'Class horse' Ballyandy is a rock-solid favourite - but is he beatable?

Friday: 2.55 Cheltenham
Glenfarclas Veterans' Handicap Chase (Class 2) | 2m4f (Old) | 10yo+ (0-150) | ITV4/RTV

The Cross Country Chase which once spearheaded this card is replaced by a veterans' event and we have a former Champion Bumper winner facing a past Welsh National hero in a race packed with old friends.

Admittedly, we are winding the clock back to 2016 for Ballyandy's Grade 1 strike and 2018 for Elegant Escape's Chepstow heroics. However, both horses have remained sound despite advancing years and landed decent races earlier in 2022.

As is customary at this time of year, readiness is perhaps the most integral consideration when assessing a horse's chances.

Elegant Escape is reportedly working back from the veterans' final at Sandown in January and is a negative, and over this 2m4f trip, while Ballyandy is race-fit after a fine third at Perth in September and has the speed to cope with a drop in distance.

Despite a 3lb rise, Ballyandy remains well treated running off a 7lb lower chase mark in relation to his hurdles rating. He is considered a rock-solid yet beatable favourite for Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has enjoyed plenty of success at this meeting.

Kauto Riko is never worth completely banking on, but there must be a chance this could be another day in the sun for the sprightly 11-year-old.

Kauto Riko: has gone well fresh previouslyCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Tom Gretton's stable star's career highlights have so far arrived in defeat as he flew under the radar. He memorably almost beat Top Notch in the 2019 Peterborough Chase and outran odds of 66-1 when fourth to Chantry House in the Cotswold this year.

This time around, Kauto Riko will be in sharper focus under Brian Hughes. He is undoubtedly handicapped to go close off a mark of 137, his joint-lowest in nearly four years.

Many of Kauto Riko's most impressive efforts have also come after lengthy absences, and this might be the time to catch him.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Lee bids to boost impressive Cheltenham record

Looking for a horse that likes Cheltenham, goes well fresh and is admirably consistent? Magic Dancer could well be the answer.

The Kerry Lee-trained ten-year-old won a novice handicap hurdle at this meeting five years ago and has his first start over fences at this course having been a latecomer to the discipline last season. Form figures of 12235321 suggest he has taken to it pretty well.

Lee said: “He’s an amazing horse and one of our favourites. He won at this meeting five years ago, so it’s quite an achievement for him to be heading back there and hopefully be competitive.

“This is a step up in grade jumping-wise from your Ludlows and Worcesters and it’s probably the biggest test we’ve set him over fences, but it’s a replacement race and an opportunity we felt worth taking.”

Magic Dancer: won at this meeting five years agoCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

An impressive 39 per cent of Lee’s runners at Cheltenham have finished in the first three, with Magic Dancer having two wins, a second and a third from seven starts over hurdles at the track.

She said: “I don’t like going to Cheltenham to just be among the also-rans; I’d much rather head elsewhere and win a race. It’s been a very lucky track for us and we’ve had some great days there.”

What they say

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Elegant Escape
His win at the end of last season had been a little while coming and he's qualified for the veterans’ final at Sandown in January. This might be half a mile too short for him, but I want to get one or two runs into him before Sandown, and he likes it around Cheltenham.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Ballyandy
This is a very nice race for him and he’s the class horse. It was a shame Sandown was called off on Sunday as the softer ground would have suited him there, but this is a good alternative and hopefully he’s the one to beat.

Tom Gretton, trainer of Kauto Riko
This is a good starting point for him and we’re looking towards the veterans’ final at Sandown. He would ideally prefer it a bit softer but has run well on better ground.

Richard Hobson, trainer of Saint Xavier
He’s off a very dangerous mark and we’ve put the visor back on him. I’m very excited to run him and think he can go well.

Peter McCreery, trainer of My Manekineko
He's been a super horse. There aren't many veterans' races in Ireland, so hopefully this will suit him. The owners were keen to run and he'll be fine on good to soft ground.
Reporting by Jack Haynes

Friday's previews:

1.45 Cheltenham: Grey Diamond out to deliver more handicap success for Sam Thomas and Dai Walters

2.20 Cheltenham: 'He's got a great chance' - who can join a classy novice chase roll of honour?

3.30 Cheltenham: Can Willie Mullins weave some more Cheltenham magic with Hubrisko?

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