19/03/22 2:10 Cheltenham - Country Hurdle System

 

1st I Like To Move It 14/1 - 70

2nd West Cork 8/1 - 40

2nd Ballyadam 33/1 - 40

2nd Cormier 18/1 - 40

3rd Felix Desjy 33/1 - 35

This is such a competitve race but I Like To Move It has stromed into the lead here. 

He has been to Cheltenham twice over hurdles and won both races, one was a Grade 2, although there were only 3 of them, and i actually question how tough it was because the 2nd placed horse Washington met a horse i have a hair of Barichello and Barrichello beat him, i would hope Barrichello is a future grade winner but at the moment he is a Listed winner, so i am not convinced that Grade 2 was a real Grade 2. However he did win a Class 2 Hurdle here beating subsequant Grade 3 Hurdle winner Tritonic. And the last time out was 2nd to Glory And Fortune who came 5th this week in the Champion Hurdle, so thats probably stronger form. Ground wise he has won well on soft but only run once, but his half brother De Young Warrior absolutely relishes soft/heavy conditions, so i think he should cope, although better ground will be fine too. I think he has a fantastic chance. 

West Cork is a horse i  really like, he won the Greatwood Hurdle over C&D after over 600 days off the track, which was a incredible achievement. He beat home Adagio and Glory And Fortune who were both in the Champion Hurdle and Maries Rock who won the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle this week. However last time out was not as good probably because sometimes this happens to horses who run well after a long lay of then dont run well the next time out, no idea why it happens. Hopefully he will be back tohis best and if he is he could take some beating. He may want better ground but has won on soft. I couldnt rule him out. 

Ballyadam won the Royal Bond Grade 1 hurdle on soft ground 2 years ago, he is a classy horse, last year he was fancied for the Supreme but was soundly trounced by Appreciate It, he does seem to have lost his way slightly since then and fences didnt seem to suit well so he went back over hurdles ans showed nothing. I worry he has lost his way. IF he finds his way back to form, then he will have major claims here.

Cormier will like the soft ground, and has run at Cheltenham twice, twice in the Greatwood including last time when West Cork won, he was well beaten, but then came out and won here in a lower grade. He needs to find more here, and his runs in a big handicap race at this track is worrying. I wouldnt be as confident.

Felix Desjy is similar to Ballyadam, a few years ago this horse was a Grade 1 winner, but his form has got worse, he doesnt do great at Cheltenham either, however he wont mind the ground and at his peak he was a grade 1 winner, so if he recaputured any kind of form he could go well. Gordon Elliott is know for revitalising horses so i wouldnt totally ingore.

I am sticking to my system and think I Like To Move it and West Cork have major claims here. 

My Selection: I LIke To Move It 14/1