Cheltenham Festival 2018
The JLT Novices’ Chase is the opener on Day 3 and I, like
plenty others, will have burnt fingers with Willoughby Court’s defection from
the two and a half miles contest. The selection looked brilliant when making
all to beat Yanworth at Newbury earlier in the campaign and ran well when the
Alan King-trained gelding reversed the form at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
The absence of both novice chasers leaves Invitation Only as
the 7/2 market leader however, he is perhaps priced on reputation rather than
his ability over the larger obstacles and I’m willing to take a chance on Finian’s Oscar (1.30) bouncing back to
his spectacular best under Robbie Power. He was last seen being pulled-up in
the Cleeve Hurdle but has had a wind-op subsequently and returns to his
preferred trip over two and a half miles.
The Pertemps is a notoriously tricky handicap and one
dominated by the Irish in the last two years, with Davy Russell riding first
Mall Dini then Presenting Percy in back-to-back successes for trainer Pat Fahy.
The latter is now as short as 6/1 with BetVictor for next year’s Cheltenham
Gold Cup and I think Louis’ Vac Pouch
(2.10) has similarly potential for trainer Philip Hobbs.
The selection hasn’t been sighted since bolting-up under
Richard Johnson at Aintree in November. The 13lb rise doesn’t look too bad and
he should make the frame at the very least for a yard that won with the
well-fancied Fingal Bay back in 2014.
Paul Townend is expected to replace Ruby Walsh in the saddle
aboard Un de Sceaux and rode him to victory earlier in the season in the
Clarence House Chase at Ascot. He currently trades around the even money mark
and is a deserved favourite however, I’m keen to take a chance on my old friend
Cloudy Dream (2.50) at a double
figure price. The selection failed to stay three miles behind Native River in
the Denman Chase at Newbury but should improve for the drop back in trip and is
sure to go well under regular partner Brian Hughes.
It could be a great afternoon for the north with Sam Spinner
vying for favouritism in the Stayers’ Hurdle with the apple of Jedd O’Keefe’s
eye bidding to land a first festival success for him and jockey Joe Colliver.
The drying ground doesn’t look to suit this out-and-out stayer and I’m instead
going to throw a couple of darts on Supasundae
(3.30) and L’Ami Serge with marginal preference for the former under Robbie
Power.
The selection brings festival form with him having won the
Coral Cup 12 months ago and bettered than when second to Yanworth in the G1
Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. Both Apple’s Jade and Faugheen have let the form
down of this season’s runs at Leopardstown but he is the top-rated in the race
and warrants each way support at 7/1 with BetVictor.
Having backed
Movewiththetimes (4.10) in the Novices’ Handicap Chase I feel implored to
follow him in again for the Festival Plate with Barry Geraghty riding for Paul
Nicholls. The selection has form tied in with exciting novice chasers Coo Star
Sivola and Kalondra. It is a fiendishly tricky handicap with numerous plots and no surprise to see King's Socks punted for a yard that have won three of the last seven renewals.
Willie Mullins bids to cement his stranglehold on the Mares’
Novices’ Hurdle with Laurina odds-to to follow in the hooveprints of
stablemates Limini and Let’s Dance. She is far from a working man’s price
however, and preference lies instead with Maria’s
Benefit (4.50) under regular partner Ciaran Gethings. The selection has done
little wrong this term, winning her last three, including listed hurdles at Taunton and Doncaster. She is rated 3lb higher than the odds-on jolly and
deserves to take her chance for the in-form yard of Stuart Edmunds.
Irish raiders Mall Dini and Squouateur have been well-backed
in the opening salvos for the excellent pair of Patrick Mullins and Jamie Codd,
who are amateurs in name only. Sugar Baron must go well for the in-form yard of
Nicky Henderson however, preference lies instead with the pair of Actinpieces (5.30) and Tom George’s Wild West Wind (5.30) at the head of
the weights.
The latter refused the final fence when legless in the Grand
National Trial at Haydock and is sure to appreciate the drop back in trip under
the trainer’s son Noel. He remains well-treated from an unrevised mark, whilst
Actinpieces appears likewise the same with the handicapper raising her just 6lb
for a comfortable success last time out at Ludlow. That win has been franked
subsequently and with plenty of firms paying 5 places she warrants each-way
support at 16/1.
Selections
1.30 Finian’s Oscar
2.10 Louis’ Vac Pouch
2.50 Cloudy Dream
3.30 Supasundae/L’Ami Serge
4.10 Movewiththetimes
4.50 Maria’s Benefit
5.30 Actinpieces/Wild West Wind
For all the latest odds head to www.BetVictor.com
No comments:
Post a Comment