Cheltenham 2023 is finally with us and each day of the Festival Tote are guaranteeing a whopping £1 Million in the Placepot. Editor Rob Plumbridge gives you his selections and guide on how to play Friday’s bumper ‘Pot!
Thursday’s Placepot paid a huge dividend of £14K to a £1 stake!
Also, for this year’s Festival Tote are giving away £40 in Free Bets to new customers who stake just £10! Claim this superb offer below:
Leg 1: (4) Blood Destiny
Blood Destiny is a gelding of real quality and is narrowly preferred to the long time antepost favourite for the Triumph hurdle, and stablemate, Lossiemouth.
He showed plenty of promise on debut in France, before transferring to Ireland where he’s won 2 starts by a combined 23 lengths. They were both in very soft conditions, so the rain this week will have been very welcome. He’s a confident pick to make the frame.
Leg 2: (1) Sharjah (21) Pembroke (5) First Street
Sharjah is the class in this field having won at the top level, and recording two 2nd places in a Champion Hurdle. He has to carry top weight but is more than capable of shouldering that, and should go well against lesser horses.
Dan Skelton had a winner here on Wednesday and can do so again with Pembroke whose 2nd in a Grade 2 here last time reads well. He was staying on that day but couldn’t quite get there.
First Street also goes in. He was 2nd in the race last season, and that was to the now Grade 1 winner and Champion Hurdle 2nd State Man. He can give a good account of himself.
Leg 3: (19) Three Card Brag (5) Embassy Gardens
Three Card Brag looks to be crying out for this longer trip, and he’s certainly bred for even further. A bit of a gallop here is going to play right into his hands and he should be staying on late into the placings.
Embassy Gardens could be anything having hacked up by 35 lengths last time. it’s hard to know what to make of that form but he’s under the right stewardship and he’s unexposed.
Leg 4 (6) Galopin Des Champs (9) Noble Yeats
The big one. Have to recommend Galopin Des Champs who has done everything right after last year’s final fence fall here. He somewhat proved his stamina last time out, and ran hard through the line so the trip should be fine. He’s the class act in this.
Noble Yeats should be thereabouts given his stamina for this trip and beyond. He’s an ideal type for this if it becomes a slog and will be staying on at the end under Sean Bowen.
Leg 5 (1) Billaway (23) Vaucelet
Tricky affair and not a race I particularly enjoy from a betting perspective. However, Billaway is a proper stayer and showed as much to come from the gods last time and win.
I will also add the favourite Vaucelet who is thriving right now and looks to be the one potential star in the line up.
Leg 6: (3) Impervious
I’m going to take on the favourite here with Impervious on the basis that she is the safer option with Allegorie De Vassy’s tendancy to jump right. The selection is 3/3 over fences and has form on deep ground so looks a safe option.
Recommended Bet
Leg 1: (4) Blood Destiny
Leg 2: (1) Sharjah (21) Pembroke (5) First Street
Leg 3: (19) Three Card Brag (5) Embassy Gardens
Leg 4 (6) Galopin Des Champs (9) Noble Yeats
Leg 5 (1) Billaway (23) Vaucelet
Leg 6: (3) Impervious
1 x 3 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 1 = 24 Lines @ £1 a line
Total Stake £24