Like so many other trainers at the moment, Malton handler Brian Ellison is looking to the skies in the hope that rain will arrive to enhance the chances of his two Cheltenham Festival contenders, Marsh Warbler and Bothy – bit it looks like he might be disappointed, writes Elliot Slater.
For those who study form in horse racing Ireland and UK they will know which horses are better suited to the ground. Even though Simon Claisse (Cheltenham’s clerk of the course) has begun watering, the likelihood is that the ground will be no easier than ‘good to soft’ at best and plans for Ellison’s Grade 1 winner Marsh Warbler to run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle next Friday (the final day of the four-day fixture), seem likely to be revised with no rain forecast next week and the going likely to be on the fast side by the end of the meeting.
Racing tips for today currently have a best priced 14/1 chance to win the juvenile hurdling crown, Marsh Warbler could very well be switched to take his chance in the opening day of the fixture on Tuesday, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. There he would be taking on older and more experienced horses but would at least be racing on fresh, watered ground. He can be backed at up to 33/1 for the race in which last year’s brilliant Festival Bumper winner Cue Card is a rock solid 9/4 favourite.
Bothy, a short-head runner up to Recession Proof in last month’s thrilling Totesport Trophy at Newbury, is to forego a run in the County Hurdle and instead will step up in trip to tackle the annual two-mile-five-furlong cavalry charge that is the Coral Cup. Earlier in the season Ellison’s gelding very nearly toppled Menorah in the Grade 3 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle and is a best priced 14/1 shot to land the coveted prize, although some firms go as short as 11/1. Willie Mullins’ Punchestown winner Call the Police is the 6/1 market leader.
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