With the Cheltenham Festival now heading to the new course for the third day of the meeting, the handicaps begin to come in deeper supply and mixed in around some standout races on Thursday we have three of them to get stuck into.
The Pertemps Final is always a popular race to bet on as is the Kim Muir and they are both on the Thursday card. We’ve gone through all three handicaps and come out with selections for each of them.
2.10 Cheltenham
Preview
There’s a field of 23 for the Pertemps Final and this really is a lottery. David Pipe has the favourite in Thanksforyourhelp but he’s 11lb higher from his win last time out and at odds of 7/2, I cannot get involved. The same goes for Maxxum who is 25lbs higher than for his last win 2 starts ago and he’s another at an unbackable price. With the extra places on offer, I’m chancing a couple at longer odds.
Betting
The first of those is Moka De Vassy, whose yard is very keen on his chances. He’s a maiden after just 7 starts but he’s certainly improving. He’s run well here before, finishing 2nd to Pied Piper last year in the Triumph Trial and this season he’s steadily been coming to the boil. After getting pulled up behind Hermes Allen in the Challow, he finished 5th here in a Grade 2 novice hurdle before stepping up on handicap debut when 3rd behind Walking On Air in first time cheekpieces. He remains on the same mark, the headgear is retained and back on soft ground, he’s a nice price here.
Gordon Elliott has an excellent record in this race and I’m siding with the longest priced of his 4 in Level Neverending. He’s run some really good races in novice company, never finishing outside the first 4, and ran a nice race on his first try in handicap company when 3rd in a qualifier at Warwick from out of the weights. That was on heavy and he looks to be well suited by cut in the ground. Off 2lbs lower and with first time blinkers expected to bring about improvement, he’s vastly overpriced here and I can easily see him in the mix over the last.
Tips
Back Moka De Vassy (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 Coral BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back Level Neverending (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 26.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
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4.10 Cheltenham
Preview
A maximum field of 24 for the Plate and, as always, it’s a super competitive heat. The market has this as a Mullins 1-2 with Emmet Mullins saddling the favourite in So Scottish and Willie Mullins’ Haut En Couleurs next best in the market. Midnight River could go well for the Skelton’s whilst Frero Banbou could go well but I’m slightly put up by his style of running, given I think prominent types are best suited in this race.
Betting
This leads me to Il Ridoto from the Nicholls yard. At the Festival last year, he was held up in the Grand Annual so an 8th place finish was actually better than it appeared at first and this term, he’s improved for more positive tactics. He was 4th in the big chase here on New Year’s Day and improved again when winning over course and distance at the end of January. That day, he jumped well and looked to appreciate the application of first time cheekpieces. He’s gone up in the weights but everything is in his favour here, not least course form, run style and the likely soft ground. It’s hard to see him finishing out of the money.
Tips
Back Il Ridoto (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 9.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
5.30 Cheltenham
Preview
The Kim Muir over the Gold Cup trip for amateur riders looks another competitive handicap with yet another big field of 24. Mr Incredible is the top weight for Patrick Mullins and he should go well but he’s not the favourite; that honour goes to Stumptown who has won his last two for Gavin Cromwell. Dunboyne ran a cracker in the Thyestes and cannot be dismissed but I’m hoping for a win for this side of the pond in the last.
Betting
Beauport is the one I’m on and this inexperienced chaser looks to be firmly on the up. He was a pretty decent hurdler with form in handicaps of 1-2-2-2-1-4 and he’s continued in a similar vein since switching to fences. He won on debut at Carlisle and 25 lengths back in 5th that day was dual Ultima winner, Corach Rambler. He was then 2nd in a novice chase at Haydock, giving 8lbs to the 145-rated winner Ballygrifincottage. Last time out, he ran well and was a little disappointing after making a mistake at a crucial stage but that race has worked out well with the winner, The Real Whacker running out a good winner of the Brown Advisory on Wednesday. Career form on soft or heavy reads 3-1-3-1-2-2-1-1-2-4 so provided he jumps well, he looks the most likely winner to round off Day 3.
Tips
Back Beauport (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 11.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
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