We have been so lucky to finally enjoy some spring-like weather over the last couple of weeks – it always comes as a welcome relief after a long, cold and constantly wet winter! We’ve had ten winners in the last month, bringing the season’s total up to 56 winners at the end of February: satisfyingly, that’s one better than Joe’s previous best of 55!
The real sign that spring is almost here, though, is that Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner. With less than a week to go as I write, anticipation is at fever pitch … If you’re planning to watch – or even go to the festival – here’s your exclusive insider’s guide to the small but carefully selected group of horses we’ll be running: a behind-the-scenes look from us, just for BV readers …
The Changing Man
Age: 8
Sex: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Sire: Walk In The Park
Dam: Bitofapuzzle
Official Rating: 140
Races entered:
The Ultima Handicap Chase (3m1f)
The National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices Handicap Chase (3m6f)
The Brown Advisory Novices Chase (3m)
The Changing Man was broken in and produced at the yard, having been bought at the Doncaster Store Sale in 2020 as an unbroken three-year-old. He was always a very good-looking horse, and has an excellent pedigree: by leading National Hunt sire Walk In The Park and out of a Grade 1-winning mare. Despite this, he proved to be a bit of a slow burner on the track and didn’t get his head in front until his sixth start, where he won a Stratford handicap hurdle off a rating of 95.
He then won twice more over hurdles, and his mark rose to 132 over the next season. He went over fences last season and, despite showing some good placed form, didn’t manage to win. This means he is still able to run in Novice chases this season and, after three second-place finishes in valuable handicaps, he took advantage of this on his last start, absolutely bolting up in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novice Chase at Ascot in mid-February. He has a few options at Cheltenham but is most likely to run in the Ultima on day one. This race is a handicap, meaning horses carry weight according to their rating, and we feel he could still be well treated off his current mark of 140.
He goes there full of confidence and in great form so should have a really solid chance.
JPR One
Age: 8
Sex: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Sire: Court Cave
Dam: Lady Knightess
Official Rating: 156
Races entered:
The National Hunt Queen Mother Champion Chase
(2m Grade1)
The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (2m)
Ryanair Chase (2m4f Grade 1)
One of the real stars of our yard over the last few years, winning three hurdles and three chases. The highlight of his career came on his reappearance this season, when he won the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter impressively. He has run well to be placed in Graded races since, and now finds himself on a career high mark of 156 going into Cheltenham this year.
He will either run in the Grade 1 Champion Chase or the Grand Annual Handicap Chase, where he would carry the second top weight. Neither looks an easy task, but he is flying at home and the drying ground will definitely be in his favour.
Lord of Thunder
Age: 7
Sex: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Sire: Getaway
Dam: Harbour Mistress
Official Rating: 134
Races entered:
Jack Richards Novices Limited Handicap Chase (2m4f Grade2)
Lord Of Thunder was bought at Cheltenham Sales having finished second in his only start in an Irish Point To Point.
He won twice over hurdles in his first season under rules, but an injury last January put him out for the rest of the season. He made his chase debut at Cheltenham in October and was running well when falling two out. He has since become a very good jumper and, after finishing second in a Grade 2 at Ffos Las, was an impressive winner at Newbury on his latest start.
He is a nice young horse who is still improving, and he should be well suited by a strong gallop over 2m4f in the Jack Richards Novices Handicap Chase on the Thursday.
First Confession
Age: 6
Sex: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Sire: Affinisea
Dam: Lough Derg Lily
Official Rating: 129
Race entered:
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (3m Grade1)
Another horse to graduate from the Irish Point To Point field, having won his only start in a 4-year-old Maiden. He has won two of his four starts in Novice Hurdles this season, both coming at Ascot over 2m3f on good ground. He is a big horse with a huge stride, and he gives the impression that the step up to three miles in the Albert Bartlett will really suit him. He goes there in great form, and despite currently being quite long odds we quietly fancy him to run into a place.
Rock My Way
Age: 7
Sex: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Sire: Getaway
Dam: Far Rock
Official Rating: 132
Race entered:
The National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices Handicap Chase (3m6f)
Already a winner of a Grade 2 hurdle and a Novice Chase, Rock My Way joined us part way through this season, having previously been trained by Syd Hosie and Anthony Charlton. He has had one start for us, finishing second in a Novice Handicap at Doncaster in January.
He is a talented horse who is really pleasing us in his work at home. He is untried over further than 3 miles, but gives the impression of a strong stayer and the race has changed to a 0-145 handicap this year, meaning he will carry a fairly light weight off his rating of 132. He is not guaranteed to run at Cheltenham, though, as he has the option of a valuable race at Uttoxeter the following Saturday.
