchit - Cheltenham form, particular festival form, is worth its weight in gold, and Katchit has that in spades. Was completing a course four-timer when winning last year’s Triumph Hurdle, and he has looked just as good this season when taking on older horses. Nice confidence booster when winning the Kingwell Hurdle last time out and sure to go well, but nagging doubt that he will find one or two too good and wouldn’t want the ground too soft.
Current best price: 9/1 BetDirect
Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (2m 5f):
Group Captain - Former smart flat racer who has looked better each time he's run this season, winning all three of his hurdle races. Has entries in both the novice hurdles but is almost certain to run in this - looked good when winning over 2m4f last time. Trainer thinks he could be even better on good ground.
Current best price: 6/1 William Hill
Champion Chase (2m):
Vor Por Ustedes - Won this last year and the previous year’s Arkle, so clearly loves Cheltenham. And that could make all the difference here as his two market rivals - Master Minded and Twist Magic - are unproven around the track. Trainer thinks he’s working as well as last year and might even be a touch better - he might need to be. Goes on any ground, but bounces off good.
Current best price: 7/2 Paddy Power
Peter O’Sullivan National Hunt Chase (4m)
Old Benny - Has been showing up well against top novices over trips of around 3m, which he’s been finding too sharp. Trainer has said "he stays all day", so this looks his sort of race - interesting.
Current best price: 14/1 Totesport
World Hurdle (3m):
Blazing Bailey and My Way De Solzen - The former was third in this race last year and is very consistent. However, he’s already been beaten by Inglis Drever this season and if that rival turns up in the same sort of form (stable under a cloud), he’s unlikely to reverse the form. My Way De Solzen looked to be coming back to something like his best last time and, as a previous festival winner, is not out of this.
Current best prices: 6/1 (Skybet) and 10/1 (VCbet) respectively
Triumph Hurdle (2m 1f):
Franchoek - Progressive juvenile hurdler who is very much in the same mould as his stablemate Katchit (who won last year’s Triumph) as he does nothing but improve with his racing. His latest win at the end of January was his best to date and he sets the standard for everything else. Goes on any ground but ideally would want some cut to slow down the speed horses.
Current best price: 9/4 general
Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m 2½f):
Halcon Genelardais - The form of his Welsh National second to Miko De Beauchene was boosted when that one went on to win a competitive handicap chase at Haydock off top weight, but that’s still some way short of what Kauto Star and Denman have achieved. Still, his trainer reports him "at the top of his game" and would not be without a chance on very soft ground.
Current best price: 33/1 Blue Square
King’s other leading contender’s include: Prideus (Fred Winter), Il Duce (Racing Post Plate) and Theatre Girl (Mares Only Hurdle). The latter race has been named in the honour of David Nicholson, Alan King’s former mentor at Jackdaw’s Castle, so it is obviously a race he’d love to win. Theatre Girl is a general 5/1 chance.
*Settled on the number of winners trained. If there is a tie for the number of winners, it will go down to the number of second places, if there is still a tie, the number of third places will be taken into account.