With two weeks till the Cheltenham Festival will get underway, the Off The Fence group take purpose on the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and the Coral Cup.
Host Vanessa Ryle is again alongside former Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Barry Geraghty and racing professional Tony Keenan for a have a look at the newest big-race clues.
Keenan was significantly taken by the efficiency of the Emmet Mullins-trained Corbetts Cross within the Grade Two Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday because the six-year-old defied a big drop down in journey (two miles) to beat the helpful Found A Fifty.
Corbetts Cross holds only one entry at the moment on the Festival, over three miles within the Albert Bartlett, and Keenan believes his present value of 5/1 remains to be nice worth.
Keenan mentioned: “I can’t stress how wonderful this efficiency was and I could not be any extra optimistic about this horse.
“For Found A Fifty, you could not have discovered a greater race within the calendar, however Corbetts Cross was capable of lay into him, journey with him and not using a downside after which get the higher of him within the straight.
“There is not any different horse within the Albert Bartlett area that might try this – they’d be run over.”
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Corbetts Cross with proprietor Paul Byrne and coach Emmet Mullins
Geraghty was additionally impressed with the efficiency, however had a word of warning about whether or not the horse will line-up within the Albert Bartlett.
“That’s what I’ve been ready to see from an Albert Bartlett contender as a result of they have been working round beating one another and never by far,” Geraghty mentioned.
“We’ve been ready for one thing to place their head above water and he is now standing waist excessive above every little thing at this stage.
“They’ve talked about they could complement him for different races although and the going is a priority so that might come into play. The Ballymore might be an choice in the event that they go that method.”
In focus: Coral Cup picks!
Geraghty and Keenan additionally nominated a Coral Cup choice forward of the handicap weights being launched this week.
Geraghty mentioned: “The one I’m going to say is Run For Oscar. He was third at Haydock on smooth floor and received the Cesarewitch on good floor earlier than that.
“He has a mark in England of 145 in order that’s value making an allowance for. He has higher type on higher floor and is within the Coral Cup so I’d be keeping track of him for that.”
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The Coral Cup area head away from the grandstands at Cheltenham
Keenan, in the meantime, likes one from the Jessica Harrington group. “One I’ve had in thoughts for some time within the Coral Cup is The Very Man,” he mentioned.
“I believe he is been working over a visit that is too far for him in latest begins and has dropped down within the weights.
“He’s executed little or no flawed then received properly at Punchestown final time. He’s going there with a good probability and can hopefully be a pleasant value on the day.”
