Three Weekend Runners on the Highway to the Cheltenham Festival

by Roy Brindley, 13 January 2022

Viewing figures recently released by ITV Racing underline how much the British public loves jumps racing. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s showpiece flat race staged in October, attracted an average viewing figure of 456,000 in 2021. Less than three months later, the King George VI Chase, staged on Boxing Day at Kempton Park, generated a peak audience of 1.1 million and an average of 829,000.

Fans love jump racing and stars like Bob Olinger – a wide-margin winner at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival under Rachael Blackmore. ©GettyImages

The interest is remarkable as the National Hunt racing season is primarily centered around four days in March and the fabled Cheltenham Festival. Every weekend high-quality racehorses win top-drawer valuable races but for the most part, they are viewed at “Festival preps”.

Can Bob Olinger Sweep Up at the Festival?

The coming weekend is no different. Bob Olinger’s name amongst the entries at Punchestown on Sunday has created tremendous interest amongst race fans. But the speculation and excitement are not centered on the horse’s chance of winning the Grade-2 Kildare Novice Chase, it revolves around how it will affect his Cheltenham Festival chances.

Bob Olinger has already been to the Festival. In 2021 he won the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in scintillating style. The horse is now chasing and Henry De Bromhead’s charge made an encouraging start to his career in this sphere by trouncing 17 rivals at Gowran Park in November.

Beaten into third by 16-lengths that day was Master McShee. This horse franked the form by scoring at Grade-1 level at Limerick on Boxing Day. Resultantly, some believe the chasing world is Bob Olinger’s oyster.

Ahead of Sunday’s outing Bob Olinger is just 11/8 to win the Turners Golden Miller Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Thinking further ahead, William Hill quotes just 12/1 about Bob Olinger for next year’s King George VI Chase and he is 20/1 for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Dynamo Could Be Electric?

Another horse racing at Punchestown on Sunday with Cheltenham Festival aspirations is Dysart Dynamo. The three-times-raced and unbeaten six-year-old is entered in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle. It is a recognized trial for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Dysart Dynamo went into many notebooks and bookmakers gave him a prominent position in the Festival betting lists after he spreadeagled 17 rivals by almost 20 lengths on his hurdles debut in December.

His trainer has won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle five times during the past nine years. Should Dysart Dynamo score with authority on Sunday, Willie Mullins will doubtlessly have an outstanding chance of bettering his already impressive record.

A Threeunderthrufive Four-Timer Before the Festival?

A Grand National dream was discussed after Threeunderthrufive won at Cheltenham in November. But, as a seven-year-old, that target is a long way off. More pressingly, the Paul Nicholls-trained horse can advertise his Cheltenham Festival prospects with a bold showing at Warwick on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls may have found a new chasing star. ©GettyImages

Last seen in mid-December when comfortably taking a Grade-2 Novices’ Chase at Doncaster, Threeunderthrufive is odds-on to land the Wigley Group Hampton Novices’ Chase due off at 1.50 pm. If the race goes to plan, it will probably be his last outing before taking up an engagement in the Festival’s National Hunt Chase.

Beaten just once in five hurdle starts, Threeunderthrufive has won his last three Novices’ Chases showing improved form on each occasion. Resultantly the horse’s connections revealed Threeunderthrufive was almost entered in this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The National Hunt Chase remains Threeunderthrufive primary target. Last season that race was won by Galvin. He now trades as 5/1 second favorite for the 2022 Gold Cup. If you think Threeunderthrufive can follow in his footsteps and become a Gold Cup contender in 2023, head to the Unibet sportsbook where 80/1 is currently available.

Ones to Watch This Weekend

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