Day One Preview and Tips

(Grade 1) - 2 miles, 87 yards

1-2-3 PREDICTION:

(1) Soaring Glory

(2) Metier

(3) Appreciate It

RUNNERS TO WATCH

• Appreciate It (7 year old, W.Mullins) – This smart sort was 2^nd in the Festival bumper last season and is unbeaten in 3 hurdle races, including Grade 1 wins on his last 2 starts at Leopardstown. Strong claims for a trainer with a great record here.
• Metier (5 year old, Harry Fry) – Another unbeaten hurdler, flying the flag for Britain, following his wide margin Grade 1 win in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.
• Ballyadam (6 year old, H.De Bromhead) – Another Grade 1 Hurdle winner earlier in the season and posted a solid second to Appreciate It last time. Looks an each way player.
• Soaring Glory (6 year old, J.O’Neill) – Looked much improved when winning the Betfair Hurdle last time, relishing the big field & fast run race which he should get again.

LAST 5 WINNERS

2020 – Shishkin 6/1                      Age 6                    Trainer: N.Henderson

2019 – Klassical Dream 6/1           Age 5                    Trainer: W.Mullins

2018 – Summerville Boy 9/1         Age 6                    Trainer: T.George

2017 – Labaik 25/1                        Age 6                    Trainer: G.Elliott

2016 – Altior 4/1                            Age 6                    Trainer: N.Henderson

HOT TRAINERS

Willie Mullins -4 wins and 3 places in last 10 years. Runner: Appreciate It

FOLLOW THE FAVOURITES?

A bad record for favourites - The favourite has performed poorly in this race in recent years, with only 2 winners in the last 16 years (Douvan 2-1 fav in 2015 and Vautour 7-2 joint fav in 2014).

AGE STATS

5 and 6 year olds are best – For 17 / 18 years the winner has been aged 5 or 6. This has included 10x6 year olds as the most popular category. There has been just one 7 year old winner in this period, which could be seen as a negative for Appreciate It (7 year old). The last 4 year old to win was Hors La Loi III in 1999.

UK v IRELAND

For the past 20 running’s the score is Ireland 12 v UK 8 based on trainer location.

DID YOU KNOW?

9 of the last 10 winners had won their previous race.
9 of the last 10 winners had won at least 1 Grade 1-3 race.
2 of the last 12 winners had previous winning form round Cheltenham.
3 of the last 8 winners had won the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle on their previous start. Appreciate It won this season’s renewal.

In 2019, The Tote Trifecta paid £8,037.40 to a £1 stake in this race.

To pick the first 3 home, visit Tote.co.uk

(Grade 1) - 1 mile, 7 furlongs 199 yards

1-2-3 PREDICTION:

(1) Shiskin

(2) Captain Guinness

(3) Allmankind

RUNNERS TO WATCH

• Shishkin (7 year old, N.Henderson) – The Supreme Novice Hurdle winner in 2020 has won all 3 starts impressively over fences. This is a stronger test but this rising star must go close.
• Allmankind (5 year old, D.Skelton) – A swashbuckling front runner who has also won all 3 of his chase starts emphatically. He will need a career best effort here but should make a bold bid from the front.
• Captain Guinness (6 year old, H.De Bromhead) – Brought down when running well in the Supreme Novice Hurdle last year. Last time out he was shaping nicely before falling in the Grade 1 chase won by Energumene. He could go well at a juicy price with a clear round.
• Franco De Port (6 year old, W.Mullins) – With the main hope for the stable (Energumene) now sidelined, Willie Mullins may rely on Franco De Port - who was suited by a strongly run race when winning a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. He has each way claims.

LAST 5 WINNERS

2020 – Put The Kettle On 6/1        Age 6                    Trainer: H.De Bromhead

2019 – Duc Des Genievres 5/1        Age 6                    Trainer: W.Mullins

2018 – Footpad 5/6 Fav                 Age 6                    Trainer: W.Mullins

2017 – Altior 1/4  Fav                      Age 7                    Trainer: N.Henderson

2016 – Douvan 1/4 Fav                   Age 6                    Trainer: W.Mullins    

HOT TRAINERS

Willie Mullins has built up an astonishing recent record with 4 wins in the last 6 years. This year he relies on Energumene.
Cheltenham legend Nicky Henderson has also won this race 3 times in the last 9 years, and he has the likely favourite this year with Shishkin.

FOLLOW THE FAVOURITES?

This has been a pretty solid race for favourites. The favourite has won 6 of the last 9 runnings of this race. In the last 20 years there have been just 2 winners at double figure odds, Put The Kettle On (16/1 in 2020) and Western Warhorse (33/1 in 2014).

AGE STATS

6 and 7 year olds are best – For 13 / 14 years the winner has been aged 6 or 7. This has included 10x6 year olds as the most popular category. The last 5 year old to win it was Voy Por Ustedes (2006), which could be a negative stat against Allmankind.

UK v IRELAND

For the past 20 running’s the score is Ireland 8 v UK 12 based on trainer location. Although there has been a recent improvement from Ireland, winning in 5 of the last 6 years.

DID YOU KNOW?

11 of the last 11 winners had won their previous race.
5 of the last 10 winners had previous winning form round Cheltenham.
10 of the last 12 winners had won at least 1 Grade 1-3 race.
3 of the last 6 winners had won the Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Energumene won this season’s renewal.

All new Tote.co.uk customers will receive a £10 welcome offer

(Grade 1) - 2 miles, 87 yards

1-2-3 PREDICTION:

(1) Honeysuckle

(2) Epatante

(3) Abacadabras

RUNNERS TO WATCH

• Epatante (7 year old, N.Henderson) – The reigning ‘champion hurdler’ won impressively last year, but this looks a stronger renewal. She will need to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at Kempton last time.
• Honeysuckle (7 year old, H.De Bromhead) – An unbeaten mare, winning all 10 of her starts (including 6 Grade 1 races) and scoring an emphatic 10 length victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle last time. A winner of the mares hurdle at the 2020 Festival over a longer trip (2m4f), however she should cope with 2 miles here, as long as the ground isn’t too quick.
• Goshen (5 year old, G.Moore) – A bold front runner who looked like he would run away with the Triumph Hurdle last year before agonisingly falling at the last. He bounced back to his best last time at Wincanton in a Grade 2 and could make a bold bid from the front.
• Abacadabras (7 year old, D. Foster) – A second season hurdler who was a close 2^nd in the Supreme Novices Hurdle behind Shishkin last season. He has 10 lengths to make up on Honeysuckle from the Irish Champion Hurdle but his stable wasn’t firing on all cylinders then and he could get closer this time, with the likely fast run race here sure to suit.
• Sharjah (8 year old, W.Mullins) - A close 2^nd last year and a Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown this season. He is a consistent sort and has place claims again this year.

LAST 5 WINNERS

2020 – Epatante 2/1 Fav             Age 6                    Trainer: N.Henderson

2019 – Espoir D’allen 16/1            Age 6                    Trainer: G.Cromwell

2018 – Buveur D’air 4/6 Fav        Age 6                    Trainer: N.Henderson

2017 – Buveur D’air 5/1                Age 6                    Trainer: N.Henderson

2016 – Annie Power 5/2 Fav        Age 8                    Trainer: W.Mullins

HOT TRAINERS

Nicky Henderson- 5 wins from the last 12 years, has a fine record. Runner: Epatante
Willie Mullins 4 wins in the last 10 years. Runner: Sharjah

FOLLOW THE FAVOURITES?

A decent recent record for favourites - The favourite has won this race 6 times in the last 10 years. However, there have been some big price winners, including Punjabi (22/1 in 2009) and Hardy Eustace (33/1 in 2004).

AGE STATS

6 and 7 year olds are best – For 13 / 14 years the winner has been aged 6 or 7. This has included 10x6 year olds as the most popular category. The last 5 year old to win it was Voy Por Ustedes (2006), which could be a negative stat against Allmankind.

UK v IRELAND

For the past 20 running’s the score is Ireland 11 v UK 9 based on trainer location.

DID YOU KNOW?

8 of the last 10 winners had won all their races that season.
11 of the last 12 winners had won at least 1 Grade 1-3 race.
5 of the last 10 winners had never previously won round Cheltenham.
3 of the last 10 winners had either finished 1st or 2nd in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on their previous run. Silver Streak won this season’s renewal.

Whether you’ve chosen the favourite or an outsider, at Tote.co.uk all new customers will receive a £10 Welcome Offer.

(Grade 1) - 1 mile, 7 furlongs 199 yards

1-2-3 PREDICTION:

(1) Concertista

(2) Roksana

(3) Dame De Compagnie

RUNNERS TO WATCH

• Concertista (7 year old, W.Mullins) – An impressive 12 length winner of the Grade 2 mares novice hurdle at the 2020 Festival. She has kicked on again this season with 2 more classy wins in Graded races and seems to be the next Mullins super mare on the scene.
• Roksana (9 year old, D.Skelton) – The fortunate 2019 winner may try to win this again, assuming the ground is soft enough. She is also entered in the Stayers Hurdle over 3 miles.
• Dame De Compagnie (8 year old, N.Henderson) – She won the Coral Cup over a similar trip at the 2020 Festival and may revert to hurdles here, having had a spell chasing this season. She looks to hold each way claims for her legendary owner JP McManus.
• Black Tears (7 year old, D.Foster) – She finished a close 2^nd behind Dame De Compagnie last year in the Coral Cup and if reproducing that form she has place claims here.

LAST 5 WINNERS

2020 – Honeysuckle 9/4                       Age 6                    Trainer: H.De Bromhead

2019 – Roksana 10/1                              Age 7                    Trainer: D.Skelton

2018 – Benie Des Dieux 9/2                  Age 7                    Trainer: W.Mullins

2017 – Apple’s Jade 7/2                         Age 5                   Trainer: G.Elliott

2016 – Vroum Vroum Mag 4/6 Fav       Age 6                    Trainer: W.Mullins

HOT TRAINERS

Willie Mullins - A phenomenal 9 wins in the 13 years since the race started, which would have been 10 wins had Benie Des Dieux not fallen at the last in 2019. It’s worth pointing out that Mullins was helped by the super mare Quevega who this race 6 years on the trot. Runner: Concertista.

FOLLOW THE FAVOURITES?

A good record for favourites - The favourite has won this race 7 times in the 13 years since its inception, and this despite infamous last hurdle falls for favourites Annie Power (2015) and Benie Des Diuex (2019). The longest priced winner was Roksana (10/1), who picked up the prices in 2019.

AGE STATS

7 year olds have a good recent record – Since Quevega’s domination (winning between the ages of 5 to 10), the race has been won by a 7 year old in 4 of the last 6 years. The mighty Quevega is the only mare to have won this older than 7 years old, which may be a negative for 9 year old Roksana.

UK v IRELAND

For the past 13 running’s the score is Ireland 11 v UK 2 based on trainer location.

DID YOU KNOW?

8 of the last 10 winners had won their previous race.
6 of the last 6 winners had never won round Cheltenham.
10 of the last 12 winners had won at least 1 Grade 1-3 race.

All new Tote.co.uk customers will receive a £10 welcome offer

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