Hi all,
Our first disappointing day for a while on Friday. Let’s hope it’s not trend for the weekend. I can now see why I couldn’t find much in the way of ante post value earlier this week. Plenty of racing today but I can’t find many solid betting opportunities at the right prices.
Cheltenham
1:20 – Cheltenham Club Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m ½ f
It might be worth chancing the 12-year-old Croco Bay here. The veteran returned 227-day layoff to win the Grand Annual Chase over C&D the Festival in March, off 4lb lower before going on to finish 3rd of 12 at the Punchestown Festival. Returns from a 226-day break and can go well.
1pt win – Croco Bay -13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1:55 – Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – 2m 4 ½ f
The big betting race of the weekend which has attracted a field of 14 runners.
Cepage was runner-up to Frodon in the race 12 months ago. The 7-year-old returned to action with a good effort when runner-up to Riders On the Storm at Aintree 35-days ago. He will be contender even though he will be 12lb higher than 12 months ago.
Seven of the last ten winners of the race contested last month’s BetVictor Gold Cup. The second Brelan D’As and third Warthog both take their chances today and slight preference is for the former who was only beaten a neck by winner Happy Diva.
Brelan D’As trainer Paul Nicholls also saddles Secret Investor, a Grade 2 novice chase winner last season. Secret Investor should be spot on fitness wise after finishing runner-up in a Grade 2 at Down Royal 43-days ago Looks capable of better in handicap company for the first time. Slight negative for his chance would be his lack of Cheltenham form no horse has won this in the last ten years who hasn’t had a run at the track.
Verdict: It’s Brelan D’As and Cepage for me albeit not the most imaginative of selections.
1pt win – Brelan D’As -6/1 @ Coral & Labrokes
1pt win – Cepage – 13/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill
3:05 – Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2) -2m 1f
Monsieur Lecoq has each way claims in this. The 5-year-old takes a bit of a step up in class today but he’s an improving handicap hurdler. A winner of the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on his seasonal return he bettered that form when a 3rd of 14 here in last months Greatwood Hurdle. Has 10lb to find with top weight on official ratings but goes well at the track is suited by soft ground.
0.5pts each way – Monsieur Lecoq – 14/1 @ Coral & Paddy Power
3:40 – Park Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 2m 4 ½ f
This mares handicap hurdle looks a competitive race to close the meeting with sixteen set to head to post.
Dame De Compagnie should be all the better for her 5th placed effort in the Greatwood Hurdle at the last meeting. The return to today’s distance should suit the 6-year-old who races off the same mark as last time.
Mega Yeats is 2 wins from 4 runs over hurdles. The 5-year-old should be all the better for her recent seasonal reappearance at Haydock last month. Now 3lb lower and capable of better. Two others with each way claims are:
Lust For Glory made an encouraging seasonal return when an eyecatching 2nd of 9 at Ascot 34-days ago. Step up to 2m 4½ f for the first time so stamina to prove but looks interesting on her handicap hurdle debut.
Verdict: It’s hard to look beyond the favourite Dame De Compagnie but from a price perspective both his stablemate Lust For Glory and northern raider Mega Yeats appeal.
1pt win – Lust For Glory – 8/1 @ William Hill
1pt win – Mega Yeats – 11/1 @ Paddy Power
You can tell what sort of day it is as my final selection runs this evening at Wolverhampton.
Wolverhampton
6:50 – A 6f class 2 handicap. Merhoob won a Class 2 C&D handicap in February off 3lb lower but has bettered that run on couple of occasions off higher than today’s mark of 97, including over C&D in March. The 7-year-old’s form after a Chester win in May hasn’t been great but he shaped like he could be about to hit form when 3rd of 9 at Chelmsford over 7f 16-days ago. Drop back to 6f suits and he ticks the all-important boxes marked course, distance and class.
1pt win – Merhoob -9/1 @ Paddy Power or 8/1 – Gen
Cheers
John