Cheltenham International Meeting Day-1 Tips
Cheltenham friday Preview by Dave Stevos
We struggled at Cork and Punchestown last Sunday and none of our fancies made the frame. World Premier probably ran the best of them at Punchestown and he will be getting his head in front soon. Snow Falcon wasn’t disgraced in a red hot John Durkan where Min proved he is still a force. Great Field fell, as did Shanwalla just as he was creeping into contention. We have had too many fallers in the last couple of weeks, so hopefully Friday goes a bit better. Check out Dave Stevos’ Cheltenham International Meeting Day-1 tips for all live ITV4 races below…
Cheltenham Tips: 1.55pm Mares’ Handicap Chase (Class 3)
For the time of year and the track, this 20.5f Mares’ Handicap Chase is a pretty trappy heat. The ground is currently good to soft with showers forecast, so conditions are most likely to ease. The return to ground with a bit of cut should suit Skewiff from the in form Evan Williams yard. This 7yo daughter of Doyen has won on good ground but her best form by far has come on ground with an ease.
She was a beaten favourite in this last year on good ground, unseating Leighton Aspell 4 out. However, her form when beating Graceful Legend easily off 110 two starts later at Uttoxeter is rock solid (22f sft). Although she failed to complete on her only previous start here, her last 4 wins have come at left handed tracks so theoretically Cheltenham should suit her. Off just 3lb higher than for her brilliant Uttoxeter win, Skewiff is the each way selection at 13/2.
CHELTENHAM INTERNATIONAL MEETING DAY-1 TIPS: SKEWIFF E/W @ 13/2
Cheltenham International Meeting Day-1: 2.30pm – Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
A dozen horses will go to post for this 26f Grade 3 handicap chase. Last year’s winner Cogry is back to defend his crown and races off the same mark of 139. Unsurprisingly he is a short price to repeat the trick at around 11/2. He ran a blinder here on his return to action last time, finishing just 3L behind The Conditional in 3rd (25f sft). However, while he has won on soft his last two wins came on good and that has to rate as a worry if it rains.
If it comes up good to soft, Treackle Tart could go well at a decent price here. This daughter of Winged Love won off 135 two starts back at Warwick (25.5f gd/sft) and a line can be put through her last effort. She slipped up before jumping the 3rd fence and never got into a rhythm thereafter. Her last four wins have come at left handed tracks and she also has form at Cheltenham. She has finished runner up on 2 of her 3 starts here (21f and 24f) it would be no surprise if she bounced back to form. Robbie Dunne looks a good booking and at 20/1, Treackle tart is the each way selection.
CHELTENHAM INTERNATIONAL MEETING DAY-1 TIPS: TREACKLE TART E/W @ 20/1 (4 PLACES)
Cheltenham International Meeting Tips: 3.00pm – X-Country Handicap Chase (Class 2)
A maximum field of 16 will go to post for this X Country handicap chase. As ever, Enda Bolger holds a strong hand with both Josies Orders and Yanworth near the head of the market. Jockey bookings suggest that Yanworth is the number one, but on Punchestown form, Ballyboker Bridge looks to represent a bit of each way value. against him He was only 3L behind Yanworth over the banks (24f sft) last time at Punchestown and he is 7lb better off with that rival now.
Ballyboker Bridge is a 12yo now but he is very lightly raced for his age. He is a very talented horse on his day and he relishes cross country courses. His three previous runs over C&D yielded form figures of 356 but none of those races were handicaps. He has the form in the book to be competitive off his rating of 139 and he won’t mind if there is a drop of rain. Sean Flanagan won on his only previous ride on him and looks a solid jockey booking. Odds of 20/1 look too big given his course form and at 20/1 he is worth chancing each way.
CHELTENHAM INTERNATIONAL MEETING DAY-1 TIPS: BALLYBOKER BRIDGE E/W @ 20/1 (5 PLACES) NB
Cheltenham International Meeting Day-1: 3.40pm – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
The final live race on ITV4 on Friday at Cheltenham is a 23.5f handicap hurdle. I have tipped up Man Of Plenty on his last two outings but he ran very poorly. I also tipped up Debestyman last time out and he ran a blinder at Newbury (24f gd/sft). Michael Nolan rode him to get the trip that day and probably got too far back. He definitely shaped as though he stayed the 3 miles though and he was only 6L behind Champers On Ice.
The handicapper generously dropped him a pound to 120 after that fine effort while the winner got 3lb. That translates to a 4lb swing in the weights and that, combined with the stiff Cheltenham hill, should enable Debestyman to bridge the gap to that rival. Gavin Sheehan takes over in the plate and he was on board for this lad’s win at Plumpton last season (20.5f sft). The ground should suit, as should the track and at odds of 16/1 Debestyman is the each way NAP of the day.
