Stats stacked against French Dynamite in Cheltenham Feature You have to go back to 2009 to find the last favourite that was successful in the Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting. That was also the last year an Irish-trained runner won the race when the Edward O’Grady-trained Tranquil Sea scored at odds of 11/2 Favourite. The Mouse Morris-trained seven-year-old French Dynamite will attempt to buck those trends in today’s renewal of the £160,000 handicap chase. It is almost a year to the day since French Dynamite broke his duck over fences when easily landing a beginners’ chase at Punchestown. He was out-classed on his next start when upped to Grade One company at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, but bounced back at Thurles the following month when gaining the notable scalp of Ciel De Neige in a tight finish. He rounded off last season with a solid third placing behind El Barra and Busselton in a hot Novices Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival and arrives here off the back of an all-the-way victory over hurdles at Thurles last month. French Dynamite will be suited by today’s two and a half mile distance, is best on a sound surface and usually races close to the pace which can be an asset in these big field handicaps. He is currently the 9/2 favourite with BoyleSports who are going 1/5 the odds five places in this 16 runner contest. French Dynamite’s veteran trainer knows a thing or two about winning big races at Cheltenham. 71-year-old Mouse Morris trained his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival when Buck House won the Supreme Novices Hurdle in 1983. He was also on the mark with Trapper John in the 1990 Stayers’ Hurdle and of course he landed the big one - The Cheltenham Gold Cup - in 2006 with War Of Attrition. At bigger odds it would be no surprise to see course specialist Coole Cody finish in the money in today’s feature. The eleven-year-old has won four times at Cheltenham including when winning this race in 2020 and was also on the mark at the Festival back in March. BoyleSports are giving Irish punters money back as a free bet if their horse finishes second to the SP favourite in any race at Cheltenham today. The offer is available to IRE & NI online customers only. Max refund £/€20. Win or win part of e/w outright singles only. 5 or more runners. 1st bet on each race. Free bet expires after 7 days. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. 18+ T&Cs apply. Dunlewey.org Elsewhere on today’s card at Cheltenham there are a number of other competitive races but the Listed Mares Bumper at the end of the day should be a very informative contest with the future in mind. Willie Mullins has booked the services of Bryony Frost for recent Punchestown winner Williamstowndancer while the shrewd Emmet Mullins also sends over Kiss My Lucky Egg which landed a punt for a different yard at Newton Abbot in May, but in truth it will be a surprise if either comes out on top in a strong renewal. Fergal O’Brien runs last year’s winner of this race Bonttay which is unbeaten in three bumper starts. Nicky Henderson saddles the exciting wide-margin Sandown winner Luccia but the one to focus on could be Queens Gamble representing Oliver Sherwood and Jonathan Burke. Queens Gamble was most impressive on debut over the course in April. On that occasion she showed a blistering turn of foot to run out a ten lengths winner on similar ground to what she will encounter today and the form looks solid with both the second and third winning since. Queens Gamble is currently second favourite at odds of 5/2 with BoyleSports behind Henderson’s Luccia, and taking into account the added insurance of money back as a free bet with that bookmaker if she finishes second to the favourite, she looks one of the best bets on a tricky card.
