The last big Cheltenham clues could be available on Saturday and Andrew Mount guides you through them with his top tips to start the weekend.
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Posted: 4.26pm, Friday, February 21st
1.15 Kempton – MALAITA (1pt e/w – 11/1 generally with the firms paying four places)
MALAITA struggled to see out the 3m1f trip when a 12-1 third at Huntingdon last month and looks very interesting now back at 2m5f and at a time of year when she typically runs well. Mel Rowley’s mare has form figures in the February to April period of 32311211 (4-8) for a profit of £24.43 to a £1 level stake at SP and she has the prominent running style that has proved so effective in this race of late (eight of the last ten winners led or race prominently, while hold-up horses were just two from 65). I like the booking of in-form Charlie Deutsch, who is 13 from 52 when riding in handicap company for the Rowley yard (+£19.53 to a £1 level stake at SP A/E = 1.77). STONER’S CHOICE will appreciate the ease in grade and return to Kempton and looks the main danger.
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2.10 Newcastle – LORD ROCO (1pt e/w – 16/1 generally, place terms may vary)
I expressed surprise on GG’s Weekend Watch podcast/YouTube channel that O’Connell was favourite for this race, as he’s clearly best on right-handed tracks. He’s lost all six of his starts in today’s direction, beating only 49.80% of his rivals, whereas he’s landed four of his ten right-handed starts, including the last three, and has beaten 79.50% of his rivals. Odds of around 11-2 look skinny given those stats and he can be opposed. This marathon contest has not been a good race for pacesetters/prominent racers in recent years, with nine of the last ten winners coming from off the pace (front-runners were 0-13, while prominent racers just one from 38). Of those likely to be ridden patiently I respect the claims of last year’s winner Anglers Crag but at a bigger price I’m going to recommend a bet on my Weekend Watch selection LORD ROCO, despite him shortening up from 25-1+ into 16-1 in the past 24 hours. James Ewart’s nine-year-old (the ideal age group for this race) has a poor record on right-handed tracks – form figures of 65PP (0-4) – but has figures in today’s direction over hurdles/fences of 215422223 (1-9). The low strike-rate is a nagging concern, but his three course runs have produced a win, a half-length runner-up effort and a two-length third (last time out) when staying on well over the 2m7.5f trip. He often gets outpaced over trips of about 3m and there could be improvement to come over today’s extended 4m1f.
3.35 Kempton – HELTENHAM (0.5pt e/w – 10/1 generally)
The Dan Skelton-trained HELTENHAM has jumped out to his right on occasions but hasn’t raced on a right-handed track since his half-length second to Golden Son in the 2m4.5f handicap chase on this card last year. He followed that run with a pair of Newbury wins to take his full record in the February-March period to 3211211 (4-7), improving to 11211 (4-5) since undergoing wind surgery. After the second of those Newbury wins his trainer, quoted in the Racing Post, said “Before Kempton in February, his coat massively changed and I knew he hadn’t been right”, and this seasonal pattern could explain why he has struggled in two starts this term, latterly when fourth of five at Aintree on Boxing Day. He needs to prove his stamina for 3m but is worth a small each-way interest.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
1.15 Kempton – MALAITA (1pt e/w – 11/1 generally with the firms paying four places)
2.10 Newcastle – LORD ROCO (1pt e/w – 16/1 generally, place terms may vary)
3.35 Kempton – HELTENHAM (0.5pt e/w – 10/1 generally)
Andrew Mount’s tips for Saturday, 22nd February 2025
Andrew Mount’s Cheltenham Focus – Punting Angles for the Mares’ Chase
Regular viewers of GG’s Weekend Watch will know that I enjoy mares-only races as there some punting angles that often get overlooked and help us to find value selections. We have three races confined to mares at the Cheltenham festival – the 2m1f Grade 2 novices’ hurdle, the 2m4f Grade 1 hurdle and the 2m4.5f…
Wed 19 Feb 2025Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
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