THERE is nothing quite as tricky as working out the best handicapped horse in a Cheltenham Festival handicap.
The weights for the 12 handicaps at this year’s Festival have come out and the hunt is on for those horses who have been aimed at their races with a perfect mark.
GettyState Man won a County Hurdle off an obscene mark of 141, one year later, he was rated 167 and second in the Champion Hurdle[/caption]
These five horses look as though they’ve sneaked into their races off dangerous marks and could be the ones to follow in two weeks time.
LIAM SWAGGER (Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle)
Based on what he has achieved on the Flat, Liam Swagger could be one of the best handicapped horses in the race.
Trained by James Owen, he’s rated 84 on the Flat and actually won at Southwell last week as a tune up.
Over hurdles, he’s won two of his three starts, with his only loss coming at Newbury in a tricky looking race. Off a mark of 124 in the Fred Winter, which is just 10st 10lb, he looks very dangerous.
TRANSMISSION (National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase)
If there is one horse who will eat up the 3m5f in the National Hunt Chase, it will be Neil Mulholland’s Transmission.
A quirky sort, he tends to drop himself out before flashing home, like he did when second over 3m1f at Cheltenham in December.
He was well beaten over hurdles last time, but that can be forgotten and based on his hurdling mark of 133, his same rating over fences suggests he’s lurking on a good mark.
All his chasing runs have come over fences, which is a big positive in regards to experience, and he’ll relish every yard up in distance.
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MARBLE SANDS (Plate Handicap Chase)
The Plate has been a safe heaven for the Brits at the Cheltenham Festival and it tends to go to a wiser and more experienced type.
Marble Sands fits the brief, running well at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day when bumping into Springwell Bay.
His mark of 143 is lenient based on his hurdling form and his extra stamina will be crucial in a race like this.
If matching his Colin Parker form, where he was rated 146 and beat Colonel Harry, he’s going to be right in the mix.
KARNIQUET (County Handicap Hurdle)
Willie Mullins has unleashed the likes of State and Absurde to win this race in recent years, and Karniquet could be the next.
A winner on Irish debut for Mullins, he had a nightmare trip when second to Kopek Des Bordes at the Dublin Racing Festival, jumping poorly and badly hampered at a crucial stage.
He’s unlikely to get Paul Townend’s services – so he’ll be a great price as a result – and a mark of 146 looks more than fair.
About him, Mullins said: “He’s a real nice type, a sharp individual. Hopefully he could be a name worth remembering.”
PAWillie Mullins loves to target the County Hurdle[/caption]
WODHOOH (Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle)
It’s far from the world’s best kept secret, she’s ante-post favourite after all, but Wodhooh’s form this year has been heavily franked.
Wodhooh is six from six over hurdles and was last seen decimating a handicap field at Cheltenham against her own sex.
In that race, she beat subsequent William Hill Handicap winner Joyeuse, Grade 2 winner Take No Chances and Listed conqueror Royale Margaux.
She will be 11lb higher at Cheltenham, but that form is incredible and Gordon Elliott won the race last year.
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