Can Final Demand justify the hype and rebound from his poor showing at the DRF? Romeo Coolio heads Brown Advisory opposition

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Final Demand had been shaping up as a banker for this race, the contest seemingly little more than a stepping stone on the road to Gold Cup ambitions next season. However, his lofty reputation took such a serious knock at the Dublin Racing Festival that he doesn't even come into the race as favourite.

That tag instead goes to Romeo Coolio, Gordon Elliott's three-time Grade 1 winner this season, unbeaten in four races over fences overall and with a defeat of Arkle heroine Kargese to his name last time. Yet such was Final Demand's early promise that he remains arguably the most intriguing runner in the race.

The seven-year-old certainly has significant questions to answer. Can he bounce back and silence the doubters, or was he simply overhyped from the start? 

Final Demand fuelled real excitement with a super-smooth chasing debut at Navan, which came off the back of a demolition job on his final hurdles start at the Punchestown festival.

Everything came crashing down when he was sent off the 30-100 favourite at Leopardstown last time, seemingly with few excuses. Yet in hindsight, the warning signals for his comprehensive defeat were already flashing in his previous start at Limerick. Although bagging a first Grade 1 chase comfortably enough, he raced lazily and didn’t burn off the inferior opposition as one might have expected.

Willie Mullins reaches for a tongue-tie now and there has been talk of some changes to his training regime. Even so, there is a lingering sense that connections may be searching for answers rather than having definitively found them.

Paul Townend retains the partnership and is putting his faith in Mullins finding a way to get Final Demand right. He told Betway: "We’re hoping he can bounce back from a lacklustre run at Leopardstown last time. I had a sit on him the other day at home, and he felt great, so hopefully he’s ready to leave that run well behind. 

"It wouldn’t be the first time Willie has managed to get a horse to bounce back at Cheltenham after a poor run at the DRF, and his form prior to that is very good, so hopefully we can right the wrong of last year with him."

Romeo Coolio is unbeaten over fences and connections have opted to step up to 3m1f for the first time rather than run in the Arkle

The wrong of last year was Final Demand's third place behind The New Lion when favourite for the Turners Novices' Hurdle. 

A day earlier, Romeo Coolio had filled the same spot in the Supreme over two miles and, with much of his form this season also coming over the minimum trip, it's the step up in distance that is the question with him.

Gordon Elliott said: "We’ve opted for the longer race over the Arkle for Romeo Coolio, but it wasn’t an easy decision. Look, at the end of the day, he’s a point-to-point winner and he hit the line hard in the Drinmore over two and a half miles, so it makes sense to go up in trip. I just thought he might be on his head a bit over the Arkle trip, especially with the ground drying out."He’s in good form and has been going well."

'The market will tell us plenty'

Deputy betting editor Graeme Rodway on Final Demand's claims

You can bang on about Final Demand’s flimsy form claims in the Brown Advisory for as much as you like, but Willie Mullins and Paul Townend are certainly no mugs and every indication is that they have always thought he is something special. I trust their judgement.

Final Demand has run seven times under rules and gone off at odds of 4-7, 11-8, 6-4, 7-4, 2-7, 1-3 and 30-100, and on six of those occasions he went off favourite. The markets are well informed nowadays and never too far wrong, which is further evidence that he must be good.

I’ll wait to see how he goes in the betting before committing to him bouncing back. However, if the money pours in for him again and he goes off sub 3-1, then I’ll follow it. If the cash doesn’t arrive, it will indicate his bubble has burst.

Let’s not forget that two years ago, Gaelic Warrior bounced back from a similarly awful run at the Dublin Racing Festival after being heavily backed for the Arkle. So the betting should really guide as to what might happen.

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Koktail Divin and The Big Westerner
Koktail is in good form. He’s settled in well. We were always leaning towards running here rather than in the Jack Richards. We just wanted to have another option if the ground came up soft. I hope he’ll stay the trip. We’re delighted with him. We'll just monitor the ground with The Big Westerner. She seems good, but we’ll have to keep an eye and see what it’s like. She would prefer softer.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Now Is The Hour
He was running a big race before he fell last year [in the National Hunt Chase] and he's in great form, has loads of experience and stays well. A strong pace will suit and he should be staying on strongly.

Connor King, trainer of Oscars Brother
He’s in good form and he travelled over well. I don’t think the ground will be an issue for him. Hopefully, with a bit of luck, he has a chance.

Wendigo: main contender for the home teamCredit: John Grossick Racing

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Western Fold
Western Fold is a Galway Plate winner and I'm expecting big improvement from his run at the DRF. He actually surprised me how well he ran as we thought he would badly need it. The ground will suit here, as well.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Wendigo
We’re hugely excited about him. His season has been geared for getting him to this race and the step up in trip to this distance through the year has been to his advantage. It’s going to be a great race and taking away the two and a half-mile Grade 1 means you are going to be taking on the likes of Romeo Coolio in this, and he looks a worthy favourite. That said, we look to be the best of the British and I certainly wouldn’t be swapping him for any other horse in the race.  

Read more on day two at the Cheltenham Festival . . .

1.20 Cheltenham: 'He's got a bit of magic about him' - can No Drama This End deliver where other Paul Nicholls stars have failed in the Turners?

4.00 Cheltenham: He's upset Jonbon, but can he conquer Majborough? Dan Skelton hoping freshness can be the key for L'Eau Du Sud in Champion Chase 

All you need to know for the three handicaps on day two of the Cheltenham Festival - including key quotes from connections 

5.20 Cheltenham: Patrick Mullins is on the Champion Bumper favourite - but has he picked right? 

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