Cheltenham nights

There was a time, a couple of years ago, that you couldn’t walk down any main street in Ireland on any day within four and a half weeks of the third Tuesday in March but you would happen upon a pre-Cheltenham evening.  That’s not the case any more, but nor have they gone the way of the cigarette-smoking dinosaurs.  The good ones and the good causes have survived.

They fill a need, that’s for sure.  The appetite for Cheltenham around these parts is pretty much insatiable these days, it’s a perennial thing, Cheltenham talk and Cheltenham thoughts the meat and drink, pre-Cheltenham evenings the pieces of bread that keep you going until the main course arrives. I’m not sure that they are the key to untold riches, I’m not sure that you are going to hear about the handicap hurdler who is a stone and a half well-in, or the novice chaser who has been running over a trip that is two miles short of his best, or the bumper horse who is better than the one that won by a distance at Fairyhouse last week, but you can still pick up some useful pieces of information and an insight into some worthwhile opinions.  And even if you don’t, sure it’s an opportunity to have a good night out and to trade Cheltenham thoughts with a couple of hundred like-minded individuals.

There were a few interesting pieces of information and several worthwhile opinions in Westmanstown last night.  Willie Mullins was on the phone, says that his novice hurdlers’ targets are pretty much sorted: Blackstairmountain and Flat Out in the Supreme, Quel Esprit in the Neptune, Enterprise Park in the Albert Bartlett. Fionnegas will go for either the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett, but he’s probably thinking Albert Bartlett at this stage.  Scotsirish goes for the Ryanair, Shakervilz goes for the Arkle (both outsiders with good chances) along with Sports Line, and Quel Esprit is probably his best chance of the week.

Davy Russell was right there at the adjoining table.  Of course he likes Solwhit, thinks that Go Native is a big danger though.  He is hopeful for Weapon’s Amnesty and Carlito Brigante, he likes Tavern Times and he says that Barry (Geraghty) won’t tell you anything about Super Kenny, a new juvenile hurdler of Nicky Henderson’s, a French recruit owned by Highclere, that it’s all hush hush.  Colm Murray says, Barry?  Barry says he knows nothing about him, he runs on Friday at Newbury, that’s all he knows.  Davy says hush hush.  The audience say guffaw guffaw.  It’s good craic.

Barry does like Punchestowns and Finian’s Rainbow, mind you, reckons they’re his best two chances for the week, Paddy Power likes Drumbaloo in the bumper, Evan Williams reckons Nicky Henderson will have the 1-2 in the RSA Chase with Punchestowns and Long Run, Colm Murphy is wondering if Willie might forget to declare Quevega, because Voler La Vedette is in great form, as is Big Zeb, probably just double-handed this year but two live chances.

Most of them are at this stage.  No losers yet.

* For more of Donn’s thoughts, visit www.donnmcclean.com.

Categories: Horse racing Irish Racing