Friday International Meeting Cheltenham Dave Stevos
Friday International Meeting Cheltenham Preview
Last Sunday didn’t go to plan. At all. Two of our selections were non-runners but those that did run didn’t cover themselves in glory. Highland Sting ran no sort of race, jumping poorly and tailing off. Tornado Flyer did run well, just not well enough to land e/w money. Dr Mikey went too quick in front and Castlegrange was pulled up, looking as though something was amiss. This weekend we are back at Cheltenham and there should be a few festival clues to be found. Check out our Friday International Meeting Cheltenham Tips for all live ITV4 races below.
1.50 Cheltenham – Mares’ Handicap Chase (Class 3)
The 7yo Methodtothemadness could outrun her odds of 25/1 for Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox. This daughter of Gold Well was a wide margin winner at Hexham in June off 106 (20f gd). She wasn’t as good on her next three outings but her last run at Kelso off 111 wasn’t too bad at all (23.5f sft). Russell’s charge hit a flat spot between the third and second last fences but she kept on pretty well and she was only 4.5L behind the winner Breaking The Ice.
That 6yo was winning off 98 and he followed up off 6lb higher next time out. Deep Charm was in 2nd, 0.5L ahead of Methodtothemadness. He dotted up by 13L off the same mark on his next run. Our selection was conceding over a stone to the winner and 11lbs to the runner up. She is in off the same mark today and while this is a better race, if she repeats the form of that last run or her Hexham win, she could sneak into the money at 25/1.
Friday International Meeting Cheltenham tip: Methodtothemadness e/w @ 25/1 (4 Places)
2.25 Cheltenham – Betfair Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Just the 10 will go to post for this valuable 26f handicap and it looks pretty open. After shaping so nicely on his seasonal return at Warwick, perhaps Potters Legend can go well back at a track he acts on. Lucy Wadham and Jack Quinlan team up with this 11yo son of Midnight Legend and he likes it at Cheltenham.
He hasn’t run here since finishing an excellent second in this race last season off 135 on soft ground. His career form figures at this track read 2246532 with the two unplaced runs coming on heavy. Potters Legend is a better horse on nicer ground than that and the good to soft conditions should suit him perfectly tomorrow. He races off his last winning mark of 133 and Jack Quinlan has been on board for his last two wins. Lucy Wadham is in flying form so at odds of 14/1, Potters Legend looks well worth backing each way.
Friday International Meeting Cheltenham tip: Potters Legend e/w @ 14/1 NAP (4 places Hills)
3.00 Cheltenham – X Country Handicap Chase (Class 2)
A maximum field of 16 will fight it out for the £18k first prize in this X-Country handicap chase. Balko De Flo carries top weight off 161 so quite a few of these are out of the handicap. In years gone by Enda Bolger dominated this sphere with legends like Spot Thedifference, Josies Orders and Garde Champetre. He hasn’t won it since 2016 but Midnight Maestro looks a likely type for him in this renewal. The 9yo son of Midnight Legend ran a cracker over the Punchestown X-Country fences in the Risk Of Thunder last time and off a mark of 140 he rates as a big danger to all.
The bookies haven’t missed him at 9/2 though and at a bigger price, maybe the mercurial Blast Of Koeman can go well. Peter Maher’s son of Shantou has loads of ability. However, his record of 2 wins from 40 runs tells you he isn’t the most straightforward of horses. On more than one occasion when trained by Robert Tyner he threw races away with late mistakes. The switch to Maher’s and the X-Country game seems to have revitalised him.
Decent Run
Back in February he was a good 2nd over the banks at Punchestown behind Shady Operator off level weights. That horse dotted up in the Risk Of Thunder by 7L (Midnight Maestro 2nd) so it was a decent run. He was a lot further behind that rival in the Risk Of Thunder on his seasonal return but it was his first run back. He should improve plenty with that run under his belt.
Running from out of the weights isn’t ideal but the fact that Fahey doesn’t feel the need to use a claimer suggests that he thinks he is capable of hitting the frame carrying just 10 stone on his back. JJ Slevin travels over for his only ride and at odds of 22/1, Blast Of Koeman is worth chancing each way.
Friday International Meeting Cheltenham tip: Blast Of Koeman e/w @ 22/1 NB (5 Places)
3.35 Cheltenham – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Last, but not least, on ITV4 on Friday is this 24f handicap hurdle and 11 horses run. Sporting John heads the market after his easy win here on the Old Course last time. However, given his profile, he is no banker to follow up off 5lbs higher. The most interesting one in this for me is Ernesto. Trained by Ian Williams, Tom Buckley takes off a handy 5lbs. This son of Reliable Man is a useful type on the flat where he was last sighted finishing 2nd at Newmarket off 77. He won a Listed race over 14f in Germany a couple of years ago but he is also a more than decent hurdler.
8lbs Wrong
He has had just seven starts over timber, winning twice. He first scored in a maiden at Exeter (17f gd/fm) and he last won in June over 20f (gd). That win came off 113 and he is now rated 117. Because of Sporting John’s lofty mark he is 8lbs wrong today off 125. However, Tom Buckley’s claim means he is effectively just 3lbs out of the weights. On his last outing over hurdles he was beat 7L into 5th in a decent race at Uttoxeter (23.5f gd). He shaped like 3 miles at a testing track like Cheltenham could really suit him.
Ernesto was entered at Warwick yesterday but the ground was too soft for him. He needs a decent surface to show his best and the good to soft, good in places at Cheltenham will suit much better. Ian Williams has had two 2nds and a winner from his last five runners and Tom Buckley is 1/5 with two top 4s when riding for the stable. The tongue tie/cheekpieces combo that was on for his last win is reapplied and at odds of 16/1, Ernesto is the each way selection.
