Valdez seems all set for victory

Valdez seems all set for victory


WHILE some punters see the weeks leading up to Cheltenham as the ideal time to accumulate their festival funds, I prefer to keep my powder dry unless something jumps off the page.
It’s that tricky time where the main Cheltenham contenders are wrapped up in cotton wool and trainers give their lesser lights a chance to earn some prize money. There are the odd exceptions when a horse has more than enough ability to contest one of the festival contests, but sidesteps the invitation in favour of a softer opportunity.
One that falls into that category is certainly VALDEZ who lines-up in Saturday’s DBS Spring Sales Bumper at Newbury instead of tackling the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham for which he would have been a leading candidate.
A winner at Warwick on his racecourse debut last March, Valdez didn’t reappear until a fortnight ago when contesting another bumper, this time on the all-weather at Kempton – a fixture that was pencilled in due to the cold snap in Britain.
Given his 11-month absence, it was hardly surprising to see him race far too keenly in the early stages but that made his performance even more likable. A furlong out, Wayne Hutchinson began to get serious and, given how much energy he used up earlier in the contest, one would have expected him to fade into third or fourth.
Instead, he quickened up smartly to collar the pacesetting Offbeat Safaris close home. The winning distance was a neck but he was value for a lot more.
The Nicky Henderson-trained My Tent Or Yours and Charlie Longsdon’s Up To Something were both impressive in winning their bumpers and will rank as dangers if turning up, but Valdez has the potential to go right to the top and should maintain his unbeaten record in style.

THE FESTIVAL
IT WASN’T too long ago that the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham was more Irish than tucking into Denny sausages on a Sunday morning to try and cure a hangover. But the Mullins monopoly has gone bankrupt in recent years and so has the Irish challenge.
Cue Card and Cheltenian have won the last two renewals and NEW YEAR’S EVE may be able to complete the hat-trick for the home team.
John Ferguson is having a fantastic year across the water. Indeed, his 40% strike-rate (21 winners from 54 runners) is better than any other trainer in Britain.
He’s already had six bumper winners but the best of the bunch is New Year’s Eve, who has won both his starts impressively at Ludlow and Market Rasen.
It was hard not to be taken with the way he quickened up to beat Swinging Sultan, an impressive Sedgefield winner on his previous start. He won by eight lengths but was value for a lot more.
The beautifully-bred son of Motivator and Midnight Angel has looked the part on the track on both starts to date. Irish pair Moscow Mannon and Champagne Fever head the betting at present but both want further in my eyes and may lack the acceleration of New Year’s Eve who should be shorter than 12-1.

OUR ADVICE
DBS Spring Sales Bumper (Newbury, Saturday)
Valdez
2pts win best price available    

Ante-post portfolio
Weatherbys Champion Bumper 
New Year’s Eve
1pts win 12-1 with Paddy Power and Boylesports

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