GB - Cheltenham - Race 1

Thoroughbred

12 Runners

16.4f

Group 1 Hurdle

Turf

Good to Soft

206.0K

VIEW

Verdict

Nicky Henderson's last 3 winners of the Supreme, Altior, Shishkin and Constitution Hill, have been out of the top drawer and OLD PARK STAR could be of a similar calibre himself judged on the way he quickened right away from very useful opposition at Haydock last time. This fluent-jumping 6-y-o has winning Cheltenham form already and can prove too strong for Mighty Park, who was hugely impressive on his Fairyhouse debut, and last month's Leopardstown Grade 1 winner Talk The Talk.

numberFire Picks

Horse Stats

#/Silk	Horse#/Horse	Power Rating	High Speed	Win %	Top 3%	Win Prob	Odds
8	Failed to win 3 bumpers for Paul Nicholls last season but has created a first-rate impression when winning all 3 hurdle starts for Nicky Henderson. Powered 18 lengths clear in Haydock Grade 2 last time and he'll be hard to beat with further progress likely. 1st Pick 8 Old Park Star (Ire) Jockey: Nico De Boinville Trainer: Nicky Henderson J: Nico De Boinville T: Nicky Henderson	100	-	-	-	50%	1/1
Analysis Failed to win 3 bumpers for Paul Nicholls last season but has created a first-rate impression when winning all 3 hurdle starts for Nicky Henderson. Powered 18 lengths clear in Haydock Grade 2 last time and he'll be hard to beat with further progress likely.
6	Closely related to King George VI Chase winner/Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite. Second in sole point last spring and made a striking winning start to his hurdle career when making all by a wide margin at Fairyhouse in January, jumping accurately and in command a long way out. Top prospect. 2nd Pick 6 Mighty Park (Ire) Jockey: M. P. Walsh Trainer: W. P. Mullins, Ireland J: M. P. Walsh T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	91	-	-	-	15%	6/1
Analysis Closely related to King George VI Chase winner/Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite. Second in sole point last spring and made a striking winning start to his hurdle career when making all by a wide margin at Fairyhouse in January, jumping accurately and in command a long way out. Top prospect.
11	Likely would have been unbeaten over hurdles but for coming down at the last in Leopardstown Grade 1 over Christmas. Gained compensation for that when edging out Ballyfad in another Grade 1 there at the Dublin Racing Festival. Should go well. 3rd Pick 11 Talk The Talk (Fr) Jockey: J. J. Slevin Trainer: Joseph Patrick O'brien, Ireland J: J. J. Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O'brien, Ireland	96	-	-	-	20%	4/1
Analysis Likely would have been unbeaten over hurdles but for coming down at the last in Leopardstown Grade 1 over Christmas. Gained compensation for that when edging out Ballyfad in another Grade 1 there at the Dublin Racing Festival. Should go well.

Upcoming Races

Horse Racing Basic Terms

Bullet

A bullet, or bullet workout, is a workout that was clocked as the best time for a certain distance on a given day.

Allowance Race

A race with non-claiming conditions set by the racing secretary. They are meant to be a step down from stakes racing.

Yielding

A rain-soaked turf condition often producing a slick or heavy course and slower finish times.