Cracking Smart
is the headline horse ahead of Cheltenham Festival and will be
looking to enhance his reputation by claiming victory in the Albert
Bartlett Novices Hurdle title.
There are a
number of talented horses in the field and it promises to be a
fascinating contest due to the quality on display. Ravenhill Road is
the leading competitor to emerge from the northern stables to
challenge Gordon Elliott's charge. However, he will face a massive
challenge to defeat Cracking Smart.
The French horse
is considered the leading contender for the crown among leading
bookmakers
with Oddschecker and would be well worth use of a free bet,
although he will face stiff competition at the race in March. We’ll
now breakdown Cracking Smart’s form and his major rivals’
performances from their careers thus far heading into the showdown.
Cracking Smart
Gordon Elliott’s
charge began his career at Naas in the GAA Maiden Hurdle. The French
horse was considered an outsider for the event, but produced a fine
performance to finish in second place, although he was
one-and-three-quarter lengths off the pace of winner Midnight Banks.
Cracking Smart made his breakthrough at the GAA Race Day Flat Race at
Fairyhouse. Jamie Codd manoeuvred the bay gelding through the field
before cantering down the final stretch to win by 13 lengths, ending
the 2017-18 campaign on a high note.
He returned to
action for the Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown. Jack Kennedy took over
the reins, with the French horse considered the favourite for the
event. He made a steady start to the action and made his way through
the field before finding his rhythm before the penultimate hurdle.
Cracking Smart surged down the stretch to win by four lengths ahead
of Irish horse Shady Operator. Elliott’s charge proved his quality
with a fine outing at the Irish EBF Novice Hurdle. Kennedy was again
in the saddle and he gradually moved into striking distance before
the last fence. Cracking Smart almost made a costly error, but
managed to regain the stride pattern needed to close
out the victory by a comfortable margin.
The French
horse’s run of three victories on the spin was ended by Next
Destination at the Navan Novice Hurdle. The six-year-old struggled
for rhythm down the stretch of the race and could not match the speed
of his rival, losing out by five-and-half lengths. The two horses
duelled it out again at the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle, with the
Irish horse triumphing once again, with Cracking Smart falling short
by one length. Elliott will be looking for a stronger performance
from his charge in his first outing at Cheltenham.
Ravenhill Road
Ellison’s
charge has the opportunity to make a splash at the race and challenge
the elite competitors, despite his lack of experience on the major
stage. The chestnut gelding has never appeared at Cheltenham and has
only five races under his belt. However, with Ellison and Brian
Hughes in the saddle, he could be one to watch at the Festival.
Ravenhill Road began his career at the Standard Open NH Flat Race at
Market Rasen.
The Irish horse
was considered the favourite for the event, and was able to rise to
the occasion to claim the victory in a comfortable manner, cantering
down the stretch to win by 14 lengths ahead of Temple Man. In his
next two-mile outing, Ravenhill Road was challenged by a talented
field at Doncaster. Kaine Wood kept his charge in rhythm and was able
to pull away three furlongs towards the end of the race. The Irish
horse found top gear down the stretch to gallop to a four-and-a-half
length victory, placing ahead of compatriot Molly Childers.
After almost a
year out of action, the seven-year-old returned to the fold at the
Ditherer Stakes Maiden Hurdle at Sedgefield. Hughes took to the reins
and guided the horse steadily out of the gate before finding rhythm
to challenge the leaders. Ravenhill Road moved ahead of the field
three furlongs and put forward a dominant closing run, finishing the
race 23 lengths ahead of his nearest rival Inniscastle Lad.
The Irish horse
faced a challenge maintaining his form at the Sky Bet Fast Withdrawal
Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster. After a solid opening to the race, he
began to close on the leading group, but was unable to make the
decisive shift in pace overhaul his rivals. Ravenhill Road lacked the
speed to claim the victory, finishing in third behind And The New and
Django Django.
As a result of
that performance, he was an outsider for the Albert Bartlett Scottish
Trial Novices' Hurdle. After a strong start to the race, the Irish
hose lost his rhythm and meandered at the eight fence. He failed to
regain his stride pattern before pulling up three fences from the
finish. The chestnut gelding will have to be flawless to beat out his
rivals at Cheltenham.
Samcro
The six-year-old
has won all six of his races to date and will challenge his
stable-mate Cracking Smart along with Next Destination for the crown.
He began his career at the start of the 2016-17 National Hunt season
in the GAA Flat Race. Samcro was considered the favourite for the
meet at Punchestown and rose to the occasion after a steady start,
producing a strong finish to secure his first win by nine-and-a-half
lengths.
Elliott’s
charge impressed once again at the Future Champions Flat Race at
Navan before Christmas 2016. Jason Codd was in the saddle and led the
chestnut gelding through the field. Good Thyne Tara provided a
challenge down the stretch, but he fended off the push – winning
the contest by half-a-length. His next flat race was a formality as
he cantered to a dominant victory by 17 lengths at Fairyhouse, ending
the campaign on the highest of notes.
Samcro returned
for the current campaign at the peak of his powers at the Maiden
Hurdle at Punchestown. Jack Kennedy took the reins and was able to
guide the Irish horse to a compounding victory as he remained in
contention in the early stages of the race before moving into the
lead in the closing stages, cantering down the stretch to a 15-length
triumph. Elliott’s charge was the overwhelming favourite for the
Monksfield Novice Hurdle and once again he was on top form, taking
the lead three fences from the end of the meet.
Samcro turned on
the power towards the final furlong and pulled away from his nearest
rival Jetz to win by 12 lengths. The chestnut gelding had to rise to
the occasion against a talented field at Leopardstown in the Novice
Hurdle. Kennedy was once again in the saddle and he again kept the
Irish horse steady out of the traps in the early stages of the meet.
Samcro found his rhythm and was able to pull away from the rest
of the field to win by five-and-a-half lengths. He has the
quality to challenge Cracking Smart and will be looking to make an
impact in his first opportunity at Cheltenham.
