Hi all,
It’s been a quiet week on the selections front. However, the weekend starts here. Inside today’s piece you’ll find my penultimate “Path To Cheltenham” ante post selection. Plus, there’s my first selections for March from Ludlow and Taunton.
Path To Cheltenham
It’s difficult to have a very strong opinion on the Cheltenham handicaps given so many horses have multiple entries. I put up Mr Fred Rogers up ante post for the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle but he recently lost his life.
The Martin Pipe as a race I like and its one I normally have two or three darts at. Well, I think I might have found another for the race and it’s another Gordon Elliott trained runner.
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
Last season’s runner-up Langer Dan had a quiet run round Taunton on his seasonal reappearance last week. The handicapper rather surprisingly dropped him 3lb for that effort. Which meant not unsurprisingly that bookies cut him to around 5/1 for the race.
On the face of it looks a bit of a gift for the Dan Skelton trained 6-year-old. Who was runner-up to Galopin Des Champs in the race 12 months ago.
The Goffer has been given a rating of 140 by the British Handicapper which is 6lb more than his Irish mark. The 5-year-old made it 2-5 over hurdles when winning a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Thurles last month. It’s a race that Elliott won with Blow By Blow in 2018 before that horse went on to win the Martin Pipe. Going the right way an showed a likable attitude to hold off several challenger’s last time. He will stay further than 2m 4 ½ f which is no bad thing in a race like the Martin Pipe and has the scope to make up into a high-class staying chaser next season.
Having come up against Galopin Des Champs last year maybe Langer Dan is going to face another potentially well treated handicap debutant in The Goffer. As low as 10/1 with Bet Victor. He’s a standout 16/1 with Bet365 which looks good value to this particular pundit.
Martin Pipe Selection: 1pt each way – The Goffer – 16/1 @ Bet365 (NRNB).
Thursday Racing
Racing is back in Ireland today with a seven-race card at Clonmel. At Ludlow the feature race is the Forbra Gold Cup (3.00). There’s more jumps action at Taunton. Plus, all-weather fixtures at Southwell and Newcastle.
Here’s a quick preview of Ludlow’s Forbra Gold Cup.
Ludlow
3:00 – Just five have been declared for the Ludlow feature. Nonetheless its an intriguing 3m handicap chase and you make a case for all five runners.
Head To The Stars bid a race hat trick and made it 3-6 over C&D when winning here two starts back. The 11-year-old found Warwick’s Classic Chase too hot last time and will appreciate the return to Class 3 company.
No Getaway made most to win at Sandown (2m 4f) 12 months ago. He’s on a winning looking mark but stamina for 3m is a concern.
Java Point saw of six rivals here over 2m 4f in January. Before a respectable performance when a 15-length 3rd of 8 to Imperial Alcazar at Cheltenham last time. Looks worth a try at 3m.
Golden Whiskey took his Ludlow form figures to 21 when winning winner here last January. The 6-year-old added to his win tally at Chepstow over Christmas before disappointing in a better race at Ascot last time.
The Alan King yard is struggling for winners and he saddles Canelo here. Unlike three of his rivals there are no stamina concerns with the 9-year-old. He’s also down to handy mark when he revives. However, the 2020 Rowland Meyrick winner has been out of form for over 12 months now.
Verdict: With doubts over stamina for the likes of No Getaway and Golden Whiskey. Yard form for Java Point and well-being Canelo. The solid choice looks to be Head To The Stars.
1pt win – Head To The Stars – 7/2 @ Bet365
Taunton
3:38 – The betting is headed by Larkbarrow Lad who comes into good form having placed on his last two starts, including a 3-length 3rd of 9 over C&D 9-days ago. However, he’s 0-11 over fences and last time he looked like he was coming to win his race two out but just didn’t seem to want to go past the two who finished in front of him. Yep, he’s got the ability to win this but he’s not one to rely on.
I prefer the claims of the Jeremy Scott Wavering Down. The 7-year-old, a useful enough handicap hurdler, can be forgiven his recent chase debut at Exeter. He was badly hampered by a faller at the second and could never be competitive afterwards. Up to 2m 7f should suit and the first time cheekpieces are applied today. He’s got the scope to win races over fences and looks worth play here for a yard 5-16 31% in the past 14-days.
1pt win – Wavering Down – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John