Timefigure debrief: Cheltenham Festival days 3 and 4

By Timeform R&D — published 19th March 2018

In part 2 of our timefigure debrief, Timeform's R&D team pick out the best performances on the clock from the final two days of the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.

Hurdles

In the time Google Earth calculates it takes to drive from Cheltenham to Leyburn the Stayers' Hurdle could theoretically have been rerun another 35 times or so and on their way home North on Thursday Sam Spinner’s connections could have been forgiven for rerunning the Stayers’ over in their heads that many times.

One might have imagined beforehand Sam Spinner would be asked to call upon on his strongest asset and set the sort of unrelenting gallop that had seen him record a race-leading timefigure of 166 in the Long Walk Hurdle on his previous start; as it was he wasn’t asked to go anywhere near as fast as he can and the writing was on the wall as the whole field massed behind him rounding the home turn.

For all we were very keen on Sam Spinner in our Stayers’ preview, it would be naïve to think though that even had he ended up exposing the (still obvious) stamina chinks in some of those that finished close up he would have beaten Penhill.

The Stayers’ winner could hardly have been more impressive when swatting aside Stayers' third Wholestone at the end of the 2017 Albert Bartlett and his subsequent Punchestown defeat – his only one at 3m - was hardly his fault. A timefigure of 107 for his Stayers’ win might not suggest as much but Penhill, a classy performer on the Flat who is still unexposed at 3m, could easily be the best stayer around anyway.

Neither would it be right to think that Sam Spinner’s turn might only be delayed by a year. The Ballymore and Albert Bartlett both looked particularly strong renewals this year - Next Destination in particular looks a strong candidate to improve at 3m if he stays over hurdles- and it’s conceivable the Stayers’ will be an even deeper race next year.

2017 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner Penhill, who was having his first start for 323 days, eventually outstayed 2017 Coral Cup winner to win the Stayers’ Hurdle @CheltenhamRaces. #TheFestival pic.twitter.com/83SQRraauj
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 15, 2018

Had jockey Colliver been able to secure a ride in the faster-run Pertemps - won by the novice Delta Work in a timefigure of 142 - an hour earlier instead of going into the Stayers’ cold then the Stayer’s might well have been run differently. The pace in the Pertemps was faster to all points than the Stayers', noticeably in the middle of the race, but even so it wasn’t breakneck and neither Delta Work nor runner-up Glenloe (144) are sluggards as their strong burst from the last hurdle showed.

Delta Works’s winning timefigure wasn’t that far below the 145 recorded by Presenting Percy in the same race last year. Whether he’ll make the same progress remains to be seen but he’s a strong traveller and is the youngest winner for many years.

The Trull House Mares’ Novice Hurdle isn’t an obviously popular affair beyond the small circle of owners of novice mares and what looked an uncompetitive two-horse race at best beforehand was clearly bound only one of them - Laurina – after second favourite Maria’s Benefit was taken on for the lead by one of Laurina’s stable companions.

Maria’s Benefit had clearly had enough on the run-in, physically and perhaps mentally as well, and is better judged on other efforts but it’s doubtful she’s up to beating Laurina. A timefigure of 145 for Laurina doesn’t allow for the amount she could have found had she not been eased down; she could easily be a high 150s horse next season if she isn’t already.

#RUKMomentOfTheDay: An incredible performance from Laurina who won the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle by 18 lengths @CheltenhamRaces. #TheFestival

Watch all the finishes from Cheltenham today for free in our results and replay section. ➡️ https://t.co/7iJOPsdIyZ pic.twitter.com/S8oxUDxO3E
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 15, 2018

As we had indicated in our Novice Chasers and Hurdles preview the Irish duo of Farclas and Mr Adjudicator had easily the best time-based credentials going into the Triumph and the pair duly finished clear. Their 139 and 137 timefigures were 10 lb or so below those they recorded at Leopardstown on account of the pace to the second hurdle being fairly steady, but even they are clearly the best two around.

Apple’s Shakira hadn’t impressed on the clock all season and had made hard work of winning here on Trials day but promises to improve at 2½m with the 2019 Mares’ Hurdle an obvious target.

The Albert Bartlett looked a deep contest beforehand and though our fancy Santini (140) wasn’t able to go quite back up his defeat of Black Op here on Trials day he was set quite a stiff task asked to race wide some way off the pace. He stayed on strongly but like his stablemate OK Corral (142) wasn’t able to catch Killbricken Storm (140) who was ridden more handily than that pair behind long-time leader Fabulous Saga who for the second race in succession overcooked things in front. It’s hard to see Santini staying over hurdles and already he looks the leading home-trained candidate for the 2019 RSA Chase.

Chases

The pick of the chase performances on Thursday came in the Ryanair Chase with Balko Des Flos winning from Un De Sceaux in a timefigure of 165. Unlike in 2017 when Un De Sceaux’s strong galloping style took him clear midrace, he was never more than 4 lengths ahead of Balko Des Flos, who was still on the bridle when hitting the front three out. The winning margin was eventually four and a half lengths.

Odds-on favourite Un De Sceaux was no match for Balko Des Flos in the Ryanair Chase @CheltenhamRaces. Balko Des Flos also completed a Day Three treble for Gigginstown House Stud. #TheFestival #TeamGigginstown 👊 pic.twitter.com/Ut8Gf9Zg90
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 15, 2018

The JLT perhaps didn’t have the strength in depth as it might have had another day, with the likes of Monalee running in the RSA, but Shattered Love became the first mare to win a novice chase at the Festival in 23 years. Her timefigure was 132, some way below the performance (154).

The Brown Advisory, run over the same trip as the earlier Ryanair, was won by The Storyteller under another Davy Russell ride in a timefigure of 127. The pace wasn’t strong, and the first four held prominent positions throughout, with Splash of Ginge only surrendering the lead late.

Neither was the Kim Muir well run either, with the winner Missed Approach getting a very well-judged ride by Noel McParlan to post a 124 timefigure. A finishing speed of 107.9% from the third last meant the pair that finished second and third, Mall Dini and Squouateur, were disadvantaged by the run of things – both held up under patient rides, just as they had been in the 2017 renewal. Mall Dini, with Patrick Mullins replacing Katie Walsh last year, producing a career best in the process, but the winner found plenty when asked to hold off the runner up.

The final day’s highlight, the Gold Cup, saw Native River over Might Bite in a timefigure of 168, the sixth best chase timefigure this season, and third best at the 2018 Festival. Despite there being 15 runners this effectively turned into a match, with the front two going head to head from the start.

#RUKMomentOfTheDay: Native River provides Richard Johnson with his second success in the Gold Cup @CheltenhamRaces. #TheFestival

Watch all the finishes from Cheltenham and @MusselburghRace today for free in our results and replay section.➡️ https://t.co/7iJOPsdIyZ pic.twitter.com/nMXcHr475M
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 16, 2018

Richard Johnson on Native River went slower over the first four fences than the leaders in the Foxhunter 40 minutes later but from then on set an even gallop before starting to really wind things up from five out, by which time Native River was around seven and a half seconds up on Top Wood who was leading the Foxhunter field. Might Bite briefly headed Native River two out as the first two pulled clear of their pursuers but the race was only ever going to be about stamina from then and Native River responded strongly, leading narrowly over the last before drawing away to win by four and a half lengths.

Nothing in behind ever looked like getting involved but Anibale Fly (160) finished strongly for a career best effort in third, shaping as if he’d be suited by extreme distances. He’s in the Grand National but the Irish equivalent at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday would make as much appeal. Road To Respect (157) travelled strongly and jumped well in the main but got tired on ground more testing than he’s shown his best form on. He’s only seven and has time on his side.

The final race of the 2018 Festival was the Grand Annual won by Le Prezien in a timefigure of 134, who did well to reel in long-time leader Gino Trail after the last.

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