After a busy week of Cheltenham Festival tipping, Daryl Carter brings five selections across Saturday’s meetings at Kempton and Uttoxeter. Check out his selections below, along with an excellent Bet £10 – Get £50 Sign-up bonus at bet365.
SEBASTOPOL (2.05 Kempton – 1.5pts win – 7/1)
SEBASTOPOL has been overlooked by the market here, likely on the basis that he is tough to win with and puled up last time. Still, his latest run, when pulled up at two-out, saw him travel strongly into a hot class 3 race that has worked out extremely well. The winner has gone in again, the runner-up was second in the Kim Muir, the fourth and sixth have both won since also, and that trip of 2m4f probably stretched him a bit.
The drop back to 2m for which he looked like an easy winner over Rockstar Ronnie – who is much shorter in today’s market after winning next time out – is a positive move by connections. He is now fitted with the first time visor, and when fitted with first time headgear, he has run second in a Grade 2 and second in a class 2 contest.
This is a drop into class 3 company today, and he has proven to handle this track well. This is by no means as deep as his latest run, and the best-handicapped horse in the race (Siroco Jo) needs to go left-handed (very dominant on his left lead, changing legs constantly at Wincanton). He looks a favourable price to finally get his head in front here.
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MARIO DE PAIL – (2.25 Uttoxeter – 1pt win – 15/2)
MARIO DE PAIL was let down by his jumping in deep ground at Chepstow on the downhill run for home, but he was much better than the bare result there, and the winner was not disgraced next time at Exeter, while the fourth has won next time out. He sits on a very fair mark in the context of this race on that evidence, and he is unexposed at this 3m trip. There’s more to come from him at this distance, and he could be the answer to a tricky puzzle.
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BRIEF TIMES – (2.40 Kempton – 1pt win – 8/1)
BRIEF TIMES gave the firm impression that there was more to come from him when staying on strongly after being outpaced at Wincanton last time, and this unexposed Novice could have more to come now stepping up in trip for the first time. His form has worked out well, and he was very raw and still green at Wincanton. He has plenty more to offer yet.
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CH’TIBELLO – (3.00 Uttoexter – 1pt win, 15/2)
CH’TIBELLO has an excellent opportunity to cash in on this falling mark and gain one last career victory now down into a class 2 hurdle which is effectively a 0-140 rather than the 0-150 advertised. He has been very tenderly handled in two starts this season and then was very unlucky to fall early on in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton.
This is not as competitive as that on paper, and this is a good prize of £25k, and the presence of Harry Skelton is a big positive to his chances. He was rated 147 at the turn of the year, and there is nothing to suggest he doesn’t retain his ability. Freedom To Dream would pose the biggest threat should he run, but he is entered at Cheltenham on Friday, and it’s not a positive for Beauport to come back in trip after improving for 3m last time.
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ESPOIR DE GUYE – (3.15 Kempton – 1pt win @ SP)
There is an air of class about ESPOIR DE GUYE, and he could prove to be better than a handicapper for this yard who improve horses dramatically throughout the season. He was very impressive on return after a 364-day break and a wind operation at Warwick, and there is a case to be made he is best when fresh.
Still, this is not a deep contest taking on mainly exposed rivals, and Diego Du Charmil – his biggest threat – may have his stamina stretched by this trip and is one to keep an eye on back at 2m. Most of Espoir De Guye’s best work has come on a softer surface, so I expect him to drift in the market, but I would have no worries on that front.
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DARYL CARTER’S BEST BETS
SEBASTOPOL (2.05 Kempton – 1.5pts win – 7/1)
MARIO DE PAIL – (2.25 Uttoxeter – 1pt win – 15/2)
BRIEF TIMES – (2.40 Kempton – 1pt win – 8/1)
CH’TIBELLO – (3.00 Uttoexter – 1pt win, 15/2)
ESPOIR DE GUYE – (3.15 Kempton – 1pt win @ SP)
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