Racing Post Hurdle: Go for Cash to land the money

AP McCoy will be looking forward to riding Darlan on Sunday.

Timeform's Tony McFadden takes an ante-post look at the Racing Post Hurdle, set to be run at Cheltenham on Sunday...

As bosses brace themselves for the usual spate of absenteeism on the approach to Christmas, one man who surely holds no such fears is National Hunt racing's biggest patron, J. P McManus, for the Limerick-born owner can rely on the services of the ultra-dependable A.P McCoy, a man whose iron will and determination to succeed has seen him hold the title of champion jockey for the past 16 seasons. A few too many pints will see plenty of amateur drinkers laid low during the festive season, desperately trying to procure a doctor's note by any means necessary. However, McCoy will be doing his utmost to avoid anyone from the medical profession, as they hold the power to stand him down, costing him the opportunity to keep the winner-juggernaut rolling.

Even taking into account McCoy's phenomenal resilience, it is quite remarkable that he managed to return to action so quickly after finding out first-hand what destructive powers a horse's hoof can have on a human face at Wetherby recently. In light of that incident, a mere mortal may be dreading the prospect of climbing aboard Darlan, the horse on whom he suffered a sickening fall in the Betfair Hurdle, but one suspects that McCoy will be relishing the ride, considering the exceptional claims that Darlan possesses in this valuable race.

After suffering that crushing fall, Darlan bounced back to finish second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle before winning impressively at Aintree, underlining the good impression he had created prior to coming down at the second-last when still travelling well at Newbury. People will point to the fact that Darlan is trading at a relatively short price (currently available at 3.613/5) and will have to carry top weight in what appears to be a competitive handicap, but his efforts in Grade 1 Novice company, allied to the strong impression he created in the Betfair Hurdle, make him the most likely winner of this contest. 

The perceived wisdom entering the Betfair Hurdle was that Darlan had been allotted a stiff rating, the bare form of his three hurdling successes not warranting an opening mark of 146. Although Darlan departed too far out to make a definitive conclusion, the manner in which he loomed up on the bridle approaching the second-last obstacle heavily indicated that he was, in actual fact, not at all prohibitively treated. Unsurprisingly for such a prestigious contest, the form has worked out extremely well, the winner Zarkandar prevailing from a 12 lb higher mark in the Elite Hurdle and the third-placed Raya star winning off a 10 lb higher mark at Ascot recently. It is easy to draw the conclusion that Darlan, racing off 151, only 5 lb higher than in the Betfair Hurdle, remains on a fair mark.
 
In many ways, the dilemma facing punters in the Racing Post Hurdle is similar to the one they are faced with in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. There is a horse at the head of the market with outstanding claims, undoubtedly well treated on the pick of their form, but they are trading at a relatively short price. However, there has to be a possibility that something lurking towards the foot of the weights may be open to considerable improvement; it is a worthwhile venture trying to find that improver.

A winner of a Grade 1 novices' hurdle at Leopardstown when under the care of Edward O'Grady, Cash And Go was last seen producing a below-par effort when attempting to book his ticket to Cheltenham, finishing fifth in the Deloitte Novices' Hurdle. However, completely forgiving that run would seem like the best course of action as he scoped badly post-race and finished slightly lame, missing his intended engagement at the Festival and then put away for the season.

Cash And Go certainly has an interesting profile having won on all three starts over hurdles prior to his eclipse in the Deloitte. The willing attitude he displayed in victory prior to that race should stand him in good stead and he will have many supporters receiving the best part of a stone from Darlan. A salient point worth mentioning is that he has since joined the all-conquering Nicky Henderson yard and, while O'Grady is a top trainer in his own right, it would be little surprise to see Henderson conjure a few pounds of improvement out of this unexposed sort. 

Another interesting contender is the David Pipe-trained Kazlian, who finished fourth in the Fred Winter despite shaping like the best horse in the race. Fair enough, horses racing at the Festival tend to be at the peak of fitness, but Kazlian would have needed herculean reserves of stamina to win that race under the aggressive ride he was given by Scudamore, understandably fading in the latter stages having been set alight coming down the hill. That effort clearly took a fair bit out of the horse as he produced a noticeably lethargic performance at Aintree, presumably having failed to recover from his exertions at Cheltenham, and the summer break should really have been of benefit to the four-year-old. There is a good chance, given how his connections tend to target this meeting, that he will be fully primed on his return and a mark of 136 could prove to be lenient.

In a field full of horses potentially ahead of their marks, other noticeable entrants include useful dual-purpose performer Domination, a comfortable winner of the Cesarewitch Trial, It's A Gimme, an encouraging second to Raya Star at Ascot recently, and the Paul Nicholls pair of Prospect Wells and Dark Lover. A big effort from any of those contenders would come as little surprise, but, on balance, Cash And Go and Kazlian are deemed to hold stronger claims.

Whilst acknowledging that Darlan should probably win, it is the race's strength in depth that makes it easy enough ignore the 3.613/5 currently on offer. There are a host of potential improvers led by Cash And Go and Kazlian, and it is the former who is taken to spring a minor surprise and overturn his strongly-fancied stablemate.

Recommendation:
Back Cash And Go @ 8.27/1 to win the Racing Post Hurdle

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