'We know he likes Cheltenham' - Peaky Boy and Leader In The Park clash in race with good history

When Graded races are turned into handicaps, exactly the people you would expect complain about getting the best horses to take each other on. This race stands for the positive consequences.

When this was a conditions race, not even a Graded one, it had a good roll of honour. This is Cheltenham, after all. But its last five runnings under those conditions had seven, four, seven, four and two runners.

The first three handicap runnings have attracted eight, seven and, provisionally, eight runners. Now it has depth, and betting interest. Last year, Ginny's Destiny won the race and his later exploits need no spelling out. Had Crebilly not fallen two out, he would likely have been second and he finished second in the Plate the following March.

In other words, put 15 minutes aside to watch the replay of this race. But finding the promising horses after and picking the winner on the day are two very different skills.

The early market leaders are Leader In The Park and Peaky Boy. They are obviously the two most exciting horses in the race, with chasing pedigrees, point form and clear promise over hurdles. They are also the only two chasing debutants.

Backing a horse on their first run over fences is a high enough mental barrier at the best of times. In a race like this, it strikes as having more to do with faith than reason.

Primoz and Westerninthepark, unusually for promising chasers, made their debuts in this sphere in open handicaps. Both were backed into odds on, both won like they did not belong in that company. Primoz was at least given something of a race by Pay The Piper, who won a 0-140 at Kelso next time.

There has always been the sense that the Lucinda Russell yard are fond of Primoz. Bringing him down to Cheltenham only emphasises the point. Comparisons with Corach Rambler, who won a similar race at the December meeting in 2021, are bold, but we should be thinking big when thinking where the principals from this race might head.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Guard Your Dreams
He ran well last time and has jumped well since we've gone chasing. The good ground should be fine for him and hopefully he's got a nice chance.

Lucinda Russell, trainer of Primoz
I've always thought he would make a better chaser than hurdler and the way he jumped at Wetherby was fantastic. I was so impressed with his jumping that day. He was very slick and didn't look like a novice. The Wetherby race was over two miles but he's bred to get further and all his family are stayers, so hopefully he'll enjoy going up in trip. I think it could bring about some improvement.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Peaky Boy
We know he likes Cheltenham because he has won both times he has gone there. He doesn't have much experience but he has done very well so far. This is his first run over fences and he's starting out in a handicap because we have nowhere else to go.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Westerninthepark
He won well at Stratford and looks like he's improving. He jumps and stays well, so we'll make plenty of use of him, but I would be much happier if a bit of rain fell. The handicapper gave him a lofty rise for the Stratford win, but he did win very well. He has an each-way chance.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Leader In The Park
He should improve for a fence and this looks the right race to start him off in.
Reporting by Lee Mottershead

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