CORMIER hasn’t won a hurdle race for three and a half years.
But I fancy in-form Brian Ellison’s charge to end that drought on Sunday.
The nine-year-old has only tackled hurdles six times since that 2022 Morebattle Hurdle win at Kelso off 134.
But his handicap mark has slipped 13lbs and he’s bounced back to form on the Flat.
The heavy ground win at Nottingham was a timely reminder that Cormier was rated 138 when finishing sixth in the Greatwood Hurdle three years ago and he’s back to contest the same £100,000 handicap at 3.30 off his new mark of 121.
A brief flirtation with fences lasted just two races and 13 days in January 2023.
But a return to hurdles and two runs on the Flat were followed by an 18-month injury break and Cormier only returned in February.
His second run back was a 40/1 sixth in this year’s Morebattle behind Cracking Rhapsody.
It only took four races back on the level for Ellison’s stable stalwart to hack up at Nottingham from a mark of 68.
That rating was 12lbs lower than his previous Flat success at Chester in 2022, but he now heads back over hurdles from a new career-low mark and the forecast rain looks sure to provide his favoured very soft ground.
Cormier still needs three higher-rated rivals to drop out when final declarations are made tomorrow.
But deep puddles in the Cotswolds will make sure plenty stay at home and Ellison can add to Onesmoothoperator’s win in last month’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup in Australia.
Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell can land Sunday’s closing Bumper at 4.0, with BUD FOX taken to beat Fergal O’Brien’s Chicker.
But the Irish handler can win Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at 2.20 with THECOMPANYSERGEANT.
The eight-year-old was last seen finishing sixth in Listowel’s Kerry National in September.
He’s back over the shorter trip at Cheltenham after finishing less than three lengths behind Saturday’s rival Jagwar in what looked an excellent renewal of the Plate at the Festival in March.
Cromwell’s charge is 5lbs better off with the ante-post favourite in the £160,000 highlight, but softer ground should suit him better than many of his rivals.
That Kerry National form has been rubber-stamped by the second and third — Three Card Brag and French Dynamite — winning valuable handicaps next time out.
Hoe Joly Smoke can go well at decent odds, despite Harry Skelton seemingly favouring brother Dan’s Panic Attack.
But Cromwell’s five-year record at this meeting is a remarkable 21 per cent and Thecompanysergeant can earn his stripes with a career-best success.
Ben Pauling can deliver punters a winner in the opening race of Cheltenham’s three-day fixture tomorrow with Callum Pritchard on AS LEGENDS HAVE IT in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at 1.10.
The trainer also runs the Beau Morgan-ridden King Of The Road, but my selection bumped into a good horse of Fergal O’Brien’s in John Barbour at Uttoxeter last time and his previous place record suggests first-time cheekpieces will sharpen him up.
The penalised LEAVE OF ABSENCE is my idea of the winner of The Sun’s Save Our Bets Novices’ Chase over the extended three miles at 2.20.
The presence of Wade Out and Isaac Des Obeaux should make this a decent betting heat, despite just five runners.
Anthony Honeyball’s classy eight-year-old was a good winner here last month and the trainer’s day can get even better with recent wide-margin Fontwell scorer FOUNTAIN’S BLENHEIM taken to beat the Lucinda Russell/Michael Scudamore raider Imperfectlyperfect in the Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle at 3.30.
Sam Twiston-Davies gets off the “family” runner Intosomethinggood to ride a horse he won a bumper on last season and Honeyball’s current 31 per cent strike rate augurs well for both of my selections.
Delahunt’s Daily Tip
QUEEN OF STEEL to win 2.58 Market Rasen
Fergal O’Brien’s mare improved by more than a stone on the Flat this summer and the five-year-old can resume her progress over hurdles from just 7lbs higher than her last win in March.
Queen Of Steel won back-to-back handicap hurdles at Ffos Las and Wetherby before racking up three wins on the level off 45, 55 and 59 and then finishing second twice off 62.
That form would translate to a hurdles rating of about 110, but she resumes over the sticks on 86.
Regular rider Jack Hogan retains the ride with O’Brien’s horses in winning form — and I see no reason why that should change here.
Talking Horses – with Mr Ed
CALLUM BEWLEY could have said enough was enough — if he had, he might not have heard the end of it.
The Jedburgh-born jockey recently returned from the guts of a year on the sidelines following a horror fall at Ayr last October.
A broken left ankle and thumb, which left him wheelchair-bound and unable to use crutches, healed naturally over the next few months.
But medics couldn’t get to the bottom of the excruciating pain caused by an old shoulder injury that flared up and required him to go under the knife again in March.
Having missed much of 2023, Bewley found himself at a career crossroads.
But encouraged by a number of trainers — including Nicky Richards, Ian Duncan, Daragh Bourke and Martin Todhunter — he is back in the winner’s enclosure.
A double in consecutive races at Carlisle on Monday were Bewley’s first winners for 378 days.
He said: “It’s been a long journey to get back here.
“The biggest thing I had going through my mind was, ‘Am I just wasting my time?’.
“But I got to a point where I felt that if I didn’t give it another go, I might end up regretting it.
“I have a good group of trainers who have been really supportive and encouraged me.
“Without them, I’m not sure if I would have made it back.
“I’m also immensely grateful to everyone at Jack Berry House in Malton and the Injured Jockeys Fund.
“Without their help, I know for sure I wouldn’t be here.”
For now, Bewley is lacking a Saturday horse like Aye Right or Sounds Russian to fire his dreams of glory on jumping’s greatest stages.
But the 31-year-old hopes Monday’s successes prove a platform for realising his potential and climbing his way back up the ladder.
Bewley landed the 2021 Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on Aye Right and partnered the horse in that season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
He added: “I’ve had my share of setbacks, particularly in the last three years with various injuries.
“But I also feel I’ve got a lot still to give in the game.
“I have a partner and a son, Gene, who’s 20 months old, so I have to make a living.
“I need to be getting enough rides to make it worthwhile. I can’t be scraping by on two or three rides a week.
“Hopefully my winners on Monday will get the ball rolling again and things will start to pick up.
“I haven’t achieved what I want to in my career yet or what I feel I’m capable of.
“There’s still time. I just need to get a few breaks of the right kind.”
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