CHELTENHAM Festival could be a bit of a slog on day one with racing’s greatest meeting set to start on soft ground.
Clerk of the course Jon Pullin confirmed a ‘very wet’ build-up to the four-day bonanza means we could see mud flying for the first seven races.
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Here, Sun Racing takes a look at five horses who could benefit from the going.
And check out Templegate’s complete guide and tips to day one.
Apple Away – National Hunt Chase
Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell’s charge screams of being a strong stayer.
She was an impressive Grade 1 winner over hurdles at Aintree on soft last April, relishing every step of the 3m trip.
The NH Chase is a marathon 3m6f contest but she won by 31 lengths the last time she raced on heavy so today’s sloppy ground will suit.
Ndaawi – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
A former Andrew Balding inmate on the Flat, Ndaawi has improved with every run for Gordon Elliott.
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Being Flat-bred, there is always the chance that good ground could eek out further improvement.
But there is no doubt he has shown enough to suggest that soft ground is to his liking as well, an easy win last time out at Naas suggesting as much.
His high knee action was especially notable that day and there looks to be way more to come from this four-year-old, whose dam won a Listed race on heavy.
Trelawne – Ultima Handicap Chase
Trainer Kim Bailey could have the key to the Ultima in the shape of Chianti Classico – but don’t discount the admittingly ‘frustrating’ Trelawne.
Master trainer Bailey has been careful with this horse, only ever running him on soft or worse.
He was third in a red-hot novices’ chase at Cheltenham last December.
Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning were one-two that day – and now both are joint market leaders for the Turners’ Novices Chase.
It’s concentration rather than ground which is vital to Trelawne.
But his record shows soft is his preferred surface and he can put up a good showing if he keeps his mind on the job.
Lossiemouth – Mares’ Hurdle
The Mares’ is a penalty kick for the simple awesome Lossiemouth.
It’s a general rule that French horses love soft underfoot conditions.
After all, their version of soft tends to be our heavy.
Lossiemouth, who won the Triumph last year, was awesome on Trials Day and the step up to 2m4f should really be no problem.
Meetingofthewaters – Ultima Handicap Hurdle
Recently purchased by JP McManus, all four of this horse’s victories have come on ground with ‘soft’ in the description.
Meetingofthewaters is trained by Willie Mullins and though he doesn’t have a great record in this race, there’s no denying he rules over all the rest at Cheltenham.
The gambled money has already come in but he could go off even shorter – and end the Irish’s dodgy run in this race.
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