Champion Hurdle showdown for Jazz
Messenger
 By David
Thorpe
While most people spent the Christmas and New Year period with nothing
more taxing their minds than how to dispose of their Christmas tree in
the neighbour’s skip serious racing fans spent the festive period
looking for Cheltenham Festival clues amid the deluge of racing.
One horse who is now firmly among the ranks of superstar in the making
is Voy Por Estedes. His win on ground he hated was among the most impressive
performances of recent times and he will be a very warm favourite in the
Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Few trainers were in better form over Christmas than Dessie Hughes and
his Schlinder’s Hunt emerged as the best two-mile novice chaser
in Ireland and the trainer’s thoughts will now turn to the Arkle.
Brave Inca sprang back to the top of the Champion Hurdle betting when
he demolished his main Irish rival Iktiaf at Leopardstown and Colm Murphy’s
charge is rapidly earning the title of legend as he continues to win big
races whatever the ground or the opposition.
Next up for Brave Inca will be a showdown with Jazz Messenger who won
the Christmas Festival Hurdle at Kempton. The horse was tipped in The
Irish Post to beat Straw Bear and while Jonjo O’Neill’s horse
was far short of his best, the way in which Jazz Messenger won indicates
he has plenty of room for improvement. He will be a contender for whatever
race he contests at the festival as will Lounaous, already perhaps the
best novice hurdler in Ireland.
One horse who showed he has the speed and stamina to win a Gold Cup is
Kauto Star who impressed in winning a poor renewal of the King George
on St. Stephen’s Day. Paul Nicholl’s horse is definitely top
class but whether he is capable of the fast, accurate jumping required
in a Gold Cup remains open to question and he is a very short price.
The Listener’s shock win in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown indicates
that Robert Alner’s horse could be a Gold Cup contender if there
is soft ground at Cheltenham. Conversely the third-placed horse in the
Lexus, War of Attrition, needs good ground to be at his best.
By the time Cheltenham rolls around in March the chances are that the
ground will be good so punters shouldn’t be dissuaded from backing
War of Attrition.
Horses to watch in the coming weeks include Wickford and Lordofourown
whose impressive finish to nick fourth place in the Welsh National on
ground he loathed was one of the eye-catching runs of the Christmas period.
This week’s horses to watch…
Thursday 2.30pm Hereford:
TIP: Classic Fiddle
Nicky Henderson always does well with his novice hurdlers and this fellow
could go a long way. Two wins from two races last year showed his ability
and he should win again. Bet of the week if he runs.
Thursday 3.30pm Hereford:
TIP: Primary Goal
This is a poor race and in such contest it’s always adviseable to
follow the big stables. They don’t come much bigger than Jonjo O’Neill
and this horse has an excellent chance of victory.
Thursday 4pm Hereford:
TIP: Blue Teat
Henrietta Knight has her horses in fine form at present and she looks
to have found a good opportunity for this fellow to get off the mark.
His recent second-placed finish showed him to be a horse in form and perhaps
one to follow in the coming weeks.
Friday 2.20pm Huntingdon:
TIP: The Royal Dub
This fellow is by no means a certain starter but if Tony Martin sends
him over from Ireland for any race in the next week he will have an outstanding
chance. He has a very low handicap mark.
Friday 3.20pm Huntingdon:
TIP: Just a Splash
This horse let us down big time over the Christmas period but hopefully
we can retrieve the money we lost that day and add the price of a pint
or two when he runs on Friday. A very decent future awaits this horse.
Friday 3.50pm Huntingdon:
TIP: Crocodile Dundee
Another horse who disappointed slightly on his last run but who should
rectify that here. This is a weak enough race for him to win and he isn’t
far short of bet of the week material.
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