Though the flat season is now well underway, Cheltenham hosts its final meeting of the jumps season on Wednesday. With some highly competitive handicaps on the schedule, Joe Napier has provided his selections for every race for you to follow on the day.
1.30 – Citipost Novices’ Hurdle
This is a superb opener to Cheltenham’s card, with a number of potential winners for the future in here. Though Peaky Boy could be anything for Nicky Henderson’s rejuvenated yard, preference would be for ENCANTO BRUNO back from a break. He has disappointed the last twice, but those were both on soft or heavy ground and there is enough evidence in his record that he goes better fresh too. He positively bolted up here over this trip on good ground back in October, conditions which he is set to receive again on Wednesday.
2.05 – Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle
Having avoided a Henderson runner in the first, it may pay to chance PENTLAND HILLS in the second. There are plenty of runners here of interest, with stablemate Spring Note on a hat-trick and Sea Invasion, who ran Slade Steel close in a point, well-fancied. However, neither are guaranteed to back that up at this track on good ground, and Pentland Hills’ disappointment at Kelso most recently came right in the midst of the yard’s heavy slump. His second at Doncaster in December has been franked though and this race should suit him ideally.
2.40 – Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase
In Excelsis Deo ran an extraordinary race at the Festival, rallying from a mile behind to be beaten under five lengths into fifth in Thursday’s Plate handicap. However, on quicker ground over the same trip, he is no guarantee to behave better here and the field is pretty strong. SAIL AWAY looks a good bet to defeat the favourite given recent efforts. Two defeats under ten lengths at Doncaster over 3m suggested a drop back in trip might suit and he competed admirably in Grade 1 company at Ascot. A mark of 142 is very defiable if taking to the track.
Scottish Grand National Runners – Mullins in for Six as 26 Declared
26 horses have been declared for Ayr’s feature jumps race of the season, the Scottish Grand National. Run exactly a week on from the Aintree spectacular, the race has been bolstered this year by the challenge of Willie Mullins for the British jumps trainers’ title. Having won his second Grand National in Liverpool on Saturday,…
Thu 18 Apr 20243.15 – Gloucester Brewery Holman Handicap Chase
Two jockey bookings catch the eye in this staying handicap. Harry Cobden takes over on Haston Clermont, who will be seeking a fourth win in five starts, but Danny Mullins’ presence on MIDNIGHT OUR FRED could be significant. He took the mount when the seven-year-old was second here in December, but he will be his only ride of the day on Wednesday when travelling over from Ireland, which would suggest there is confidence in him improving for the extra couple of furlongs here. He has gone up 5lb for his last two runner-up efforts at this venue, so the time for winning is now and should be capable of it.
3.50 – Safran Landing Systems Handicap Hurdle
Another seriously competitive handicap, but MOON D’ORANGE’s victory on his first start for Fergal O’Brien has worked out exceptionally well, with the runner-up winning off 2lb higher since. The six-year-old has only gone up 3lb for that win and was third in a Grade 2 here in December. He has a win on good ground to his name in the past too, so there are plenty of positives to his name.
4.25 – Weatherite Air Conditioning Handicap Chase
It might be worth taking a chance on Gary Moore’s FULL BACK, who returned after well over a year off earlier this season and whose mark is now extremely generous if ready to give his best again. He showed some promise at Haydock in the Grand National Trial, and while he faded badly late on, conditions should suit him better here. He has often needed one or two runs before showing his best in the past and is now 5lb lower than when winning over course and distance in January 2022.
5.00 – Cheltenham Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle
He is dangerously close to proving unreliable, but OUR CHAMP has now flown in on his last two handicap hurdle starts on good ground, which he will also meet here. One of those came over half a furlong shorter on the Old Course (this is run on the New) but there should be no issue for him in terms of transferring his form across, and he never ran too badly on softer surfaces in the middle of those two wins. As a six-year-old, there is likely still progression to come.
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