We had a great start to the Cheltenham Festival I hope you found a winner or two as we head into day two and the fantastic action continues.
1.20 Cheltenham 2m5f (Old) Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
I think this race is my favourite novice hurdle of the week and the fact that we do have Final Demand is interesting given the chance he could have gone to the Albert Bartelt. The UK racing scene really needs The New Lion to win but I want to play an alternative selection each way. Potters Charm lost a few fans when he got beat at Cheltenham last time out, but I think there are some mitigating factors to considering. Connections did mention that perhaps it was a bit of a late shout to run having been busy already this season and he was only beaten by Sixmilebridge who went on to fail a drugs test. The form of his four wins to day looks great and he is 100% an each way option that could be over priced.
Potters Charm 1 Point Each Way
2.00 Cheltenham 3m½f (3m110y) (Old) Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices’ Chase) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)
I think this tip could upset a few people; I really like Ballyburn but at even money I can watch him win. I think Dancing City is vastly underrated and arrives here with a record that shows how tough he was. Few horses will contest the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown Festivals in the same season, but he did just that as a novice hurdler winning at two of them and running well here. Better ground will suit, and his racing style is a shade strange, but he just tends to gallop away and in this type of contest I think that could be a big asset. His jumping has been a tad novicey at times on his two starts to date over fences but I expect a better contest here to improve his focus and can see him being a Gold Cup contender in 12 months time.
Dancing City 1 Point Win
2.40 2m5f (Old) Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
You can’t be afraid of having a couple of darts in these big field handicaps with good each way terms on offer for punters. Beckett Rock is one of the most unexposed in the field and I think he could go well for Henry De Bromhead, he has attempted a big field handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival and whilst that run was moderate he is better judged on his last time out second at Fariyhouse where he kept on well in eye-catching style. Another that will be seeing some each way cash is Impose Toi, Nicky Henderson’s runner has a brilliant record fresh Career first time out off a break of at least 60+ days reads 1,2,1,1,1. Not seen since winning at Newbury in November he has been a winner here on the old track before. He gets first time head gear and I think could well be a plunge horse.
Beckett Rock 1 Point Each Way
Impose Toi 1 Point Each Way
3.20 3m5½f (3m5f56y) (X-Country) Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (A Limited Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+)
I am perhaps one of the people that isn’t too pleased to see a change in this race to a handicap. I won’t be having a bet in the race, so it feels disingenuous to put a selection up. If you are heading to the track do try and take advantage of getting out on the course to watch them over the various obstacles its great to see them up close.
No Bet
4.00 2m (1m7f199y) (Old) BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)
My nap of the entire meeting runs here in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, plenty want to crab Jonbon at Cheltenham but frankly with the opposition in here he can underperform and still win. Souless should set the race up nicely for him by going a good clip and I think Nico will just sit and wait before turning in and picking him up with a few to jump. I hope he can show the class he has displayed elsewhere and buck the trend of short price horses getting beat in this race.
Jonbon 3 Points Win
4.40 2m (1m7f199y) (Old) Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)
Back to back Festival handicap winners are rarely seen but Unexpected Party can go close to achieving that off a mark of 144 up six pounds from last year this will have been the target for most of the season and I would be shocked if he isn’t at least placed in the race once again.
Unexpected Party 1 Point Each Way
5.20 2m½f (2m87y) (Old) Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4-6yo)
A race that is a must watch even if not one for a big bet in, I am keen to chance two horses each way here. Idaho Sun for Harry Fry has won two bumpers so far this season and is an exciting type for the future. His Sire handled better ground well on the Flat so he gets an each way play, Willie and Gordon have as you can imagine the majority of the field. Of the pairs runners I will be having a saver on Kalypso’chance who has won his two bumper starts to date, the Navan run last time out is a listed race Gordon loves to send top horses to, previous winners of which include Samcro Enovi Allen and Sir Gerhard. If he is half as good as them he can run very well here at a fair price.
Idaho Sun 1 Point Each Way
Kalypso’chance 1 Point Each Way
