Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 19 November 2024

With 16 of the 19 races at Cheltenham’s three-day November meeting going to winners priced at 7/2 or shorter, the punters had the better of the argument with the bookmakers.

Even Il Ridoto, the 10/1 winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup, was one of the best backed horses in the race and the results generally went according to form.

The race that I was most looking forward to on Friday was the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, which featured Valgrand, the impressive 17-lengths’ winner of a novices’ hurdle there in October, and the highly-regarded Potters Charm. This was no two-horse race on paper, with six-race winner Gale Mahler in the line-up.

There had been little between the two principals in the early betting, but by the off Valgrand was favoured at 5/6 over Potters Charm, who started at 7/4.

Dan Skelton had been surprised with the ease of Valgrand’s success in his previous race, implying that it may have been a “fluke”, while Willy Twiston-Davies, representing his father, said they had been disappointed that Potters Charm had not won his previous two races more easily.

In the event Potters Charm took this by 11 lengths, despite not jumping particularly fluently, earning a quote of 14/1 for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle back here in March. He ran to a mark in the low to mid 150s but he could be even better when he is stepped up to three miles. His dam is a full sister to a 3m chase winner from a family of stayers.

Another of the weekend’s winners who is bred for longer trips is Peaky Boy, who took the 2m 4f novices’ handicap chase for Nicky Henderson on Sunday.

The six-year-old, a half-brother to 3m 1f chase winner No Anxiety, is by Kayf Tara out of a Listed bumper and hurdle winning daughter of Vinnie Roe.

He could be the right sort for one of the top staying handicap chases here in March.

Burdett Road will be raised to 140 or thereabouts, from 133, following his gutsy defeat of Be Aware in the Greatwood Hurdle. He had improved on the Flat this summer but he will need to step up again if he is to lock antlers with the likes of Constitution Hill, State Man and Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle.

Tony Martin was back in the winners’ circle with Hamsiyaan. He will have something better in mind for this well-treated four-year-old.

The horse that I was most looking forward to seeing last weekend was Il Est Francais in the extended 3m 3f Prix la Haye, the French equivalent of the King George VI Chase.

It was the six-year-old’s first attempt at the trip, made all the more testing by the heavy ground, but having put in some spectacular leaps he lost his place jumping the sixth from home and was pulled up before the next.

He had stopped quickly there in April, when 30/100 to win over 2m 6f, but the absence of a subsequent breathing procedure suggests nothing untoward was found with his wind.

Trainer Noel George had sounded full of confidence in pre-race interviews last week and I suspect there may be a problem with the horse’s heart.

He had looked incredibly impressive when winning around Kempton last Christmas but his team may struggle to get him sorted in time for the King George, which is only five weeks away.

He does, however, have exceptional talent, with the pace to win at two miles. It is a long time since I have seen a horse of this age jump as well as he does, and I suggest you keep him at the forefront of your mind for a top prize.

On song he is as good as I’ve seen.

It’s the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday but the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown on Sunday will prove to have the greater significance.

Willie Mullins has 10 entries headed by Galopin Des Champs, with Fact To File the current ante-post favourite, and Gaelic Warrior while Derek O’Connor comes in for the mount on last year’s winner Fastorslow.

Bye for now

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