Racing returns to Cheltenham on Friday, marking the opening day of the jumps season from Prestbury Park. A packed card to begin the weekend is inviting for punters and GG tipster Joe Napier has picked out his top four tips across the day below.
1.15 Cheltenham – William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle
The forecast suggests the ground will be good-to-soft at its quickest for Friday at Cheltenham. The knock-on effects may be non-runners, but also underperformance from a few, though one who has soft ground form and could easily be progressive in the opener is LAST RODEO for Christian Williams.
The five-year-old was subject to a stewards’ inquiry after his debut fourth last December in which Jack Tudor was pulled up for a tentative ride. That was in a fairly strong novice hurdle at Ludlow, with the first and second now rated 133 and 129, and his run was respectable given its introductory nature, while he has since finished third at Taunton on soft, then easily got off the mark at Lingfield on similarly slow ground in February by nine lengths.
That improvement with every run is always promising and his initial handicap rating of 118 is not too sharp. He is a full brother to Gavin Cromwell’s talented staying mare Malina Girl, so it may well be he stays further than this 2m4f trip in time, but seeing this distance out thoroughly may pay given potential conditions on Friday.
1.50 Cheltenham – Holland Cooper ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase
Neither of Gordon Elliott’s raiders look overly convincing with a view to there being cut in the ground, while fellow Irish challengers Addragoole and Cloonainra look worthy of selection on form. This could prove a decent edition of this novices’ event and even under a 5lb penalty, ALNILAM is fancied to fend off Country Mile again for Olly Murphy.
The yard are in sensational form, winning with their last five runners at the time of writing (Wednesday morning) and nine of their last 19 in all. Champion jockey Sean Bowen has been riding brilliantly of late too and their six-year-old ticks a lot of boxes, not least in winning well on his chase debut at Uttoxeter earlier this month.
Crucially, he has won twice on soft and was second in Kelso’s Morebattle Hurdle on good-to-soft back in March off a mark of 133. That was a top run in a big field handicap, showing significant progression from the start of the season. He ultimately pulled three-and-a-half lengths clear of Country Mile on his first chasing start and the penalty may not be enough to stop him backing that victory up.
3.00 Cheltenham – Oddschecker Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
One who looks overpriced, albeit on his hurdles bow, is DOCTOR BLUE for Sam Thomas, who can give each-way backers a significant run for their money in this Grade 2. Connections must have plenty of faith in this son of Doctor Dino to make his hurdling bow in this contest.
He is related to two high quality jumps performers in France and has made a decent enough start to National Hunt racing in bumpers. His win on debut saw him overcome Nicky Henderson’s subsequent winner Calimystic, with the third also a follow-up scorer, while the selection was then fifth to the impressive Windbeneathmywings in Ascot’s Listed bumper last December.
Both of those came with some juice in the surface, though he was then outpaced over Chepstow’s 2m on good in March when only third. If anything, a first run on soft ground may be exactly what he needs to show his best while this unusually sizeable field should ensure this is run at a decent clip to bring some stamina into play. If he proves a sound jumper, which he should given his relations, he could go well despite his inexperience.
3.35 Cheltenham – Squareintheair.com Handicap Chase
The class act of the entire meeting, MATATA can defy top-weight in this 2m handicap chase for Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies. Theirs is another yard continuing to produce winners at a decent clip and he may simply have too much ability even in the face of conceding 11lb and more all-round to his eight rivals.
The seven-year-old was second in this last year to Calico, who opposes, and now meets him on 9lb worse terms. However, since then Matata has raised his game, scoring by 26 lengths over course and distance next time out off 150 (calico 31 lengths back receiving 8lb), then by ten lengths at Windsor off 155. That latter victory is important given it was on soft ground, while he was beaten on two lengths in Newbury’s Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase in February as well.
He was also firmly in contention five out in the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree when making a shuddering error in which JJ Slevin did well to retain the partnership. He returns with the handicapper having eased him to a mark of 160 from 163, but he goes well fresh, will cope with any surface and can demonstrate the improvement he has made from the beginning of last season.
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