'I can't see what can beat him - he was foot-perfect last time and none of the others can match that performance' The top tipster is next up in our essential pre-festival series . . . author image Paul Kealy Senior tipster
The sport's top judges answer the key Cheltenham Festival questions. Next up is Paul Kealy. What was your best ever Cheltenham Festival win? By far the most satisfying was Imperial Aura's 2020 victory in what is now the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase, a race that disappeared briefly but made a welcome return under slightly different conditions last year. I'd been banging on about him since the turn of the year when he was a 33-1 shot and he ended up joint-favourite before powering away from Galvin. Who’s your strongest fancy at the meeting this year? Koktail Divin in whatever race he goes for. I thought the Irish handicapper would give him a mark in the mid-150s at least for his latest success, but he plumped for just 149 and the BHA assessor, as usual with horses already rated quite highly, didn't go overboard, adding only 1lb to that. That's got to be a mighty tempting handicap mark, but he's in the Brown Advisory and that's the race Henry de Bromhead said he preferred. If that's still the case now De Bromhead knows what a nice rating he has for a handicap, I'm going to take that as a big vote of confidence and follow him in. Koktail Divin jumps the last on the way to an impressive victory in the beginners' chase at Leopardstown Koktail Divin: appeals for whichever novice chase is chosen by Henry de Bromhead Credit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos) Who wins the Champion Hurdle? It's hard to be really confident about anything. In some respects you'd be disappointed if Golden Ace was good enough to win again as she was dreadfully lucky last year, but we can pretty much bank on her running her race at Cheltenham and that should be good enough for the frame at least in a much weaker race than last year's. Are you for or against Majborough in the Champion Chase? There have been so many short-priced failures in this race over the years, but if Majborough jumps like he did at Leopardstown I can't see what can beat him. The fences tended to get in his way before the cheekpieces were put on but he was foot-perfect in them and put up a performance that I doubt any of the others can match. Who do you like in the Stayers’ Hurdle? The last three horses to win the Cleeve Hurdle by seven lengths or more were Big Buck's, Thistlecrack and Paisley Park, and they went on to win the Stayers' Hurdle at odds of 5-6, evens and 11-8, yet Ma Shantou is available at 7-1 after his seven-length victory. He may have been getting 6lb from Long Walk Hurdle winner Impose Toi, but he won easily, making it 3-3 at Cheltenham this season, each run there resulting in a big career best. He's going to have to improve again, but he's young and clearly going the right way. Ma Shantou fights off the challenge of Impose Toi to win the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday Ma Shantou: available at 7-1 despite his clear-cut win in the Cleeve Hurdle Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos) Who’s your pick in a wide-open Gold Cup? The only certainty is that whatever I say now, I'll have changed my mind by tomorrow. It's been like that for weeks and the truth is I haven't the foggiest clue. There's nothing I can say I fancy really strongly, and there's nothing that I'm dead keen to oppose either. I'll say The Jukebox Man as that's what I put in the Ultimate Cheltenham Guide. Which novice hurdlers take your eye? Of the British novices, I really like Sober Glory, who has impressed every time he has run other than in that baffling flop at Sandown in December. However, the latest market moves suggest there's a big chance Mighty Park is going to end up in the Supreme now, and if you talk to anyone who knows anyone in the Willie Mullins camp they'll tell you they can't see him being beaten whatever race he runs in. I couldn't back him at the price he is now, but if I'd backed anything else in the race I'd be scared silly if he turned up. I have a few quid on, though, so all bases are covered. The better race for Doctor Steinberg looks to be the Turners rather than the Albert Bartlett, and Mighty Park going for the Supreme would open up the chances of him running in that, while I like Spinningayarn for Gordon Elliott in the Albert Bartlett. And what about the novice chasers? Lulamba v Kopek Des Bordes looks a thriller in the Arkle. Kopek is the quicker horse, but Lulamba has the experience and that might prove key. Wendigo is my long-term fancy for the Brown Advisory, but I'll back Koktail Divin if he goes there. I've long been a fan of Romeo Coolio, but he isn't a proper two-miler and I'm not sure I'd back him in either contest after he had such a hard race at Leopardstown. Have you picked out anything for the handicaps? Loads! I'm particularly coming around to the claims of Bold Endeavour in the Pertemps Final. He might be ten years old, but he was fourth in the race for Nicky Henderson off a mark of 143 two years ago, then spent a year with another trainer and went back to him with a mark of 130. His qualifying run at Huntingdon was eye-catching enough and, while his age is against him, the Pertemps is invariably one of the weaker handicaps. BOLD ENDEAVOUR and Adam Wedge win at Sedgefield 11/5/21Copyright Photograph by Grossick Racing Photographytel 07710461723 Bold Endeavour: looks well treated for the Pertemps Final Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos) And finally, do you have a decent bet at a big price? I don’t think they’ll win but given the races they’re running in are likely to cut up quite dramatically I think both Jetara in the Mares’ Hurdle and Matata in the Ryanair Chase might hit the frame at huge odds. Jetara was fourth last year and then third in open Grade 1s at Aintree and Punchestown, while Matata’s course win was impressive and loads of horses ahead of him in the betting won’t turn up.
'I can't see what can beat him - he was foot-perfect last time and none of the others can match that performance'The top tipster is next up in our essential pre-festival series . . .author imagePaul KealySenior tipsterThe sport's top judges answer th