It is the third day of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday which means that for the first time this week we will see all of the action coming from the New Course on a competitive looking day of action in Gloucestershire.
It is a day where the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle are the features but not for the first time this week we think the better bets come in the supporting races. Looking through the card we’ve picked out six across the day.
1.20 Cheltenham: Mares Novice Hurdle
A Grade 2 novice hurdle over the extended 2 miles has attracted a massive field of 24 but it’s fair to see there’s probably only 6 or 7 realistically in with a chance of winning. One of those is my selection is the shape of Jubilee Alpha. A Grade 2 runner up last year in the Nickel Coin bumper, he’s made a nice start to his hurdling career. He’d yet to be asked a question when walking through the 2nd last in a Newbury listed race & he made a bit of a hash of the last too but still ran on to be just over a length back in 3rd. He then improved to win in another listed race, this time at Taunton, where he travelled well, jumped well & won comfortably by an eased down 3 lengths. Another win followed at Windsor in the big Winter Millions meeting & whilst he was made to work a bit harder, he still did it impressively. He’s going up in grade but not by much & he’s already beaten a few of today’s rivals. Some of his major rivals are less exposed but experience counts for a lot here & I think he’s good enough to be bang there over the last.
Tips
Back Jubilee Alpha (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.50 Paddy Power (⅕ odds 1-5)
2.00 Cheltenham: Golden Miller Novice Handicap Chase
A novice handicap chase over two & a half miles awaits, with a field of 20, and jumping quickly & efficiently will be key. This may feel counterintuitive given the one I’m siding with fell on chase debut but in the main, Pic Roc is a good jumper & is the one I like in this. He definitely has a touch of seconditis as he’s found one too good 6 times in just 11 races under rules, as opposed to just one win. However, he has plenty going for him. I’m certain he’ll improve for the bigger field, noting his best 2 runs over hurdles came in the biggest fields he’s faced. He was twice 2nd of 17 in big handicaps & that form marked him down as one to follow. After falling on chase debut, he’s since twice been runner up, the first time when travelling best but not finding on very soft ground to go down by a head & then upsides over the last over a trip almost half a mile further than he faces today on similarly deep ground. Better ground should suit as should the trip & he’s taken to turn the tables on Lord Of Thunder on today’s 3lb better terms.
Tips
Back Pic Roc (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-5)
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2.40 Cheltenham: Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
It’s time to get out the lucky pin & this time it landed on 2 British runners at big each way prices. The first of those is Zain Nights who comes here off the back at a good 4th in a qualifier at Huntingdon on ground too soft for him, & he gets in here off the same mark. The key to him is the ground & his recent form can be somewhat ignored because of the winter ground he’s been running on. That has absolutely protected his mark & I’d much prefer to judge him on 2 runs here over the last 12 months. He won a handicap hurdle here last April on good ground (before following up at Haydock) & then, on reappearance this season, he ran a fine race to finish 3rd behind Wallpark, current 2nd favourite for the Stayers, & Gowel Road, who is another taking his chance in that Grade 1. Based on that, he’s arguably thrown in here.
That Huntingdon race plays a big part in my thinking here as I also loves the chances of Super Survivor, the winner that day. He travelled supremely well & won with quite a bit in hand. A 6lb rise looks manageable, if not a little lenient, & this progressive type who has now won his last 2 may well improve again. 5 wins & 4 seconds from 13 career starts is impressive &, with all ground seemingly coming the same to him, he must have a great each way shout at a huge price. 3 starts this term have yielded 2 wins & a 3rd (on heavy ground on reappearance) & he’s improved run to run. With his yard in absolutely sparkling form, I cannot leave him out of the equation here.
Tips
Back Zain Nights (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 23.00 Betfair (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back Super Survivor (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-6)
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4.40 Cheltenham: Plate Handicap Chase
Jagwar looks the one to beat here but, having drifted to a bigger price than I was expecting, I’m hoping Gemirande comes back to form at a track he has form on. This 9 year old has a good record over fences, finishing 5th at last year’s festival & then winning his first 2 starts this year, one in a Class 2 handicap at Ascot before landing a big Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham’s December meeting. Those starts were on better no worse than good to soft so a return to that will suit as his 2 runs since then, on soft ground, appear below par. The first of those is hard to explain but the second one can be put down to a shuddering error 3 out when making eyecatching headway from the back of the field. Those 2 runs have seen an easing of mark & I can see him running a massive race, with the only real worry being the form of the yard. At the price, it’s worth chancing that this yard, who excels in these types of races, has the selection spot on.
Tips
Back Gemirande (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 Boylesports (⅕ odds 1-5)
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5.20 Cheltenham: Kim Muir Handicap Chase
They say you should never go back but, after finishing 2nd last year, I cannot resist getting involved with Git Maker again in this chase for amateur riders. He only lost out to Inothewayurthinkin & that horse is now just 13/2 for tomorrow’s Gold Cup so the form certainly holds up. The selection is just 1lb higher here so the only real question mark is whether he may need a bit more juice in the ground. He followed up with a 3rd in the Scottish Grand National off today’s mark, proving his run here wasn’t a one off. He’s not been as good in 2 runs this term but I’m sure he’s been aimed at this race again &, from a yard that could not be in better form & with one of the top amateurs again booked to ride, he’s got a great chance of going one better 12 months on.
Tips
Back Git Maker (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 888sport (⅕ odds 1-5)
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