The first off kicks off with a bang, and with The Supreme Novices Hurdle, and for punters, they have never had it so good. Every bookmaker is engaged in a price war, and as such ante post favourite My Tent or Yours has been pushed out to almost double the price from a week ago, being 6/4 after winning The Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. BetVictor are offering ‘Losses up to £50 refunded’, so the play here looks to be to back the jolly with them, knowing it is a no lose situation. He looks all class, and should be set up by the fast pace. Puffin Billy and Un Atout look the main dangers, but will have grander targets, looking like very good prospective staying chaser.
Speaking of ante post, my money has been done on Colour Squadron who runs later, and Captain Conan who runs Thursday, and so this race is now fascinating from a tactical point of view, with Simonsig and Overturn taking on each other in The Arkle. The soft ground should suit the former, and Overturn will attempt to make all, with Barry Geraghty sat in Jason Maguire’s slipstream. Simonsig should win, but it is more of a watching proposition at the prices.
The JLT Handicap Chase looks to be a top notch renewal, with many of the line up being horses that I’ve had on my radar for a while now. Quantitativeeasing, The Package, Fruity ‘O Rooney and Loch Ba make the shortlist and that is where the preening comes in. Quantitaveeasing was my fancy last year, but looks to have had the ground go against it. The value has been squeezed out of Fruity ‘O Rooney, but his front running style would make him an ideal back to lay off an unaltered mark. The Package is tongue tied for the first time, and was fourth last year, but his best form comes when fresh, and with a 7lb higher mark, he could be vulnerable. LOCH BA looks to have most in his favour, and has been transformed since joining Mick Channon, leaving Venetia Williams. He trounced a smart field at Newbury last time out, with some smart form since, and although 29lb higher since the switch, he looks to have plenty more to offer.
The Champion Hurdle is a race I have been waiting for GRANDOUET to run in for 18 months, since I started backing him for Cheltenham glory. He missed out last year through injury, and my ante post vouchers were nearly in tatters once again, when he missed his prep through a knock. He has turned up thankfully, and although there are doubts about his fitness, and his taking to the ground, he is still the apple of my eye, and I can’t desert him now. Rock on Ruby should be good for a place, setting good fractions from the front, and Hurricane Fly will have conditions to suit, but he has still to bring his Irish form over to Prestbury Park.
The Cross Country isn’t a race I am likely to get too involved with, but the two stand outs are Arabella Boy and Uncle Junior, who looks head and shoulders apart from the field, and are the only ones with a touch of class.
Quevega should win The Mares Hurdle, but she will have her stiffest test yet with Une Artiste and Swing Bowler to fend off.
The Druids Nephew has had his price blitzed by Hugh Taylor (Thanks Hugh!), but he still has the best form around in novice chases this season, and has a relatively low mark of 135. He was unlucky to lose to Hadrians Approach at Ascot, chinned late on, and beat Paul Nicholls’s subsequent 142 rated winner Grandioso comfortably by ten lengths, and all his form looks solid. Colour Squadron and Vulcanite have been plotted by JP, but would be wary of tucking in. Shangani would be the main danger, and course specialist Carlito Brigante, if the ground were to dry out.
1.30 My Tent or Yours
2.40 Loch Ba
3.20 Grandouet
5.15 The Druids Nephew
The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner
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