Which horses will be helped or hindered by soft ground at Cheltenham?

A week ago, with a bone-dry forecast, Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin and his team were watering with most expecting the going description for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival to be good. However, a bitter few days of snow and sleet in the Cotswolds has seen the going now changed to soft. We look at the horses it could help, as well as hinder, during the week . . .

Help

Tahmuras

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30 Cheltenham,Tuesday, March 14)

This six-year-old has won his last two starts on soft ground, including the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle Constitution Hill took before bolting up in the Supreme Novices' last year.

Paul Nicholls has compared him to Noland and Al Ferof, who won the festival opener with stamina rather than speed, and the son of Falco has produced generous finishing efforts at undulating tracks like Chepstow and Sandown. Easier ground will definitely be to his advantage, while it could inconvenience some of his rivals.

Tahmuras13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Harry Cobden Tnr: Paul Nicholls

Gerri Colombe

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (2.10 Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 15)

Given he boasts an unbeaten record, it is unsurprising this novice chaser has shown remarkable versatility. He won the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase on good to soft going last time but had previously scooped another Grade 1 on soft to heavy at Limerick.

His sire Saddler Maker often produces horses who appreciate ease in the going – Bristol De Mai would be a high-profile example – and a unique mix of speed and stamina ensures he will be feared whatever the description is.

This will be his first attempt at three miles under rules, but a point-to-point victory over the distance indicates it shouldn't be an issue.

Gerri Colombe14:10 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Gordon Elliott

Energumene

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30 Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 15)

A downpour on the second day of the festival did nothing to stop this exceptional chaser winning last year's Champion Chase.

Admittedly his three defeats have come on ground soft or worse, but so have some of his most impressive victories. He produced a career-best effort to finish second to Shishkin on soft ground in the Clarence House two years ago and he's unbeaten in two runs on heavy.

Slower conditions should enable him race further into his comfort zone and he is another with a three-mile point-to-point to his name.

Energumene15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: W P Mullins

Teahupoo: has a distinct preference for testing groundCredit: Patrick McCann

Teahupoo

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (3.30 Cheltenham, Thursday, March 16)

This classy hurdler has a distinct preference for testing ground as he is unbeaten in seven starts on worse than soft.

Tackling further than two miles has resulted in a leap forward this campaign, while both of those career-best efforts on Racing Post Ratings came on soft ground.

Gordon Elliott and his team must be delighted with the inclement weather, which will suit him much better than when only beating one horse home in last year's Champion Hurdle – his trainer cited quick going for his sub-par performance then.

Teahupoo15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Gordon Elliott

Three Card Brag

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50 Cheltenham, Friday, March 17)

Although he still holds entries in the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe, the likeliest destination for this exciting type is seemingly against his fellow novices on Friday.

Of his five starts, his three wins have come on occasions when heavy has been in the going description, while he was only narrowly beaten in a Grade 2 on soft ground in December.

Elliott has been quoted saying he was a "lazy" horse, so good ground would presumably make him more vulnerable, whereas any rain should ensure he is able to find his stride in this typically tough Grade 1.

Three Card Brag14:50 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Gordon Elliott

Protektorat

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30 Cheltenham, Friday, March 17)

"Wednesday's rain turning up today would have been a big help to him," were the words of Dan Skelton after Protektorat's third in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, and his two best performances have come on soft ground in last season's Many Clouds Chase and in November's Betfair Chase.

He is also a course winner on soft over hurdles. His sire Saint Des Saints generally produces mudlarks – his progeny boast strike-rates of 44 and 45 per cent on soft and heavy ground.

Protektorat15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Dan Skelton

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Hinder

Camprond

Coral Cup (2.50 Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 15)

This Grade 2 winner's record on good ground in British hurdle races reads 21142114, while a fourth place in last year's Coral Cup would surely have been bettered without the heavy showers beforehand.

He's now 2lb lower than for that effort behind Commander Of Fleet, but would not want conditions to deteriorate and blunt his turn of foot.

Camprond14:50 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Philip Hobbs

Banbridge

Turners Novices' Chase (1.30 Cheltenham, Thursday, March 16)

Although twice a winner on soft ground in a maiden and novice hurdle, Banbridge's best runs have come on decent ground. He is unbeaten in two runs at Cheltenham as he won last year's Martin Pipe on good to soft and bounced around Prestbury Park on good ground in November.

He has been the recipient of plenty of support in recent weeks but his followers may lose enthusiasm if significant rain arrives.

Banbridge13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Hewick

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30 Cheltenham, Friday, March 17)

Shark Hanlon called for Cheltenham to turn their taps off last month as his stable star has raced and won almost exclusively on good ground in recent seasons, including when scooping last year's bet365 Gold Cup and Galway Plate.

His sire Virtual won three times on soft, including in the Group 1 Lockinge, but he was pulled up in the Midlands Grand National the only time he has encountered it under rules.

Hewick15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: John Joseph Hanlon

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