The Cheltenham Festival 2023 gets underway at Cleeve Hill on Tuesday with a year of anticipation coming to the boil as we get to see champion horses taking each other on over seven mouth-watering races.
Two of those races are handicaps and very competitive ones at that. They form the third and sixth races on the opening day card and we have had a deep look through both of them and come up with a couple against the field in each.
2.50 Cheltenham
Preview
The first big handicap of the meeting is the ultra competitive 23 runner Ultima, a chase run over 3 miles 1 furlong. Last year’s winner, Corach Rambler is the current favourite and should go well but is 6lbs higher this year. He’ll surely run his race but is he handicapped well enough to win such a competitive heat? Into Overdrive has won 5 of his last 6 over fences but might just prefer slightly quicker ground whilst Fastorslow is dangerous and bidding for compensation after being edged out in the Coral Cup 12 months ago. Monbeg Genius is running well and bids for a 4-timer but again has seen his handicap mark rise whilst there are plenty of others that could run into the money with the extra places on offer.
Betting
I’m taking 2 against the field, the first being Nassalam. Lightly raced over fences with just 8 starts and 3 wins to his form, he’s taking a big step up in distance having been campaigned at 2 miles 4 furlongs or less. That said, he looks like he’ll relish this extra distance and if he does, he’s certain to be involved in the finish. He won his last handicap off this mark so appears well handicapped and has form at the track having finished 3rd of 16 in the Premier Handicap Chase here on New Year’s Day. That day, he kept on well and a step up in trip was almost guaranteed after that. There’s more in the tank and he’s a knocking each way bet.
The second selection is one who has excellent form at the Festival in Oscar Elite. He was 2nd at 40/1 in the Albert Bartlett in 2021 and last year finished 3rd in this year off just 1lb lower. He’s not exactly been in the greatest form this year but did improve significantly to win last time out in the Reynoldstown at Ascot, and I’m sure his campaign has been geared around going 2 better than last year. His win record over fences is just 1 from 9 but now he’s off the mark, I see him adding to it very soon. Preserving a handicap mark is always something to consider for the big handicaps here and he looks the typical plot horse so, with extra places available, I cannot leave him out.
Tips
Back Nassalam (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 Boylesports BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back it here:
Back Oscar Elite (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (⅕ odds 1-7)
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4.50 Cheltenham
Preview
As far as handicaps go, it doesn’t get much easier with a maximum field of 22 for the Boodles handicap hurdle over 2 miles. Interestingly, the Naas novice hurdle run in February has produced 3 of the last 4 winners of this and that race brings strong form to this. Byker was 3rd in that race and is currently vying for favouritism here whilst 4th, Jazzy Matty, and 5th, Metamorpheus, are also in contention. However, I’m again siding with 2 and they are the ones that filled the 1-2 in that race.
Betting
The winner at Naas was Sir Allen and he has some good form over hurdles. After finishing 2nd in a big field maiden hurdle on debut, he then went on to land his next 2, the first another big field maiden hurdle and then that race at Naas. Each of three hurdles runs to date have had a 7lb claimer on board but today, Danny Mullins takes the ride and he’s a master in timing his challenge in these big field handicaps. He stayed on well that day and I think the uphill finish will suit. The ground holds no challenges so he’s a solid each way shot here.
Second at Naas was Morning Soldier and I’m surprised to see him at such a big price today. He has twice finished behind the winner but he looks to be improving and likes this big field scenario. His opening handicap mark is workable and provided he doesn’t make his challenge too early, I feel he’ll be bang in contention at the business end. He doesn’t have much to find with the winner, is triple the price and is better off at the weights. He also sports a first time tongue tie and if that ekes out a bit of improvement, he could run a huge race.
Tips
Back Sir Allen (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 12.00 Boylesports BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back it here:
Back Morning Soldier (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
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