Cheltenham Festival Focus: Fancy one final cup of Coffey?

Yes, we are just three days away from the best show on turf, and it's a good opportunity to add those last couple of horses on the list, round up what we have - and what we bloody don't, in some cases, and end this column in the right way.

First off, I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read this column every week, and I hope you have found the week to week analysis and review of the racing action helpful in your hunt for winners.

Final selections to add

Gericault Roque is a horse I was desperate to get on the list, but given his recent withdrawal from the Kim Muir he will now head to the Ultima Handicap (my preferance). We put him on this list last week for the race mentioned above with NRMB, so I am simply going to switch that over to the Ultima Handicap - He has been declared and will run from five pounds out of the handicap, but I still think he has more in hand!

I can't keep running scared of Allaho

Anything can happen at the Cheltenham Festival, and providing you have value on your side; you can't run scared of one horse. I am going to take on Allaho with Janidil 11.010/1, who looks very fair each-way value in the Ryanair considering two of the six in front of him in the betting are not running here. I can't have Eldorado Allen as a better horse than him, and he is rated 16 pounds higher than Shan Blue, who is shorter than him in the market.

Janidil also holds the best form in the race outside of the favourite with his two-length second to Allaho in the John Durkan on his seasonal reappearance. He was worth an upgrade held up off a steady gallop, and he has been campaigned over a trip too far since then on his latest two starts (3m). He will have ideal conditions today has an excellent bit of course form from his run in the Albert Bartlett two years ago, and he will surely be tough to kick out of the frame.

Put the kettle on, it's coffey time!

The Kim Muir usually goes to a Gordon Elliott Irish trained runner. Still, I have been pulled in by the claims of Mister Coffey 13.012/1 for Nicky Henderson, who has yet to live up to the potential he offered at the start of his career, but he improved with each run over fences and shaped like a stamina test is desperately needed.

He will figure here off a handicap mark of 137, and his latest run when no match for the brilliant L'Homme Presse in a Grade 1 contest at Sandown was eye-catching. It's no exaggeration to say he destroyed a fence on the first circuit over 2m4f there but came home full of running, and he has been screaming to go up to this distance for quite some time. Connections have been patient with him, and it could be time that it pays off with Mister Coffey, who has stacks of ability and will now run over the right trip for the first time in his career.

Who's on our list and are they value?

We have a reasonably strong hand with this ante-post list going into the festival despite losing a few horses along the way - Ferny Hollow 2pt win selection at 7/2 for the Arkle was a big blow. Vauban looks excellent value at the advised 10/1 for the Triumph Hurdle, as does Braeside at 20/1 for the National Hunt Chase now that the field has cut up significantly.

I am happy with Constitution Hill at 6/1 for the opening contest, the Supreme Novice Hurdle, and the 10/1 Sire Du Berlais for the Pertemps, which still looks like a gift at his current odds. I think we have a fair hand in the handicaps also, and while there are a few dodgy ones on the list - Eric Bloodaxe and Gaillard Du Mesnil, for example, overall, I am happy.

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DARYL'S CHELTENHAM 2022 PORTFOLIO

Staked: 29.5pts
Returned: -10pts
Still to run: 19.5pts

Back Eric Bloodaxe for the Albert Bartlett @ 17.016/1 1pt win
Back Gaillard Du Mesnil for the Festival Novices' Chase @ 26.025/1 1pt win
Back Constitution Hill for the Supreme Novice Hurdle @ 7.06/1 1pt win
Back Minella Indo for the Gold Cup @ 9.08/1 1pt win
Back Braeside for the National Hunt Chase @ 21.020/1 1pt e/w
Back Vauban for the Triumph Hurdle @ 11.010/1 1pt win
Back Brandy Love for the Mares Novice Hurdle @ 6.05/1 1pt win
Back Appreciate It for the Champion Hurdle @ 6.05/1 1pt win NRNB
Back The Tide Turns for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap 1pt win @ 6.05/1 NRMB
Back Sire Du Berlais for the Pertemps Handicap Final 1pt e/w 5 places @ 11.010/1 NRMB
Back Gericault Roque for the Ultima Handicap 1pt win 13.012/1 NRMB
Back Dancing On My Own for the Grand Annual 0.5pt win 26.025/1 NRMB
Back Langer Dan for the Martin Pipe 3pt win @ 5.04/1 NRMB
Back Janidil for the Ryanair 1pt e/w @ 11.010/1NRMB
Back Mister Coffey for the Kim Muir 1pt win @ 13.012/1 NRMB

That's all from me and this column for the Cheltenham Festival, and with a touch of luck, we will be back next season to do it all over again, learn from the lessons taught this year and provide more in-depth analysis on the road to Cheltenham 2023. Enjoy the Festival and most importantly of all, be lucky!