Solness to spring Champion Chase surprise at Cheltenham

Solness is backed to inflict what would be a third Cheltenham Festival defeat on hot favourite Jonbon in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday.

There is little doubt that Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon is the star of the division, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that each of his three previous defeats have come in the Cotswolds.

It is not too difficult to explain the first two as he was blown away by his esteemed stablemate Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and found only an on-song El Fabiolo too strong in the Arkle, but his neck reverse to Elixir De Nutz in last year’s Clarence House takes a bit more forgiving.

Jonbon jumped terribly that day and while connections can point out he has since won a second Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, a length-and-a-half defeat of Boothill is hardly earth shattering stuff.

If the Champion Chase were run at Ascot or Sandown the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old would be nigh on impossible to oppose, but on the undulations of Prestbury Park, he could be vulnerable.

The standard-setter on Irish form this season is Joseph O’Brien’s Solness, who proved his maiden Grade One triumph at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting was no fluke when again dominating from the front at last month’s Dublin Racing Festival.

The forecast sound surface should suit his heart-on-sleeve running style and if he gets into a similar jumping rhythm to what he has on his last couple of starts, he will take some pegging back.

Final Demand can provide Willie Mullins with a fourth successive victory and an eighth overall in the curtain-raising Turners Novices’ Hurdle.

This son of Walk In The Park made a big impression on his rules debut at Limerick in December and successfully stepped up to Grade One level with a DRF demolition job.

The New Lion carries the hopes of the home team and is a top-class prospect in his own right, but Challow Hurdle winners have a dreadful record come Cheltenham in March and it is notable the handicapper has Final Demand 7lb clear on what they have achieved so far.

Mullins also houses the red-hot favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in the form of Ballyburn, but he is perhaps worth taking on with his stablemate Dancing City.

It would be difficult to argue a case for Dancing City possessing more latent ability than Ballyburn, but the latter was being talked up as possible Arkle contender at the start of the season and would surely be taking the middle-distance option if it was still available.

He was keener than ideal over two miles and five furlongs at Leopardstown last month and it could be that a race like the Brown Advisory over an extended three miles blunts his brilliance.

Dancing City, on the other hand, is all stamina, as proven by two Grade One novice hurdle wins over three miles last season and an all-the-way victory on his second start over fences at Naas last time.

In short, he looks the surer bet of the Closutton pair to see out what is usually a gruelling affair.

Joseph O’Brien’s Comfort Zone won on his only previous visit to Cheltenham and catches the eye in the Coral Cup. 

The six-year-old was a promising third at the Dublin Racing Festival on what was his first start since winning a valuable Flat handicap in October and is open to improvement.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Vanillier should go well in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase after bouncing back to form at Punchestown, while Unexpected Party could well repeat last year’s victory in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup for the Skeltons.

Willie Mullins has an excellent record in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper with 13 victories, but does not always win it with his first string and this year his Grade Two-winning mare Bambino Fever may have been underestimated.

SELECTIONS:

CHELTENHAM: 1.20 FINAL DEMAND (NAP), 2.00 Dancing City, 2.40 Comfort Zone, 3.20 Vanillier, 4.00 Solness, 4.40 Unexpected Party, 5.20 Bambino Fever.

HUNTINGDON: 12.28 Wild Nephin, 12.58 Dark Mix, 1.38 Absolutely Doyen, 2.18 Our Pink Lady, 2.58 Youdecide, 3.38 Cloudy Wednesday, 4.18 Wild Goose.

NEWCASTLE: 5.05 Show No Fear, 5.45 Vixey, 6.15 Dc Cogent, 6.45 Dr Ali, 7.15 Turbo Command, 7.45 So Grateful, 8.15 Code Purple.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 4.55 Rhythm N Hooves, 5.30 Piperstown, 6.00 Marhaba Ghaiyyath, 6.30 Paradoxical, 7.00 Masqool, 7.30 Treasure Bay, 8.00 River Wharfe, 8.30 Mamdoh.

DOUBLE: 

Final Demand and Solness.