Former Irish Point to Pointers hold a good record in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham having won five of the last ten renewals of the race. Former pointers once again feature strongly in this year’s renewal holding twenty of the forty four entries.
Leading the way for the former pointers is Ballyward, who although only having ran eight times, has some decent form to his name including an 11-length victory in a Grade 3 novice chase at Naas at the end of January.
Some of those that finished behind him on that occasion also hold entries in this Cheltenham contest. Ballyward was second in a Tyrella four-year-old maiden back in March of 2016 when under the care of Colin Mckeever.
Champagne Classic is another former pointer who surely holds a big hand in this contest.
He found only one too good in a Grade 2 novice chase at Navan on Sunday; he was just touched off by Chris’s Dream who has previously been beaten by the aforementioned Ballyward. He also showed good form when beating Penhill by two-and-a-quarter lengths back in April of 2017. Champagne Classic won a Kilworth point-to-point for handler Roisin Hickey in 2015.
Impulsive star features third in the market for former pointers and holds a good chance in this. The Neil Mulholland-trained gelding was an easy winner of a Grade 3 handicap chase at Warwick in mid-January. The now nine-year-old son of Busy Flight won an older maiden in Ballyarthur in March of 2016 for Sean O’Brien and Richie Harding.
Another Gigginstown and former pointer that holds a chance here is Hardline. Third in a Grade 1 novice chase at Leopardstown during the Dublin Racing Festival, he showed good form over Christmas at Limerick when getting the better of Getabird.
This Son of Arcadio has won three of his five chase starts. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding, was an easy winner of a Punchestown four-year-old maiden for Jamie Codd while under the care of Pat Doyle.
Glen Rocco is another who goes into this holding a strong chance. The Nick Gifford-trained gelding has been consistent of late with victories at both Kempton and Fontwell along with two placed efforts in recent months. The son of Shirocco was an impressive winner of a Ballindensik maiden for handler Paul Cashman and rider Damien Murphy.
