Envoi Allen can strike again at Cheltenham © Photo Healy Racing
Since retiring from his stellar career as a jockey, Robbie Power has maintained close connections with trainer Henry de Bromhead as well as representing Brian Acheson of Robcour, whose 2024 Cotswolds contingent looks outstanding.
Among them is Champion Hurdle second-favourite, Irish Point, who Power described as “visually very, very impressive in Leopardstown at Christmas” when he emerged an 11-length, Grade 1 winner.
BoyleSports Ambassador, Power, recently gave his insights on De Bromhead’s two big hopes for the Festival. He is keen to stress the yard is undergoing ‘a changing of the guard’ since Honeysuckle and A Plus Tard have retired, however he remains convinced the current team can strike lucky and add to their excellent Cheltenham record.
Power also reveals a tip for a handicap and his thoughts on Friday’s Gold Cup.
Cross Country Chase, 4.10 Wednesday
I think Minella Indo will go well in the Cross Country. His run back at Cheltenham over the banks was a huge performance, especially with 12 stone on his back and giving a stone and a half away to the first and second so he will take a lot of beating in the Cross Country. He’s never been out of the first two at the Festival.
Ryanair Chase, 2.50 Thursday
I think this race is wide open. Banbridge is very ground dependent. The performance he put up at Kempton when he beat Pic D’Orhy has worked out really well when Pic D’Orhy won at Ascot, so that form is very strong for Banbridge.
Envoi Allen for Henry, he was very good when winning this race last year and the ground won’t matter at all to him, he has a massive chance of beating Banbridge.
Kim Muir Challenge Cup, 5.30 Thursday
Perceval Legallois, a horse of Gavin Cromwell’s, was a shade unlucky when coming down at the last at the DRF so he could be well in for the Kim Muir. Another horse of Jono O’Neill’s too,Crebily, I think he will go for the Plate and his form has been boosted, he’s snuck in ahead of the handicapper.
Gold Cup, 3.30 Friday
He (Galopin Des Champs) was beaten twice last year after winning the Gold Cup and twice by Fastorslow but if Galopin Des Champs puts up the performance he did at Punchestown at Christmas then I find it very hard to see anything beating him - that was as good a performance as I have seen from a chaser in a very long time.
His Gold Cup win last year was a good performance too as he overcame a lot of things that went against him so he was obviously a very good horse to win then and that doesn’t happen a lot in the Gold Cup if things aren’t going your way. He is the class horse of the race, no doubt.
Shishkin I think is a big danger. Gerri Colombe, I know Gordon Elliott didn’t think he was at his best at Christmas, so we will see an improvement, Gentlemansgame was good when winning the Charlie Hall. Bravemansgame obviously can put him to the test too.
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