Cheltenham 2018 - Tuesday
It is the best week in the racing calendar and the greatest show on turf this week and I couldn't leave for Barcelona without putting a few words on here before the festival gets underway.
The first advice I would give to anyone planning to have a flutter this week is to use and abuse all the bookmaker offers and concessions. These range from one or two extra places each way, to money back on losers, don't restrict yourself to using one bookmaker, use oddschecker to ensure you know what offers are available and that you are getting the best prices possible.
My punting for this week hasn't exactly got off to a flyer this week with a couple of ante-post slips already residing in the bin. One horse I will be keeping an eye out for, now most likely to run in the Martin Pipe on Thursday, is Spiritofthegames who looks well handicapped on his run in the Lanzarote and Dan Skelton is very good at targeting these handicaps. I won't be putting daily selections up with advised stakes as I am away for the week but I have some race write-ups for day one below.
13:30 - Supreme Novices Hurdle
This is another point where it is appropriate to point out the bookmaker offers available, with SkyBet and Coral offering money back on all losers as a free bet (up to £20/25). With that in mind, it looks worth using those offers to oppose current short priced favourite Getabird. Willie Mullins has an excellent record in this race but his runner here doesn't look much value, currently a shorter price than both Vautor and Douvan were for this and he would have to be an absolute superstar to prove as good as either of those.
One at a bigger price I like is Paloma Blue, who finished behind a potential superstar in Samcro on his latest start. He did well to finish as close as he did after pulling very hard early in the race, Davy Russel didn't give him a hard time in the closing stages and if he settles better today he could be a big player. Summerville Boy also looks interesting on his win over Kalashnikov in the Tolworth, the latter has since boosted the form by winning the Betfair Hurdle in testing conditions, which may have taken a fair bit out of him. The former has been kept fresh for this and looks a bit of value. At a massive price Dame Rose looks interesting for Richard Hobson and Jonathan Burke. She won a listed mare's hurdle at Newbury in decisive fashion back in December and the second, Cap Soleil, has boosted the form by winning a listed contest since. With a 7lb mares allowance she could be a live each-way player at big odds, with a win on heavy ground to her name also worthy of note given the conditions.
14:10 - Arkle Novices Chase
Footpad has been excellent over fences this season and has looked a natural chaser since his first run of the season and I'm not going to waste too many words here as I think he should prove very tough to beat. Petite Mouchoir is the obvious danger but he hasn't been as slick over his obstacles and that could be costly with the favourite being such a quick and efficient jumper.
14:50 - Ultima Handicap Chase
It doesn't take a genius to point out that Coo Star Sivola has solid claims in this following his demolition job at Exeter, but he is on the verge of looking a bit short for a handicap of this nature. At much more appealing odds Shantou Flyer looks worth a few quid. He has form figures of 1422 in his last four starts at Cheltenham and comes into this a pound lower than when second to Frodon back in January. He will relish the conditions and excellent conditional James Bowen has been booked for the ride which points to a big run from Richard Hobson's gelding. Singlefarmpayment always seems to save his best for Cheltenham so he can't be discounted but he would probably prefer a sounder surface. Another near the top of the market, Gold Present, looks to still be improving but to give weight to the field in these conditions could prove tough.
15:30 - Champion Hurdle
This is another race which doesn't look worth spending too much time on, it would be very surprising to see Buveur D'Air get beat in this. He is unbeaten since finishing third in the supreme two years ago and should retain his crown as Champion Hurdler with the minimum of fuss. I would love to see Faugheen bounce back to his best, if he did he would certainly serve it up to the favourite, but it would be some leap of faith to back him after his last two disappointing runs. My Tent Or Yours has a good record of placing round here and he could hit the frame again. Connections of Elgin coughed up the £20,000 required to supplement him and he could be an each-way play. He won the Greatwood over this course and distance at the beginning of the season and improved to win the grade two Kingswell Hurdle on his latest start, form which has been well advertised by Call Me Lord since.
16:10 - Mares Hurdle
Another shorty and Apples Jade looks to be the banker of the opening day, she looks different class to todays rivals and would've had claims in the Champion Hurdle such is the level she has run to this season. There was good word around for Kayf Grace before the Betfair Hurdle, she disappointed but she doesn't have many miles on the clock and it wouldn't be a shock to see her improve and grab a place in this. This may also be a race to take advantage of the 'without the favourite' market, because whoever you fancy it is tough to see the favourite getting beat.
16:50 - National Hunt Chase
This isn't a race which I have a big opinion on and I very much doubt I'll have a bet. However, Ms Parfois would be the most interesting of these, she's tackling this marathon trip for the first time, she has shaped as though it will suit and she gets the useful 7lb mares allowance as well as the services of talented Will Biddick.
17:30 - Close Brothers Novice's Handicap Chase
The BHA handicapping team have been very open about the difficulty they have had with assessing De Plotting Shed, he gets to race off a mark 7lb lower than his hurdles racing and is of obvious interest. Although, when connections were plotting this horse's route they would've been expecting to come here and race on better ground, it's possible the rain has dented his chances and with SkyBet paying six places it seems sensible to look for an each-way alternative. While Barney Dwan is not an obvious mudlark, he does have a win on heavy ground to his name and he looks on a workable mark based on his run in the Pertemps here last season and I would be disappointed to see him not hit the frame. At a bigger price, Ballyhill impressed here on New Years day on heavy ground, he would certainly be a player if bouncing back to that sort of form.
The first advice I would give to anyone planning to have a flutter this week is to use and abuse all the bookmaker offers and concessions. These range from one or two extra places each way, to money back on losers, don't restrict yourself to using one bookmaker, use oddschecker to ensure you know what offers are available and that you are getting the best prices possible.
My punting for this week hasn't exactly got off to a flyer this week with a couple of ante-post slips already residing in the bin. One horse I will be keeping an eye out for, now most likely to run in the Martin Pipe on Thursday, is Spiritofthegames who looks well handicapped on his run in the Lanzarote and Dan Skelton is very good at targeting these handicaps. I won't be putting daily selections up with advised stakes as I am away for the week but I have some race write-ups for day one below.
13:30 - Supreme Novices Hurdle
This is another point where it is appropriate to point out the bookmaker offers available, with SkyBet and Coral offering money back on all losers as a free bet (up to £20/25). With that in mind, it looks worth using those offers to oppose current short priced favourite Getabird. Willie Mullins has an excellent record in this race but his runner here doesn't look much value, currently a shorter price than both Vautor and Douvan were for this and he would have to be an absolute superstar to prove as good as either of those.
One at a bigger price I like is Paloma Blue, who finished behind a potential superstar in Samcro on his latest start. He did well to finish as close as he did after pulling very hard early in the race, Davy Russel didn't give him a hard time in the closing stages and if he settles better today he could be a big player. Summerville Boy also looks interesting on his win over Kalashnikov in the Tolworth, the latter has since boosted the form by winning the Betfair Hurdle in testing conditions, which may have taken a fair bit out of him. The former has been kept fresh for this and looks a bit of value. At a massive price Dame Rose looks interesting for Richard Hobson and Jonathan Burke. She won a listed mare's hurdle at Newbury in decisive fashion back in December and the second, Cap Soleil, has boosted the form by winning a listed contest since. With a 7lb mares allowance she could be a live each-way player at big odds, with a win on heavy ground to her name also worthy of note given the conditions.
14:10 - Arkle Novices Chase
Footpad has been excellent over fences this season and has looked a natural chaser since his first run of the season and I'm not going to waste too many words here as I think he should prove very tough to beat. Petite Mouchoir is the obvious danger but he hasn't been as slick over his obstacles and that could be costly with the favourite being such a quick and efficient jumper.
14:50 - Ultima Handicap Chase
It doesn't take a genius to point out that Coo Star Sivola has solid claims in this following his demolition job at Exeter, but he is on the verge of looking a bit short for a handicap of this nature. At much more appealing odds Shantou Flyer looks worth a few quid. He has form figures of 1422 in his last four starts at Cheltenham and comes into this a pound lower than when second to Frodon back in January. He will relish the conditions and excellent conditional James Bowen has been booked for the ride which points to a big run from Richard Hobson's gelding. Singlefarmpayment always seems to save his best for Cheltenham so he can't be discounted but he would probably prefer a sounder surface. Another near the top of the market, Gold Present, looks to still be improving but to give weight to the field in these conditions could prove tough.
15:30 - Champion Hurdle
This is another race which doesn't look worth spending too much time on, it would be very surprising to see Buveur D'Air get beat in this. He is unbeaten since finishing third in the supreme two years ago and should retain his crown as Champion Hurdler with the minimum of fuss. I would love to see Faugheen bounce back to his best, if he did he would certainly serve it up to the favourite, but it would be some leap of faith to back him after his last two disappointing runs. My Tent Or Yours has a good record of placing round here and he could hit the frame again. Connections of Elgin coughed up the £20,000 required to supplement him and he could be an each-way play. He won the Greatwood over this course and distance at the beginning of the season and improved to win the grade two Kingswell Hurdle on his latest start, form which has been well advertised by Call Me Lord since.
16:10 - Mares Hurdle
Another shorty and Apples Jade looks to be the banker of the opening day, she looks different class to todays rivals and would've had claims in the Champion Hurdle such is the level she has run to this season. There was good word around for Kayf Grace before the Betfair Hurdle, she disappointed but she doesn't have many miles on the clock and it wouldn't be a shock to see her improve and grab a place in this. This may also be a race to take advantage of the 'without the favourite' market, because whoever you fancy it is tough to see the favourite getting beat.
16:50 - National Hunt Chase
This isn't a race which I have a big opinion on and I very much doubt I'll have a bet. However, Ms Parfois would be the most interesting of these, she's tackling this marathon trip for the first time, she has shaped as though it will suit and she gets the useful 7lb mares allowance as well as the services of talented Will Biddick.
17:30 - Close Brothers Novice's Handicap Chase
The BHA handicapping team have been very open about the difficulty they have had with assessing De Plotting Shed, he gets to race off a mark 7lb lower than his hurdles racing and is of obvious interest. Although, when connections were plotting this horse's route they would've been expecting to come here and race on better ground, it's possible the rain has dented his chances and with SkyBet paying six places it seems sensible to look for an each-way alternative. While Barney Dwan is not an obvious mudlark, he does have a win on heavy ground to his name and he looks on a workable mark based on his run in the Pertemps here last season and I would be disappointed to see him not hit the frame. At a bigger price, Ballyhill impressed here on New Years day on heavy ground, he would certainly be a player if bouncing back to that sort of form.
Comments
Post a Comment