Runners and riders make the water jump during The Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Tuesday March 14, 2023.
THE feature race of the day, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, went into a state of flux at the beginning of the year when the re- routed Clarence House Chase saw both Edwardstone and to a larger degree ENERGUMENE (nb) eclipsed by Editeur Du Gite.
But a different day on different ground is sure to see a very different result and it is the current champion I think that holds all the aces. I suspect that Paul Townend won’t allow the winner from that January day boss proceedings out in front and in a faster-run race he will most probably take the bull by the horns and make this a proper test of stamina rather than speed at the trip.
The soft ground should also play massively to the strengths of the horse that time forgot in the form of SPORTING JOHN in the Handicap Hurdle at 2.50. Those carrying a welter burden have a really good record in the this race and the Philip Hobbs-trained runner, although well beaten in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster last time out, showed a lot more spark until backing out from the third last after running way too freely and had nothing more to give down the home stretch.
