Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history and should have another good week at the famous four day meeting in the Cotswolds next week.

The Festival’s biggest race, The Gold Cup, has always eluded Mullins but that could change this year. 

He has a trio of lively candidates, Kemboy, Al Bourn Photo and Bellshill, as well as an outsider in Invitation Only.

Kemboy caught the eye as a young horse and is currently one of the most progressive chasers in Britain and Ireland.

Mullins was quoted by Martyn Thomas of The Mirror, “The ground in Leopardstown at Christmas, where Kemboy put in a huge performance, was very, very good. If it comes up like that on the fourth day at Cheltenham, which it can, he must have a very good chance and the further he’ll go, the better he’ll be.”

He continued, “I think Al Boum Photo shouldn’t have any problem with the trip. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.”

Bellshill and Invitation Only have both won on their only outings in 2019.

“Bellshill has lots of stamina, he jumps particularly well,” said Mullins. “That’s a huge plus for him. We can see him improving all the time. He’s always gone on soft or heavy and I took a chance running him on the ground the other day but I felt we had to and he’s by Kings Theatre, they love good ground and he can handle it well, even though he’s a big, heavy type of horse.

He added, “Invitation would probably have to step up a good bit.”

One of Mullins best chances of the meeting comes on day one, Tuesday, with Benie Des Dieux in the Grade 1 OBLG Mares’ Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. Mullins’ legendary mare Quevega created a Cheltenham record by winning this race six times in succession and Benie Des Deux can begin following in her footsteps. She upset Apple Jade last year and the latter looks likely to be going the Champion Hurdle route this year which will make it easier for her. Ben Des Dieux hasn’t been seen on the track since winning at the Punchestown Festival in April last year. However, that was the way Quevaga used to do it. In the last five years of her career, Quevega only ran twice a season, at Cheltenham and Punchestown. In those ten runs she was only defeated once, in her final race at Punchestown. So it should be no problem for Benie Des Deux to be running fresh.  

On the same day Mullins has a good chance with Ballyward in the Grade 2 National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase over three miles and seven-and-a-half furlongs. Mullins must think highly of Ballyward as he is his only entry and is the current second favourite. His son Patrick is likely to take the ride. Ballyward was last seen winning a Grade 3 novice chase over three miles in decent fashion and he can go close here in a race that will all be about stamina. He is by the stamina influence Flemensfirth out of a mare who won over three miles.

On the Wednesday Uradel will have a fine chance in the Grade 3 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. Mullins sent out Bleu Berry to victory in last season’s Coral Cup, Uradel is entitled to be heading the betting at the moment. He is entered in a few handicaps over the four days, but the Coral Cup looks an ideal fit for a horse that finished second in a Cesarewitch on the Flat and warmed up for this race with a decent fifth place finish in a competitive handicap hurdle at Leopardstown over a trip on the sharp side.

On the Thursday Mullins has Min in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase over two miles and four furlongs. He might well run here in preference to taking on the top class Altior in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. A winner over 2m 4f at Punchestown this season, Min lacks the pace needed at Championship level over two miles, so the Ryanair is ideal for him and with question marks hanging over Cyrname’s participation then this classy performer can strike gold on the third day of the festival.

Also on the Thursday Mullins has Faugheen in the Grade 1 Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle over three miles. Paisley Park is the favourite after romping the Cleeve Hurdle. The latter is an exciting stayer but Faugheen is the forgotten horse in the field and could cause a minor upset. Faugheen was the star hurdler a few years ago and won the Champion Hurdle in memorable fashion. However, following a litany of injuries he has fallen down the pecking order. A faller when trying to close down Apple’s Jade at Leopardstown over Christmas, the horse once dubbed ‘The Machine’ can bounce back to form and be a major player over three miles in the Stayers’ Hurdle on March 14. His last win was in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle over this same three mile trip at the Punchestown Festival last year. In that race he beat the Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle winner Penhill by 13 lengths, so his form over this trip is good.

Mullins will have less runners than usual at this Festival but still brings over a string of about 40. He has had 61 Festival winners, one more than his English contemporary Nicky Henderson.

By David Thiselton

The Sean Tarry-trained Immeasurable, second to the Vaughan Marshall star Captain Of Stealth on debut,  has been installed 22-10 favourite for the R225 000 Klawervlei Farm Sale Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday and importantly has a good draw at three.

Tarry is also responsible  for 3-1 second favourite Rock The Globe who is drawn ten out of eleven while World Sports Betting makes the Justin Snaith representative  Don’t Be Blue – at R500 000 easily the highest priced horse in the field – a 5-1 chance.

Aldo Domeyer, who rides Rock The Globe, looks like starting off with a winner because Candice Bass-Robinson’s Sweet Karma has easily the best form in the opening Streamline Agencies Maiden Juvenile and is 7-10.

Boomps A Daisy, already many people’s idea of the biggest certainty of the day, is quoted at 13-20 for race three with Greg Cheyne taking over from Anton Marcus.

By Michael Clower

There are few more passionate owners than former Msunduzi Municipal manager Alderman Rob Haswell, and given the current treacherous state of affairs in the KZN Capital, he is probably relieved that he doesn’t have anything to do with it anymore.

Be that as it may, Cumulus obliged in his colours at Scottsville last weekend and Master Keys came to the fore at Greyville yesterday, both for Nathan Kotzen. Also, in the Master Keys partnership was novice breeder Nothemba Mlonzi whose fledgling stud is based in Birnham Wood on the outskirts of Howick in KZN.

It was a stable double for Kotzen with Anton Marcus successful on Amex a half-hour earlier.

Amex snapped a string of runner-up berths, coming from off the pace to win going away, but Marcus had a more difficult time on Master Keys. Racing well off a good pace in the early exchanges, Master Keys showed an alarming tendency to hang in under pressure, threatening runners on her inside as is Marcus’s custom to head for the outside rail on the poly track. Fortunately for her supporters, Master Key was travelling far better than her opposition and once clear of the traffic, Marcus allowed her to shift ground and she won convincingly.

Walterthepenniless appeared to be named after the punters that sent him off as favourite twice before landing his maiden win, but he made amends yesterday as Charlie Touzel’s home-bred went in again in the sixth – not penniless anymore.

Dennis Drier’s decision to fit blinkers has paid dividends as the son of Crusade is unbeaten in two as Sean Veale took the shortest way home and ‘Walter’ finished with a wet sail.

Grecian Laurel, after surprising all on debut, appears to have found her surface as Duncan Howells’s filly out-duelled Laat Lammertjie in the seventh. Grecian Laurel’s pedigree suggests that she should go a bit of ground and the way she stuck to her guns under Mark Khan in a mile suggests that this may be the way forward.

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal stages a nine race meeting down the straight and the exotics look catchable.

The first race of the day is a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m and the Soft Falling Rain filly Makara has some pace and will appreciate the step up in trip, having been up there and staying on when not disgraced against the exciting Gin Fizz. Mill Queen was staying on strongly over 1000m on debut behind a fair sort and the form has worked out well, so it would be no surprise to see her beating the first choice. Dive Captain showed pace on debut over 1000m and although she does not have as much substance as the first two choices she should earn here as none of the first-timers make much appeal. Black Tie was staying on from well back on debut over 1000m and can not only improve but will enjoy the step up in trip. However, she is held on formlines by Mill Queen. Margot’s Magic finished ahead of her there and could possibly confirm the form as she was staying on well late. Malteza was green on debut when three lengths behind Makara and can improve.

The first leg of the Bipot will be fought out by three promising sorts, Comaneci, Lady Lexington and Dancing Queen. They are chosen in that order as that is how their form reads.

The first leg of the PA over 1400m yields a banker in Undiscovered Gem. She has been close up to three fair sorts from 1160m to 1400m and the form has worked out well. She faces an uninspiring field and will be hard to beat despite being the only filly in the field.

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m could be fought out by the trio Josi Di Nero, Cape Ash and Bated Breath. All three have some substance and scope for improvement and will enjoy the trip. They are selected in the order mentioned. The others do not have much to enthuse about.

The first leg of the Jackpot also looks straight forward on paper. Hafla is a talented horse and might have benefitted from her 110 day layoff as she has a touch of class which she is yet to fulfil. This will be a suitable trip running fresh. Saints Alive likely did no stay the 2000m trip last time and before that was well beaten in both the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Three Troikas. However, her form in this sort of company reads well and this is an ideal trip. State Star is best in at the weights and should enjoy this trip, so has to be included.

In the sixth over 1500m Royal Italian created a good impression last time as he was expected to lead or be handy and then kick on as he had done in his previous start, but instead he was dropped out and produced a flying finish. This shows a versatility associated with class and he is on the way up so can overcome a three point raise and win off an 81 merit rating. Nordic Rebel is the one to beat on paper as he is 2,5kg better off with Royal Italian for a one length beating over 1450m. However, he is a five-year-old and will not be improving like Royal Italin is. Lake Kinneret has to be considered too as he has been close up to some decent sorts this season and was a touch unlucky in the Grand Heritage over 1475m.

In the seventh over 1500m Electromagnetic has caught the eye before and has his third run after a layoff off a merit rating dropped three points. He is usually slow way but this should allow him to get a tow in a big field and he is capable of running on well. This trip could be ideal too. Orapa looked to have plenty of promise early in his career so has been disappointing overall. However, he has dropped to a mark just two points higher than his last win and if he can reproduce that effort, which was over a 1450m trip, he should go close. Snorting Bull is an interesting runner having his third run after a layoff and gelding. He has presence and will appreciate the step up to this trip, although it will still be on the sharp side for him. Those three could be enough to get punters through, although others to consider are Manitoba, Baahir and Visigoth.

In the eighth race over 1200m Mythical Bolt had some good form in Cape Town and is held in good regard. State Trooper has always had ability and is coming into his own so those two should fight it out.

In the last race Soul Of Wit was unlucky from a tough draw around the turn last time and has a high draw down the straight now so can make amends. Generous Notion is fulfilling the promise she had always shown and it would be no surprise to see her make it two wins on the trot. Florence ran well first time out the maidens over the too sharp 1000m and now steps back up to her winning trip. Gold Dawn has excellent recent form over this trip so can’t be ignored. Arikel didn’t enjoy blinkers last time and on pedigree should enjoy this step up in trip. Colour Of Light and Ninjara were two former talented sorts who have become disappointing but they are off lowered merit ratings and could bounce back. Rock Pigeon, Twelve Oaks and I Ain’t Trippin are also capable of winning it.

By David Thiselton

There is often a fine line between ‘race-riding’ and reckless riding with stipendiary stewards taking a dim view of the latter as illustrated at Greyville a fortnight back.

While making what was possibly a winning move, Mokoko was cut-off in midstride with Anton Marcus accusing young apprentice Jason Gates of “attempted murder”. Gates was already facing a pending 14-day suspension for a similar offence and faces a further inquiry for this latest indiscretion.

Gates is an intelligent and talented rider but if he keeps emulating an unguided missile, he will be spending more time on the bench than in the saddle.

Mokoko and Marcus can make amends when they line up in a seven-horse field at Greyville today and as 13-10 favourite in the ante-post market, Paul Lafferty’s runner is widely expected to finally get off the mark after a string of placed efforts.

He was promoted to third behind Alfonso Spagoni and he should be able to stay out of trouble in this small field.

Garth Puller rode many a winner for Milnerton-based Greg Ennion in Cape Town before hanging up his boots and he saddles the Ennion and Terry and Annabel Andrews owned Samsara in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The mare has steady Cape form and not too far back in her local debut. However, the switch to the poly is probably the reason that she has been sent to Puller.

Samsara is in a tough handicap where the Paul Peter-trained Afro Star is currently ante-post favourite at 9-2 with apprentice Yuzae Ramzan giving her 4kg relief.

Amex will be a popular choice to break her string of runner-up berths in the Greyville Convention Centre Qualified Maiden and Marcus could well be in line for an opening treble as he partners Natty Kotzen’s filly. Marcus has been aboard at her last two outings when narrowly beaten and today’s 1400m should be right up her alley.

Major threats are Kir, who barrier trialled well for Dennis Bosch after an opening spell on the Highveld, and the often lethal Hewitson/Paul Peter combination with Destiny’s Game.

The fifth is another tricky affair but Kotzen and Marcus team up with the consistent Master Keys. The filly has been running on nicely in both recent outings over a mile and the drop to 1400m could bring out the best in her.

Peter sends out Quebec Queen, who never got a look in when confronted by more traffic than the N2 Highway in rush hour last time out, and Hewitson is unlikely to get himself into that position.

A possible upset could come in the form of Mela Stregata who has been consistent but a little disappointing. The switch to the poly could be what she is looking for.

Marcus switches brothers in the sixth where he partners Final Attempt for Glen Kotzen. The gelding is currently 28-10 favourite in the ante-post market but there will be many changers with Lotsa Silver from the very much in form Tony Rivalland yard a major contender along with the Mark Dixon pair of The Poet and Master Sam.

The seventh is another minefield. Path To Glory is seldom far back and Mike Miller has declared blinkers on his mare. Older runners often benefit from the headgear first time out and as a five-time winner she is not short of ability.

Stable companion Sheza Rockstar also has claims along with On The Bright Side and Grecian Laurel.

Josephine Baker has a tricky draw in the last and also faces a competitive field where Green Ice and Crystal Ball will be contenders.

By Andrew Harrison