Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

16:50 Cheltenham - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

The Boodles see’s the Irish hold a strong hand like they do for the majority of the Festival and the week's biggest talking horse Gaelic Warrior lines up. By owner Rich Ricci’s own admission, he has never even set eyes upon the gelding. Ricci also admitted they had hoped Gaelic Warrior would have been given a mark of 139 to replicate his French mark, but to their delight he was given 129. He has had three starts in France before heading to Closutton and reportedly he has been working well with good horses, it is a lot to be taken on trust but he is in the right place to be readied for Festival success.

Away from the likely favourite I like the chances of Prairie Dancer for Joseph O’Brien who I feel has a lenient mark of 126. The gelding is yet to win over hurdles but he was a two-time winner on the flat and his second win he beat Ebasari giving him 13lb, now he receives 5lb from Ebasari and is double the price at the time of writing. Last time out he chased home the well thought of Icare Allen and may have got closer with a bit slicker jumping.

written by Michael Taylor