Grand Annual Chase Tips : Kumbeshwar looks the value in final race at Cheltenham
Put simply, without Johnny Henderson, the Cheltenham Festival would have been turned to ruins, or a housing state to put it bluntly.
The father of now leading trainer Nicky, was aware in 1963 that there was a danger that property developers would buy Cheltenham racecourse, so together with other Jockey Club members he formed Racecourse Holdings Trust, a non-profit-making organisation, that raised £240,000 to purchase the racecourse, safeguard its future and set in motion the modernisation of the facilities. RHT was renamed Jockey Club Racecourses years down the line and is the force behind 14 different British racetracks.
It seems perfectly acceptable that Cheltenham decided to name the last race at the Festival in Henderson’s honour. The race in question is one of the oldest races at the Festival and the first runnings of the event date back to 1834.
Quite fittingly, Henderson junior won the inaugural running of the race in 2006 which was the first year his father’s name was incorporated with the race. The emotional success was provided by Greenhope, ridden by Andrew Tinkler. It was probably one of the most moving stories of the Festival in the last 30 years as it had only been two years since Johnny Henderson has passed away. Henderson’s brother and sister were both present to witness the victory as well.
Grand Annual Chase Tips
Alan King’s novice Kumbeshwar is one to watch and looks the value at 14/1 to finish in the places each way. Take advantage of a Cheltenham saver bet with a free bet of £150/€150 from Stan James for all visitors of Footybunker.com to spend on any race! Claim here!
Last year’s renewal was won by the Colin Tizzard-trained Oiseau De Nuit, which brought about a fantastic end to a Festival that had started terribly for the Tizzard brigade after the well-backed Cue Card could only finish fourth in the Supreme Novices Hurdle.
The veteran was held up off the pace and produced impeccably by 7lbs claimer Stephen Clemence for his first Cheltenham Festival winner. First winner it was not for owner Terry Warner, who had owned Champion Hurdle winner Rooster Booster along with providing AP McCoy with his very first Cheltenham Festival win back in the 1996 when Kibreet landed that renewal for Phillip Hobbs.
Known as the “getting out stakes” to punters due to its last race of the Festival tag the Grand Annual Chase has delivered for punters in recent years in that department. Nine of the last thirteen races have been won by horses that started at 8/1 or shorter in the betting to the delight of the locals.
This year’s renewal looks really intriguing with a whole host of highly-rated horses holding entries, however, nine of the last 11 winners haven fallen into the ratings band of 129-134. Therefore, punters may look towards a horse like Rileyev to deliver the goods.
Venetia Williams’s charge is rated 130 after dropping 2lbs in the handicap following a poor showing in a handicap chase at Doncaster. But his record at Cheltenham suggests that dropping him any further before this race would make him a really well handicapped horse around Prestbury Park. The classy seven-year-old, who has won six of his last 14 races, is certainly one to keep onside.
Novices have also fared very strongly with 11 winners in the last 30 runnings and the standout this season looks to be Kumbeshwar for Alan King.
The five-year-old looked a real prospect when finishing second in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle last season and has justified that faith since being switched to fences. He has five runs over the timber already, including a two nice wins at Plumpton and Hereford.
King’s Charge hasn’t yet managed to break into the top-class bracket yet though, with three second placed finishes behind Zaynar, Menorah and Kid Cassidy, who also looks to be going for this race and should be competitive.
These recent near-misses have left him in good shape for a drop back into handicap level though and off a mark of 144 he could be an attractive proposition for many shrewd punters out there.
