Ratings Update: Festival hurdlers

Any horse that’s only been beaten once (third to Altior and Min in the 2016 Supreme) in thirteen starts over hurdles is a champion worthy of the name, and Buveur d’Air kept his position as the best hurdler around by winning the Champion Hurdle for the second year. It was hardly a vintage edition, however, and Buveur d’Air was made to work a lot harder to land the odds than in his previous races this season. Indeed, that lack of a serious race in his build-up might have been a factor in his winning by just a neck. For now, at least, his rating has been clipped from 170 to 168, but he may well still have a bigger performance in him.

D'AIR TO DREAM

Flashback to Tuesday, and *that* epic battle between Buveur d'Air and Melon in the @unibet Champion Hurdle 👀#TheFestival pic.twitter.com/HxE8Sjo16k

— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 17, 2018

Having just his seventh race over hurdles, runner-up Melon (167 from 161) emerged with plenty of credit in pushing Buveur d’Air close, well supported to do so beforehand, and almost certainly favoured by the good pace. He moves ahead of former champion Faugheen (only sixth) as Willie Mullins’ top two-mile hurdler with this career-best effort. Faugheen’s flop at Leopardstown at Christmas had overshadowed the winner Mick Jazz’s performance that day, but Mick Jazz confirmed himself an improved hurdler (162 from 157) in finishing only three lengths behind Melon in third.

The picture at the top of the staying hurdlers’ rankings has been less clear all season, and the combination of some notable absentees and a sedate pace in Thursday’s Stayers’ Hurdle failed to make the pecking order any more distinct. Returning from a lengthy absence, last year’s Albert Bartlett winner Penhill (164 from 158+) was given a good ride to account for Supasundae who didn’t quite run up to the improved form he’d shown when beating Faugheen, Mick Jazz and Melon over two miles at Leopardstown the time before. Wholestone (159 from 157) added to his solid course record in third, whereas favourite Sam Spinner (162 from 165) wasn’t seen to best advantage in setting only a moderate pace and is likely to be better suited by Aintree.

The Festival’s novice events saw plenty of horses continuing their progress, be it in victory or defeat, with Samcro (159p from 151P) living up to expectations in one sense by outclassing his rivals in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, though at the same time fuelling yet greater hopes for his future wherever that may lie – he has plenty of options in terms of trip be it kept to hurdles or sent chasing. Runner-up Black Op (152p from 146p) shaped really well without being a match for the winner and looks very much a future chaser. Among the rest of the beaten horses, Vision des Flos (144 from 134) showed plenty of improvement in sixth and he too looks sure to be better over fences.

The hype is real! Samcro wins the Bayllmore Novices' Hurdle at @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/GRV6C6Rcki

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2018

Black Op’s trainer Tom George has another fine chasing prospect on his hands with the Supreme winner Summerville Boy (156p from 149p) who again proved too good for Kalashnikov (152p from 148) in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, as in January’s Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown, though the margin was just a neck this time. The likeable runner-up is growing up all the time and seems sure to continue to give a good account with longer trips still to be explored. Fourth-placed Paloma Blue (148 from 140p) was just about the pick on looks in this field and ran a fine race despite being a bit keen for his own good.

Future chasers were very much to the fore, too, in the Albert Bartlett over three miles in which Kilbricken Storm (151 from 137) showed plenty of improvement to get the better of the Nicky Henderson-trained pair Ok Corral (143p from 140p) and Santini (remains 147p). The runner-up shaped like the best horse on the day (hung left and blundered at the last), but Santini looks the pick of these as a staying chaser in the longer term. Santini was having just his third start over hurdles, as was Ballyward (140p from 137p) in fourth, he too a cracking chasing prospect who relished this step up in trip.

While the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle might have been the weakest contest of the whole Festival, it had arguably the most impressive winner in Laurina (150p from 143P) who was all the rage in the betting and took Willie Mullins’ record in the race to three wins from as many runnings. She actually put up a better performance than stable-companion Benie des Dieux (124P from 143p) when winning the Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day. The latter contest was weakened by Apple’s Jade’s below-par effort, but Benie des Dieux still improved plenty on her old hurdles form in France; she’s due to go back over fences where she’s three from three for Mullins.

Odds-on favourite Laurina bolts up in the Mares’ Novices Hurdle @CheltenhamRaces and remains unbeaten in three runs for Willie Mullins who records his third win in the race. #TheFestival

New Betfair customers get up to £100 in free bets: https://t.co/M5sVHe3vhU (T&Cs apply 🔞) pic.twitter.com/e0q33tviJ8

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 15, 2018

There was a smaller field than usual for the Triumph Hurdle which saw Farclas (155p from 143p) show plenty of improvement, and a good attitude, to turn the tables on his Leopardstown conqueror Mr Adjudicator (153 from 144p) while third-placed Sayo (144 from 128p) also stepped up a good deal on just a maiden win on his last start. Gordon Elliott won both juveniles hurdles, as Farclas’ stablemate Veneer of Charm (130 from 118) overcame what looked a stiff mark to land the Fred Winter.

Elliott also won two more of the week’s handicap hurdles, the Pertemps Final and the Martin Pipe. The latter contest was one of the few during the Festival won from the front, joint top-weight Blow By Blow (149 from 137p) having the run of things but somewhat belatedly showing the sort of form over hurdles that his high bumper ratings had promised. Only a nose separated stable-companions Delta Work (144 from 139) and Glenloe (142 from 139) in the Pertemps, the winner (the only novice in the field) landing a gamble at the expense of the favourite.

The Coral Cup lacked a bit of strength at the top of the handicap, while improvers were thin on the ground too, though the winner Bleu Berry (147 from 144) hasn’t had too much racing for a seven-year-old. Runner-up Topofthegame (154 from 148), conceding 7 lb to the winner, came out best at the weights and is even more lightly raced. He’ll be of most interest when given another crack at fences.

The County Hurdle was fought out by a couple of outsiders, Mohaayed (146 from 139) proving his effectiveness in testing conditions for the first time and runner-up Remiluc (147 from 138) running the race of his life at the age on nine despite being on the go all season.

Finally, the Champion Bumper is unlikely to go down as a vintage renewal, though it was notable for Willie Mullins dominating proceedings in claiming his ninth success in the race. All five of his runners finished in the first seven, with the mare Relegate (117+ from 103) leading home stable-companions Carefully Selected (124 from 114p) and Tornado Flyer (122 from 103). The winner looks very much a stayer, while the runner-up was the pick of his stable’s runners on looks and should have a bright future over jumps.