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Cheltenham

Today, March 12, 2025BumperClass 12mGood Soft

Willie Mullins may dominate this yet again. GAMEOFINCHES looked a really exciting prospect at Punchestown last month and gets a tentative vote over stablemates Copacabana, who created a strong impression when scoring on his debut in recent weeks, and Bambino Fever, who brings winning Graded form from the Dublin Racing Festival. Gordon Elliott has broken the Mullins stranglehold on this a couple of times in the last decade and his Navan listed winner Kalypso'chance looks best of the remainder.

  • Gameofinches
  • Copacabana
  • Bambino Fever
2m Grd1 NHF
Each Way terms: 1/5 odds for first 3 places
  • 1. Copacabana
    J: Mr P. W. MullinsT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland
    F: 1
    Price History:
    4.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    31
    Verdict
    Looked potentially very smart when making a winning start to his career in Navan bumper. Top Irish yard has a tremendous record in this and he's a big player.
  • 5. Gameofinches
    J: P. TownendT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland
    F: 1
    Price History:
    5.00
    Age:
    6
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    20
    Verdict
    Easy winner of second run between the flags and has been to the fore in the ante-post market for this since his stylish Rules debut success in a Punchestown (soft) bumper last month. This strapping 6-y-o looked like something out of the ordinary that day and the sky could be the limit.
  • 15. Bambino Fever
    J: Miss J. TownendT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland
    F: 11
    Price History:
    6.50
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-0
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    38
    Verdict
    Wide-margin winner of sole start between the flags and made it 2-2 under Rules when landing a Grade 2 mares' bumper at Leopardstown (good to soft). Winners of that race don't have a particularly good record when bidding to follow up in this contest but she's clearly very promising.
  • 10. Kalypsochance
    J: J. W. KennedyT: Gordon Elliott, Ireland
    F: 11
    Price History:
    5.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    87
    Verdict
    Won sole start in British points and has looked an exciting prospect in winning bumpers at Punchestown and Navan. The latter race was a listed event, in which he put 4 previous winners to the sword in good style, so there's substance to the form. Looks the pick of the Gordon Elliott pair.
  • 11. No Drama This End
    J: Harry CobdenT: Paul Nicholls
    F: 1
    Price History:
    17.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    71
    Verdict
    Bolted up in a point last February and perfect start to career under Rules when taking a 12-runner Warwick bumper (soft) on New Year's Eve. That form is clearly nothing special but he couldn't be in better hands and improvement is almost certainly on the cards.
  • 14. Aqua Force
    J: M. P. WalshT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland
    F: 1
    Price History:
    13.00
    Age:
    6
    Weight:
    11-0
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    25
    Verdict
    There probably wasn't much depth to the Gowran bumper she won on debut for Miguel Gunn but she could hardly have been more impressive, running out the 28-length winner of that 14-runner affair. Subsequently bought by JP McManus and now in the care of Willie Mullins. Fascinating contender.
  • 3. El Cairos
    J: Mr David MaxwellT: Gary & Josh Moore
    F: 1
    Price History:
    13.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    125
    Verdict
    Irish point winner who landed 6-runner bumper at Newbury (good to soft) on Rules debut in November. Lots to like about the way he quickened clear of his rivals that day and improvement should be forthcoming, but he has much more on his plate this time.
  • 4. Fortune De Mer
    J: Harry SkeltonT: Dan Skelton
    F: 214
    Price History:
    21.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    34
    Verdict
    Runner-up completed start in points and filled the same spot starting out under Rules over C&D in October. Went one better back here the following month and excuses when turned over at odds on at Huntingdon last time, pulling hard in a steadily-run race. Still, others make more appeal.
  • 6. Heads Up
    J: Sean BowenT: John McConnell, Ireland
    F: 4212
    Price History:
    -
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    87
    Verdict
    Made it third time lucky in fine style at Punchestown (soft) in November, making all and coming home in splendid isolation. By no means disgraced when chasing home Kalypso'chance in a listed bumper at Navan since but it's hard to envisage him turning the tables on that rival here.
  • 8. Idaho Sun
    J: Bryan CarverT: Harry Fry
    F: 11
    Price History:
    23.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    52
    Verdict
    Made winning start in 10-runner bumper at Newton Abbot and progressed when following up at Windsor (good to soft) in January. Clearly a good prospect but it's likely that a jolt of improvement will be needed if he's to withstand the challenge of some potentially smart Irish raiders.
  • 13. Sortudo
    J: D. E. MullinsT: W. P. Mullins, Ireland
    F: 122
    Price History:
    41.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    39
    Verdict
    Easy winner of a Tramore bumper on Rules debut in November and failed to settle when second in messy race at Leopardstown over Christmas. Bettered that when again finding just one too good in a Grade 2 back at that Dublin venue last time but he doesn't appear to be the stable No 1 here.
  • 9. I Started A Joke
    J: P. ByrnesT: Charles Byrnes, Ireland
    F: 16
    Price History:
    29.00
    Age:
    6
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    39
    Verdict
    Just fourth in a point last spring but made a winning Rules debut at Limerick during the Christmas period. Unsuited by the way the race developed when behind some of these in a Grade 2 race at Leopardstown last time and likely greater emphasis on stamina here will aid his cause.
  • 7. He Cant Dance
    J: Mr H. C. SwanT: Gordon Elliott, Ireland
    F: 13
    Price History:
    34.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    39
    Verdict
    £300,000 Jukebox Jury gelding from good family and, having won his sole start between the flags, this 5-y-o made a successful Rules debut in a Navan bumper. Subsequent second in a Leopardstown Grade 2 was no backward step but he doesn't appear to be the stable first string on this occasion.
  • 2. Dalston Lad
    J: Tristan DurrellT: Dan Skelton
    F: 11
    Price History:
    -
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    76
    Verdict
    Won sole start in Irish points and 2-2 under Rules, making all in bumpers at Ayr and Aintree. It's likely that there are more races to be won with this son of Ocovango but this represents a big step up in class.
  • 12. Shuttle Diplomacy
    J: Sam EwingT: Thomas Cooper, Ireland
    F: 11-9
    Price History:
    41.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-7
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    315
    Verdict
    Successful first 2 starts last season, impressive winner of a Limerick listed event on the second occasion. However, he came up short in Grade 1 company when last seen at the Punchestown Festival 10 months ago and a similar fate likely awaits here.
  • 16. Highland Haven
    J: Jonathan BurkeT: Fergal O'Brien
    F: 162
    Price History:
    67.00
    Age:
    5
    Weight:
    11-0
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    32
    Verdict
    Easy to back but barely came off the bridle when making a winning start in a Ffos Las bumper in November. Testing conditions perhaps to blame for low-key display next time and duly got back on track when going close at Warwick (soft). However, she lacks the star potential of some of these.
  • 18. Lancelot Allen
    J: David NoonanT: Mrs Jane Williams
    F: 1
    Price History:
    51.00
    Age:
    4
    Weight:
    10-11
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    89
    Verdict
    Half-brother to 3 winners, including smart chaser Enjoy d'Allen and French chaser Hermine Allen. Narrow winner of a small-field bumper at Bangor (heavy) in December and should have a future but almost certainly biting off more than he can chew here.
  • 17. Caballero Cliff
    J: Ben JonesT: Robert Stephens
    F: 24
    Price History:
    51.00
    Age:
    4
    Weight:
    10-11
    Gear:
    -
    Official Rating:
    0
    Days Since Last Run:
    70
    Verdict
    Related to three winners and showed something when runner-up at Huntingdon on debut in November. Wasn't seen to best effect when fourth in a listed bumper here subsequently and should have races in him but this will likely prove to be a bridge too far at this stage of his career.
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