Friday 19 March
IRELAND'S EYE
It is our last change to make a telling profit at Cheltenham and whilst the Gold Cup may not prove the ideal medium to show profit we do have some interesting bigger priced selections on another day which looks tough for punters. Willie Mullins bottom weight in the County Hurdle ‘catches the eye’ at generous odds while we will take on an impressive ex pointer in the Albert Bartlett hurdle with an unbeaten pointer/hurdler from the in form Pipe yard.
It was a case of so near but yet so far when our nap Sunnyhillboy (8-6/1) failed to jump well enough till staying on to take a close second in the 2m 5f hc chase yesterday. Nevertheless on a slightly disappointing day we did register two winners with Albertas Run (14/1) taking the Ryanair under the champ Tony McCoy while another saver Big Bucks (evens-5/6) won the featured World Hurdle in great style. In addition China Rock (10-9/1), The Midnight Club (16/1), Poquelin (3-11/4) and Ma Yahab (20-14/1) all filled the frame.
1-30 TRIUMPH HURDLE – 2m
A race which has not been kind to the Irish and but Edward O’Gradys Alaivan and Gordon Elliotts Carlito Brigante hold strong claims in this years renewal. The former should prove the best of the pair as he was useful for John Oxx on the flat but the vote goes to an unexposed ex French gelding in the Henderson trained SOLDATINO on just his second start in Britain but the grey can account for the Charlie Egerton trained Westlin’ Winds and Alaivan and give Barry Geraghty his third winner of the week.
2-05 COUNTY HURDLE – 2m 1f
Traditionally one of the toughest handicaps of the week but surprisingly it has provided a decent strike rate for favourites in recent years. Our cash will be on the apparent Willie Mullins ‘second string’ TARKARI off bottom weight as the 5yo three time hurdle victor should be favoured by better ground off bottom weight the David Casey ridden 5yo can beat another bottom weight in the Donald McCain handled Inventor while last Saturdays Imperial Cup runner up Oldrik is another who can go close for his in form yard.
2-40 ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICE hurdle 3m
Tell Massini has proved a ‘bargain buy’ for the Tom George yard as the ex point winner has landed three hurdles in the style of a top class prospect, including twice over the course (distance once) but is with reluctance that we pass over the Dr Massini gelding here in what looks a very strong renewal. Former Louis Archdeacon trained point winner CHARTREUX is the sporting choice here to follow up his bumper and hurdle win for the in form Pipe Yard with the step up in distance and better ground looking likely to suit the son of Colonel Collins. The tough course winner Restless Harry in addition to the useful mare Silver Kate are others for the shortlist in a wide open contest.
3-20 GOLD CUP – 3m 2f 110yds
We have had the audacity to take on KAUTO STAR in the past and the inclination is to do the same this afternoon in the Festival feature but it is impossible to quibble with the hat trick seeking Gold Cup candidate following his demolition job on the opposition in the King George. With everything in his favour he looks the most likely winner given the doubts about Denman on the ground but the best value could lie with another stable mate of the favourites, namely the progressive Tricky Trickster who could prove the best value to spring a surprise with the trip likely to bring out the best in the 7yo. Cooldine must strongly enter calculations but an easing in the ground would have proved a benefit to the Willie Mullins hope.
4-00 CHRISTIE’S FOXHUNTER chase – 3m 2f 110yds
The Waley-Cohen favourite Roulez Chouz clearly has the winning of this on his chase form but he may have to give best to last years third BABY RUN who looked to have improved in the interim and the Twiston Tavies trained 10yo has since ‘bagged’ a top hunter event at Punchestown and returned with a fine win at Warwick. Though the stable have not exactly been firing in the winners of late he should give the trainers son Sam a day to remember here where his main dangers could prove to be the progressive Gentle George under Richard Burton and the veteran Cowboyboots.
4-40 MARTIN PIPE hc hurdle – 2m 4 1/2f
Philip Hobbs has had a fine week so far with two winners on the board and he can have further reasons to celebrate here as his CLOVA ISLAND can overcome a 10lb penalty for his recent Kempton win over 2m 5f with better ground likely to prove a positive and the 3lb claim of Giles Hawkins should also prove beneficial. In another fiercely competitive handicap Lord Generous and Born Again look the best alternative bets for the respective Henderson and O’Neill yards.
5-15 GRAND ANNUAL hc chase – 2m 110yds
The finale could provide the Tizzard yard with their second winner of the week as their charge OISEAU DE NUIT looks to have decent prospects of landing his sixth chase victory. Winner here over course and distance off a considerably lower mark the 8yo could still be open to further progress and he may just have the edge on the hat trick seeking Green Belt Elite on their running at Wincanton in December on soft. There was little between the pair on that occasion and it could be same scenario here but the tougher circuit could suit the selection and he can account for Green Belt Elite and bottom weight Nikola here.
ADVICE
BET 3pt win SOLDATINO 1-30 Cheltenham
BET 2pt wi (savers) WESTLIN’ WINDS and ALAIVAN 1-30 Cheltenham
BET 3pt win TARKARI 2-05 Cheltenham
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) INVENTOR and OLDRIK 2-05 Cheltenham
BET 4pt win/1pt place (nap) CHARTREUX 2-40 Cheltenham
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) RESTLESS HARRY and SILVER KATE 2-40 Cheltenham
BET 4pt win KAUTO STAR 3-20 Cheltenham
BET 2pt win/1pt place TRICKY TRICKSTER 3-20 Cheltenham
BET 4pt win BABY RUN 4-00 Cheltenham
BET 2ptwin/1pt win (savers) GENTLE GEORGE and COWBOYBOOTS 4-00 Cheltenham
BET 4pt win CLOVA ISLAND 4-40 Cheltenham
BET 1pt win (savers) LORD GENEROUS and BORN AGAIN 4-40 Cheltenham
BET 4pt win OISEAU DE NUIT 5-15 Cheltenham
BET 2pt win/1pt win (savers) GREEN BELT ELITE and NIKOLA 5-15 Cheltenham
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