We got Day one off to a flyer with Old Park Star winning the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in strong staying fashion.
I feared the worst when the leader just kept finding and was going better than most. He was punted off the boards throughout the day and the day prior, and was much better than I thought he was.
Old Park Star isn't a two miler, and will likely go up in trip and be better in a few years' time over staying chase trips. When he came off the bridle, it wasn't a surprise to see him battle. There was a little scrummage late in the race, did it make a difference? of course it did, but I still think he would've won, as the others had more than enough time to bridge the gap.
Bossman Jack 7/1 (0.75pt EW, 4pl) – Cheltenham 1.20 (Turners Novices' Hurdle)
Once again, I am getting involved in the opening race of the day. I saw many respected people in the game saying if you think day one is hard, wait till you look at day two. Based on this first race, we could be in for a very difficult day, as this looks like a wide-open Turners.
There is some solid form from Grade 1 races in the UK and Ireland, and that's where the majority of people will sway towards. In what appears to be an open race, I wasn't scared to take a chance on Bossman Jack.
Based on how Dan Skelton has started the festival, I think you've got to respect this runner massively. Dan has only had one winner so far, but Mydaddypaddy ran well in the Supreme (much better than I thought he would). The Mighty Cell ran well in the old Fred Winter, and The New Lion ran a creditable race in the Champion Hurdle. Madara was impressive in the Plate, so it is clear as day that he has his stable in fine order.
Bossman Jack has it all to prove, as he has been kept to maiden and novice company, which is not an ideal route for a Cheltenham novice's Grade 1. Dan is a smart guy, and he could have easily sent this lad down the handicapping route off a mark of 134, but he's opting to go big for this Grade 1.
The last two races he won were egg and spoon races, and he was third on his hurdles debut. It turns out that the form of the debut run isn't bad at all. The runner-up was fourth in the Supreme, and the winner looks like a very smart horse and could've easily gone well in the Supreme if he had gone there. Bossman Jack gained +14 lengths from his jumping that day, and on his other two runs, he also put up impressive numbers in the jumping department.
This is a step up in trip for him, and a significant five furlongs extra. We don't know whether he'll want that, but his pedigree points towards him being better for it. He is related to Gidleigh Park, a very smart horse on his day, and the others in the pedigree from the dam's side gives me plenty of hope that this is the right decision to go up in trip.
It looks like some people in the game see it how I do, as he has come down from 18/1 to 7/1 in the last 24 hours.
Romeo Coolio 2/1 (1pt) – Cheltenham 2.00 (Brown Advisory Novices' Chase)
This selection isn't one I'm normally fond of, especially at the price, but I think he is the classiest horse in the race.
I've always thought that Romeo Coolio was a stayer, and we'd see the best of him when he went chasing over the longer trips.
He has done the majority of his running over two miles this season and has done it in workmanlike fashion. He defied Kargese last time out in a tight finish, and it didn't look like he was going to get up, but his stamina got him out of the fire. That form has been upgraded with the runner-up winning the Arkle on day one. She was fortunate to win, as the runner-up made a bad mistake at the last, but she was running a huge race either way.
When you look at the form of these horses, I think Romeo Coolio's is the best. His form over hurdles behind Kopek Des Bordes and The New Lion in last year's Turners is great form, and he was second in the Champion bumper the year before.
It's a bold move going up to 3m 1f from 2m 1f last time out, but if he stays, he wins.
GambleAware