Cheltenham racecourse is back hosting jumps racing. It is a time to rejoice for jumps fans, and through their seven-race card on Saturday, we have four best bets.
1.45 Cheltenham – William Hill Betting Done Properly Novices’ Hurdle
Intense Approach’s second in the Persian War may be the standout form on paper, but that looked a distinctly ordinary renewal of that traditional curtain-raiser. Millforce is less of a known quantity, but it is a surprise that FINE MARGIN is generally available at a bigger price than both given he has greater experience than that pair and is trained by Willie Mullins.
Mullins is sending far more runners over at this stage of the season than he has previously with the Soldier Of Fortune gelding having racked up a hat-trick between May and September over hurdles, all in winnable maiden and novice events. A blot on his copybook occurred at Worcester last time out, but soft ground went against him, with his form figures on such a surface much worse than on sounder going.
While there is some rain forecast for Cheltenham, the ground should not deteriorate too much, and he was second in Haydock’s informative 3m handicap hurdle around this time last year with subsequent Grade 1 scorer Crambo behind. Ultimately, his rating of 130 coupled with significantly more racecourse experience than his rivals means he sets the standard, and his yard should be keen enough for him to claim this.
2.20 Cheltenham – William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase
Broadway Boy evidently likes this track, but off a mark of 149 in a 14-runner field, he would need to be a borderline 160 horse to win this, so he looks plenty short enough in the market. The Irish dominance could easily continue courtesy of SENIOR CHIEF, for whom this first run in Britain looks to be off a workable mark of 142.
In four chase starts, he was third to the brilliant Gaelic Warrior on debut, a close runner-up to bet365 Gold Cup winner Minella Cocooner (who won that race off 151), a winner at Punchestown over Duffle Coat (now rated 145 in Ireland), before pulling up in the Irish National. That was an intense race for just his fourth chase start though, so can be comfortably forgiven that effort.
He was a winner on yielding over hurdles, so quicker ground than soft is not anticipated to be a problem. Overall, his form stacks up to give him a decent chance of defying this British handicap mark, and progression from his novice season could be on the cards too.
2.55 Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
While the rules for the Pertemps Final have now changed to ensure winners of qualifiers are now guaranteed a run, a top four finish for those with high enough ratings is still likely to be good enough. It means that all of Botox Has, The Wallpark and Gowel Road can probably keep their powder dry here.
The biggest eyecatcher in the field who may need to win is IDEM for Lucinda Russell. Derek Fox will be at Kelso so Patrick Wadge comes in to claim a valuable a potentially 3lb off the six-year-old, who is three from seven over hurdles, and probably should have made it four wins last time out at Perth.
He stuttered over the final two obstacles to only finish second that day, but shaped like easily the best-treated horse in the race. The handicapper clearly spotted something too, putting him up 3lb, but the form is useful, with the third losing a four-win unbeaten streak in the race and the fourth winning comfortably over fences next time out. Further progression coupled with the need to win make him an enticing betting proposition.
4.05 Cheltenham – William Hill Most Top Prices Novices’ Chase
Having included him in my 10 to follow for the season, it would be remiss of me to ignore the chances of YEATS STAR, who won on his chase debut and can benefit from stepping further up in trip. Conceding 5lb to Theatre Man won’t be easy, as Richard Bandey’s horse will be winning races, but cheekpieces go on for him and this is his first run outside of handicap company.
The selection has not won on good ground before, but does not look going dependent, and seems simply to get better the further he travels. There is some strong handicap hurdle form in his book from last season and he made a neat start over fences last month.
Gordon Elliott has won this race with the last two runners he sent over, with that pair having recorded two of the three highest RPRs in the contest in the last decade. That suggests the yard think highly enough of the five-year-old to be their flagbearer this season, and this could springboard him on to a higher grade, or big staying handicaps.
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