HAPPILY the whole week passed without major incident (though there was one unfortunate death) and there were very few fallers in the feature races. Envoi Allen being the only high profile horse to tumble though Champ made a poor effort.

Cheltenham really seemed to have sorted out the issues with the second last fence on the old course and it saw very few errors. It might be worth avoiding Folcano though if he goes over fences. He took a crashing fall at the first flight in the Martin Pipe and fell again at the second when loose!

WHAT a difference 24 hours make in racing.

On Wednesday Chacun Pour Soi was sent off at 8/13 for the Champion Chase and believed to be one of the best two-milers in some seasons. Now you can get him at 12s for next year’s race when he will be a 10-year-old. There’s not too chances for many of these good horses anymore.

TIGER Roll was winning his fifth race at his sixth Festival appearance but mention should also go to his one-time stable companion Petit Mouchoir, second in the County Hurdle, the first handicap he has run in at the Festival.

He’s travelled the country from Westmeath to Carlow to Waterford from Gordon to Willie, from Willie to Henry, from Henry to Gordon (now Sneezy).

He ran in the Supreme, Champion Hurdle, Arkle, Stayers’, Champion Hurdle and now County Hurdle.

Interference

Unlucky Champion Chase runner Sceau Royal was surely denied a place by interference on his fifth appearance.

Native River was also making his sixth Festival appearance from the Albert Bartlett through to four Gold Cups. Worthy warriors.

HATS off to the Hill for the second year in a row the top two-year-old filly Pretty Gorgeous made a winning debut at Bellewstown and the Festival was a further boost. If you had been allowed to attend the August meeting last year, on August 25th you would have seen the mares’ novice winner Telmesomethinggirl come home in front and the very next day Boodles winner Jeff Kidder scored for Noel Meade. It’ll soon be challenging Fairyhouse and Navan for producing Cheltenham winners!

Another notable feat of record for the smaller tracks was the finish of the Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedes Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel in February 2019 which saw Allaho come home in front of Minella Indo, the Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase winner in the same race.

Magic has scope to improve in a weaker division

Gerri Colombe

Supreme/Ballymore - 50/1

With Ireland’s clear dominance in the novice hurdles, you would be foolish not to look at these shores for next year’s top novices. But Cheltenham can blur the eyes. Who put Energumene in their horses to follow this time last year. What about one who did not run last week. Time expert Simon Rowlands was quite impressed by Gerri Colombe after his bumper wins and rated him third behind the eventual Champion Bumper one-two. That makes prices of 50/1 for both races look appealing when you consider Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit top those respective markets.

Bob Olinger

Champion Hurdle - 10/1

Ballymore winner Bob Olinger is quoted in the Champion Hurdle, and the three novice chases for next year with the Marsh being the shortest at 4s and 5/1. However, his Ballymopre win was good on the clock, and this race that has thrown up many champion hurdlers. He will be seven next year, Robcour will presumably have Aspire Tower for the Arkle, Appreciate It may go chasing at his year older age so why not go for a Champion Hurdle? If connections have a date for history with Honeysuckle for the Gold Cup, that will take her out of the Champion Hurdle and leaves it wide open for a new player.

Magic Daze

Mares’ Hurdle - 25/1

The Doyen mare outran her 22/1 odds in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle when second to her stable companion Telmesomethinggirl. But she again ran far too freely as she had done on her maiden win. She raced at least 10 lengths faster through three quarters of the race but jumped well and stayed at her task.

She was far less experienced than her stable companion and is a year younger. A hood might settle her and there could be more improvement in a division that does not look to strong after this year’s Mares’ Hurdle.