Cheltenham Handicaps: Five interesting Irish horses

Willie Mullins' Abbey Lane could make a bold bid in the Coral Cup

There will, as ever, be plenty of Irish-trained runners in the handicaps at Cheltenham next week and Timeform's Billy Nash takes a look at some of the more interesting contenders...

White Star Line (Pulteney Land Investments Novice Handicap Chase): A thrice-raced maiden over fences prior to finding only Hunt Ball too good in this race last season, White Star Line has yet to win a race over fences but has been placed on his last three completed outings over fences, including when a very eye-catching second to Home Farm in a competitive beginners' chase at Fairyhouse last month. He gets in off a 3lb lower mark than last year and it is worth noting that his very best form has come on good ground. He looks worth an interest at around 18.5 on Betfair.

Abbey Lane (Coral Cup): Produced a career-best effort to land the ultra-competitive Boylesports Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown in January but there is a good chance that there is even more to come from this lightly-raced eight-year-old. He has effectively been put up 14lb for his Leopardstown win but that was just his second run since joining Willie Mullins, he is effective from 2m to 3m and has won on both heavy and good to firm ground. Abbey Lane is likely to be much shorter than the 28 currently available on the day, especially if Willie Mullins has had a couple of winners by that stage.

Ted Veale (County Hurdle): Tony Martin's representative attracted plenty of support prior to running a career best in what was a typically competitive renewal of the Boylesports Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown last time, travelling strongly for a long way but just unable to quicken in the testing conditions when third to Abbey Lane. The manner in which he went through the race certainly suggested that he was a handicapper on the up and he looks to have been given a real chance by the British assessor having been raised just the 4 lb for that effort. He appeals as the type that will thrive in a strongly-run handicap like the County Hurdle and he's available to back at around 17 on Betfair. 

Edeymi (Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle): Another from the Tony Martin yard and he looks to have been laid out for this race. This very well-bred son of Barathea produced easily his best effort over hurdles at this meeting last year, coming from well off the pace to finish a never-nearer second to Une Artiste in the Fred Winter, and has been displaying clear signs of returning to his best of late. He left a couple of moderate efforts over hurdles behind to win a maiden at Dundalk in January, before shaping really well under a considerate ride in a handicap hurdle won by Tennis Cap at Leopardstown last time. A strong traveller who jumps efficiently, he is ready for a step up in trip and a mark of 139 isn't beyond him. 

Alderwood (Grand Annual Chase): Improved out of all recognition over hurdles last season, winning six times including the County Hurdle as well as a Grade 1 novice event at the Punchestown Festival. He has taken fairly well to chasing this term, landing a maiden at Navan on his third start in January prior to chasing home Lastoftheleaders in the Dan Moore at Punchestown last month. A 5lb rise for that latest effort means he will compete here off a mark a pound higher than the one he was successful off in the County Hurdle but, although still unexposed over the larger obstacles, he can't be said to represent much value at the 8.4 currently available on Betfair. 

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