The notoriously difficult Cheltenham Festival Placepot runs throughout the week. We are trying to land it on day two of the Festival here, as we provide our selections below.
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Leg 1: 1.30pm – Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle
Leg 1 Selections: (1) Ballyburn
He is the most talked about novice hurdler at the entire meeting and BALLYBURN should prove why in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle. This is not only a trip he has proven himself at, but is likely to be one he excels at more than 2m, despite his impressive win over the shorter distance at Leopardstown last month. This has also panned out to be a weaker race overall, with a pair of stablemates next in the betting, so it would be a surprise if he were beaten, and send shockwaves through the Placepot if he is out the first three.
Leg 2: 2.10pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Leg 2 Selections: (4) Monty’s Star
A six-runner field, all of whom are spaced at clear intervals in the market. Fact To File shot to the head of this market with an impressive display of jumping at the Dublin Racing Festival, but that was a match race against an opponent who clearly underperformed. Stay Away Fay looks to have significant mettle, but might lack the class, so MONTY’S STAR is the selection in the hope he is perfectly prepared to deliver both. He looked a staying chaser in the making even as a novice hurdler, and it is no surprise that he has already improved for fences, staying on very likably to land a Punchestown Beginners’ Chase on New Year’s Eve. He jumps like a natural and Henry De Bromhead’s yard form is improving as it always does for the Cheltenham Festival.
Leg 3: 2.50pm – Coral Cup
Leg 3 Selections: (4) Beacon Edge, (6) Might I, (14) Built By Ballymore
We are one short of the maximum field size for the Coral Cup, but that barely makes the puzzle any easier to solve. Of most appeal is Martin Brassil’s BUILT BY BALLYMORE who has almost certainly be trained with this in mind given the horse’s same connections have suffered narrow defeated by a short head and a head in this for the last two seasons. His mark looks workable, and the soft ground is firmly in his favour.
MIGHT I is another who makes considerable appeal having not taken to fences. He was a close fourth in the Martin pipe last season and his hurdles mark is now 3lb lower; at his best he’d stand a grand chance. Lastly, the veteran BEACON EDGE is the kind of horse Gordon Elliott has done well with in this race, being towards the head of the ratings off a quiet Graded preparation. Commander Of Fleet scored in similar circumstances at 50/1 two years ago off a 7lb higher mark and Beacon Edge has generally retained his form better this term than that previous winner. He is 2lb lower than when mid division last season, but may be put into the race more this year for Elliott (ran last year for Noel Meade).
Leg 4: 3.30pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase
Leg 4 Selections: (4) El Fabiolo
This race is more interesting for Placepot purposes, as EL FABIOLO is no guarantee to get round given his proclivity for a jumping howler. However, he is by far the likeliest winner and has always found a way from A to B, even if it’s by his own means. As yet unbeaten over fences, he has already dispatched Jonbon at Cheltenham over course and distance in last year’s Arkle and given NIcky Henderson’s charge remains his nearest challenger, the grip he has on this race is clear.
Leg 5: 4.10pm – Glenfarclas Chase
Leg 5 Selections: (3) Delta Work
The Cross Country Chase continues to become a classier race in terms of its participants, although the ground is almost certain to be heavy if the race even goes ahead at all on Wednesday. That will ensure stamina is as important as ever, and the best combination of staying power, ability and experience of the track belongs to two-time champion DELTA WORK. There are greater threats to his title than last season, but he has won both of his races here with perhaps more to spare than seemed obvious at the time, particularly last year. At the very least, he should comfortably make the top three once again.
Leg 6: 4.50pm – Grand Annual
Leg 6 Selections: (4) Solness, (5) Sa Fureur
Splitting allegiances slightly in the last, there are a couple of Irish challengers who make most appeal. SOLNESS won with quite a lot to spare on his handicap debut at Fairyhouse in December before finishing a decent third at the Dublin Racing Festival last month. He is now much better off at the weights with the winner Matata while being given a British mark just 2lb above his Irish one. SA FUREUR is another novice of interest. He only got off the mark in December due to Arkle fancy Hunters Yarn’s fall, but he was then a close enough runner-up behind Quilixios at Naas in January. He looks progressive enough to take centre stage in his first handicap.
Suggested Placepot Selections For Day 2 Of Cheltenham Festival On Wednesday 13th March
Leg 1 Selections: (1) Ballyburn
Leg 2 Selections: (4) Monty’s Star
Leg 3 Selections: (4) Beacon Edge, (6) Might I, (14) Built By Ballymore
Leg 4 Selections: (4) El Fabiolo
Leg 5 Selections: (3) Delta Work
Leg 6 Selections: (4) Solness, (5) Sa Fureur
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