As the Cheltenham Festival looms, Kate Tracey is joined by Declan Rix and Sam Boswell to discuss their top fancies across Tuesday’s card.
The panel took particular interest in the opening Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which will commence with the traditional Prestbury Park roar on Tuesday afternoon at 1.20pm.
Nicky Henderson’s Old Park Star is at the head of the market but will have to contend with the likes of Mighty Park, El Cairos and Talk The Talk if he is to give Great Britain the best possible start.
Sam Boswell…
“I can’t get my head around this market at all! From a selection point of view, I was going to tip up Idaho Sun but he’s not here so we need to move on. I think it’s a case of do you go with the hype of Mighty Park… or do you go with the proven and tested Old Park Star?
“I’m going to suggest that the momentum behind Mighty Park as we record this is notable. I’m probably buying into the hype but I’m going to have a tentative play on Mighty Park. It would be a huge training achievement. Willie Mullins has had to do things a bit different this season, for whatever reason. A lot of his novice hurdlers didn’t fire first time out but this horse did – I think that could be notable.”
Declan Rix…
“I’m delighted Mighty Park is running because it means we’ll get a bigger price about Old Park Star. You’ve got to respect the view of the Mullins camp but on a second start ever under rules in a Supreme – as a huge, big horse – the old course might not suit him. I’m going to Old Park Star given the Henderson team have a great record in this race.
“What I like about this horse is he’s surprised them – they didn’t think he was quite this good and he’s just kept getting better and better. He loves jumping, he loves galloping, he’s straightforward and he’s got course form – albeit on the new course. The sectionals of his last two races were very good and he’s the only horse in the field I have at 150+. I think there could be more given the size of him.”
Kate Tracey…
“It’s a battle of the Parks and I’m going with the proven one in Old Park Star. He didn’t look as if he was going to burst onto the Supreme market at the head of it but it’s such an open race. His win in the Rossington Main, how impressive that was! The figure he managed to post there, across everyone’s figures, was just top drawer.
“It was a win by an eased down eighteen lengths from a last time out Listed winner in second in Hurricane Pat – it was to his detriment that he tried to live with the talent and the ability of Old Park Star. I’m going to play this with a straight bat and go with the straightforward proposition.”
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