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Crambo can collect in Stayers' Hurdle

Written by Press Association | Mar 14, 2024 7:16:55 AM

Crambo can complete his swift ascent through the ranks to land the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.

Fergal O'Brien's seven-year-old has won five of his eight hurdle runs to date, with his only really disappointing efforts when pulled up in a Newbury Grade One in December 2022 and finishing seventh in an Aintree Grade One last spring.

He has looked a fine stayer in the making this term though, cantering home on his return at Aintree before just getting caught out off a slow early pace when stepped up to 4800m for the first time in a Haydock handicap.

Crambo showed that running to be all wrong when grabbing his first Grade One in the Long Walk at Ascot, edging out star veteran Paisley Park by a short head in what was a fine battle to the line.

While the heart would love Paisley Park to turn that form around, the head says Crambo is on the up and can mount the strongest home defence against Irish-trained favourite Teahupoo.

Ginny's Destiny is three from four around Cheltenham this season and can make the leap to Grade One level in the Turners Novices' Chase.

He looked in need of his initial spin when seventh back in October and has barely looked back since, hacking up by 10 lengths next time before fending off the reopposing Grey Dawning by 0.75-lengths subsequently.

The runner-up was conceding 3lb and made an awful mistake at the penultimate fence, but Ginny's Destiny was resolute in victory and really impressed when winning his prep under top-weight on Trials day here.

Paul Nicholls landed that race with subsequent Turners hero Stage Star last year, and it could again be a winning formula.

The Ryanair Chase has a distinctly open feel, but preference is for defending champion Envoi Allen.

The 10-year-old has not run since pushing Gerri Colombe all the way over 4800m at Down Royal in November, sidestepping Leopardstown at Christmas due to unsuitable ground while he was also a non-runner at Thurles in January.

He is a horse who runs well fresh though and has shone at the Festival on three occasions previously, winning the 2019 Bumper, the Ballymore the following year and this race last term, when he accounted for Shishkin by nearly 3-lengths.

Gordon Elliott has made no secret of the regard in which he holds Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle contender Brighterdaysahead.

The trainer ranks her very highly and she has shown plenty on the track, winning her two bumper starts and each of her three hurdles spins to date, most recently when cruising home in a Navan Listed heat.

This is obviously another step up, but she is yet to engage top gear in public.

Anna Bunnina can go well at a nice price in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Grade One-placed last term, John McConnell's runner tried 4800m for the first time in a Musselburgh qualifier for this and finished a fair fourth after coming from a way off the pace. Freddie Gingell was aboard that day and he again takes off a handy 5lb.

Theatre Man chased home the aforementioned Ginny's Destiny last time out and a similar effort would surely be good enough in the Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase.

He has placed in each of his three chase starts for Richard Bandey and his mark of 137 could underestimate his talents.

Ben Pauling's team has been in red-hot form and his Bowtogreatness is the pick in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.

CHELTENHAM: Race 1: 15.30 Ginny's Destiny, Race 2: 16.10 Anna Bunina, Race 3: 16.50 Envoi Allen, Race 4: 17.30 CRAMBO (NAP), Race 5: 18.10 Theatre Man, Race 6: 18.50 Brighterdaysahead, Race 7: 19.30 Bowtogreatness.

HEXHAM: Race 1: 15.10 Dollar Collar, Race 2: 15.50 Gibberwell, Race 3: 16.30 Breeze Of Wild, Race 4: 17.10 Clovis Island, Race 5: 17.50 Josie Alice, Race 6: 18.30 Ribeye, Race 7: 19.00 This Is Bob.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 17.58 Inexplicable, Race 2: 18.37 Star Of St Louis, Race 3: 19.10 Jayyash, Race 4: 19.45 Starsong, Race 5: 20.15 He's An Angel, Race 6: 20.45 Opticality, Race 7: 21.15 Bletchley Storm, Race 8: 21.45 Exponential, Race 9: 22.15 Royal Agent.

CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 19.20 Rabinal, Race 2: 20.00 Radiant Beauty, Race 3: 20.30 Shallow, Race 4: 21.00 Arzaak, Race 5: 21.30Mick's Spirit, Race 6: 22.00 Platinum Jubilee, Race 7: 22.30 Profitman.

ALL TO COME: Ginny's Destiny and Crambo (Cheltenham, Races 1 and 4).