It’s day two of Cheltenham’s April Meeting on Thursday afternoon and our man Steve Chambers is here with his best bets for each race at National Hunt HQ. Check out his through-the-card selections for the action at Cheltenham, which is their penultimate fixture of the season.
1.30 Cheltenham – KTDA Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
It’s the youngsters that kick off the afternoon and all eyes will be on the Willie Mullins-trained Karia Des Blaises, who is looking to defy top weight and duly hand his Closutton handler victory in the opening race, as he looks to land another blow on the UK Trainers’ Championship. However, there could be value elsewhere and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained DAMEOFTHECOTSWOLDS could be an each-way play. A bumper winner, she’s failed to get her head in front over hurdles yet, but a mark of 100 on handicap debut could be attractive as she’s shown some talent over timber and can continue her improvement here.
2.05 Cheltenham – Sporting Agenda Challenger Series Mares’ Chase Final Handicap Chase
Anthony Honeyball’s JUNIPER has been in flying form of late notching back-to-back victories at Taunton and Wincanton and the ten-year-old will attempt to make it a hat-trick of wins in the 2.05 at Cheltenham on Thursday. Handed another 7lbs rise by the handicapper for a recent 17-length romp, it’s hard to avoid Juniper in this hugely competitive contest despite the hike up to a mark of 125 and she can duly make it three wins on the spin.
2.40 Cheltenham – Catesby Estates Mares’ Challenger Series Final Handicap Hurdle
One of the toughest punting puzzles on Thursday, the 2.40 will see a whole plethora of runners lining up fancying their chances with the likes of Cottie and Pretending sure to prove popular. However, it’s the Ben Clarke-trained ENDLESS ESCAPE who looks the one to side with, as she lines up on the back of two second placed finishes at Chepstow and Exeter. Having not taken to fences, she relished the return to hurdles with those two recent runner-up finishes and dropped 1lb to a mark of 119 she is a leading player.
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 Cheltenham – British EBF Mares’ Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase Final
Harry Fry’s LADY ADARE was a winner at Worcester three starts ago and then ran an absolute stormer to finish second to Knappers Hill in the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton. Pulled up next time out less than two weeks after that run, Fry’s charge hasn’t been seen since, but if she can replicate that Wincanton run then she should very tough to beat. She will have to give at least 12lbs to the rest of the field in this handicap contest, but she could just prove too classy for her rivals.
3.50 Cheltenham – Changing Young Lives At Jamie’s Farm Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
A spectacular winner of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month, Jeremy Scott’s GOLDEN ACE will return to the scene of her iconic success and she should cruise to victory in the Listed event at 3.50. The form has been franked with Brighterdaysahead storming to Graded success at Aintree last week and Golden Ace looks a real top notch mare for the Scott yard and if she can run anything like she did at the festival in March then she will win this on the bridle.
4.25 Cheltenham – NAF Mares’ Handicap Chase
Pulled up at Kempton on her most recent start, Martin Keighley’s FOUND ON may have needed the run that day after four months off and she can bounce back to winning ways in the penultimate race on the card. She has winning form over hurdles at Cheltenham and prior to that Kempton run had won and finished second at Market Rasen. She drops back in trip for this contest and having showed she can deliver the goods at this time of year then she can return to winning ways.
5.00 Cheltenham – Join Racing TV Now Mares’ Open NH Flat Race
It’s been a topsy turvy few weeks for Ben Pauling, but he can enter the iconic Cheltenham winner’s enclosure on Thursday in the Mares’ bumper at 5.00 with I’VE MADEUPMYMIND. She has shown significant promise on her two starts under Rules, which included a fourth place finish in a Listed Sandown race last time out, and she can continue on an upward curve and take the finale. She could be one that steps up in trip in the future, but she can storm up the hill here to grab her first career win.
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