Cheltenham International Meeting Friday: Dave Stevos
Cheltenham International Meeting Friday Tips: All Live ITV Races
After a decent day on Saturday with Vieux Lion Rouge, Sunday got even better. It started badly with Carigeen Lotus who may, on reflection, want better ground. Tornado Flyer ran an absolute cracker to finish 2nd to Min, landing our e/w bets at 40/1. Our e/w NAP Bal De Rio was chinned on the line at odds of 28/1. I am still scratching my head wondering how he lost. At least Dino Boy got the job done, advised e/w at 22/1 and he won at 11/1. The last big meeting at Cheltenham in 2020 kicks off tomorrow. Check out Dave Stevos Cheltenham International Meeting Friday tips below…
Cheltenham Friday: 1.15pm – Mares’ Handicap Chase (Class 3)
The ground is likely to be on the easy side at Cheltenham for the start of the International meeting. It was good to soft on Thursday afternoon but with rain forecast it is likely to be closer to soft on Friday. A pretty average race kicks off the live action on ITV4 on Friday, a 20.5f mares’ handicap chase. A dozen go to post and the one I like at double figure odds is Sweet Adare. Trained by Victor Dartnall, Tom Scudamore will ride this 7yo daughter of Getaway. She won twice last season, at 16.5f and 19.5f, both on soft over hurdles. Those handicap wins came off 114 and 122 and she is in off 121 today for her second handicap chase run.
Her two runs this season over fences came at Wincanton and Newton Abbott over 16f. She was doing her best work in the closing stages in both those heats and this step back up to 20.5f looks sure to suit her. Her trainer Victor Dartnall is in good form with form figures of 133 for his last three runners. Any rain would be welcome as both her wins were on soft, but she wouldn’t want it heavy. There has already been a few quid around for this mare but at odds of 10/1, Sweet Adare is still worth backing e/w.
Cheltenham International Meeting Friday Tips: Sweet Adare e/w @ 10/1
Cheltenham Friday: 1.50pm – Peterborough Chase (Grade 2)
We get a Brucey Bonus at Cheltenham this weekend with the Peterborough Chase. Huntingdon is the usual venue but they are unable to host the race this year. A field of 8 chasers will line up at the start for this 20f Grade 2 and it looks a very competitive heat. Top Notch heads the betting on his seasonal bow and he is looking to defend his crown.
He won this last year at Huntingdon but he has yet to win a race at Cheltenham. His record fresh is a positive but apart from a fine run in the Triumph in 2015 and a good effort behind Yorkhill in 2017, his other three runs at Cheltenham have been well below par.
I am a big Bun Doran fan but he would probably have preferred if the race was run at Huntingdon too. He has at least won at Cheltenham but his best form has come over shorter. He won over 20f at Newcastle as a younger horse but all his recent winning form is at 16f. The one I’ll be taking a chance on upped in trip is Dolos for Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls.
Trip To Suit Dolos
This son of Kapgarde shaped with promise on his return to action here over 20f behind Rouge Vif. Yes, he was beat 9.5L by the winner but he kept on well up the hill and this step up to 20f looks sure to bring about more improvement. He has won 4 chases, two at 16f, one at 18f and one at 19f. Those wins all came on soft/good to soft so the ground will suit him on Friday.
He has had three chances at Cheltenham and while he struggled on the first two runs, his last outing over 16f was his best yet. Softer ground and this longer trip should spark more improvement and he is the top rated in the race with a mark of 160. The weight he gets from Mister Fisher (3lb), Bun Doran (6lb) and Top Notch (6lb) could make all the difference. I think Kalashnikov could be the biggest danger but at odds of 13/2, Dolos is the each way selection.
Cheltenham International Meeting Friday: Dolos e/w @ 13/2
Cheltenham: 2.25pm – Unibet Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
A pretty disappointing field of just 7 will go to post for this Grade 3 handicap chase. The trip is 26f and in form Irish raider Court Maid heads the market for Tom and David Mullins. This mare absolutely sluiced up in the 29f Porterstown Chase last time at Fairyhouse. She won by 13L off a mark of 140 and she is in off just 8lb higher today. Ground on the easy side will be perfect for her and she has no worries about the trip either. It looked like she had plenty in reserve when winning last time out and it is no surprise to see her chalked up as the 13/8 favourite.
Black Corton is next best in the betting at odds of around 7/2. He loves it at Cheltenham but he has yet to win beyond 3 miles and he has looked a non stayer in 3 previous tries at 25/26f. He has to concede 12lb to the Irish horse too and that could be too big an ask. The one to chase Court Maid home could be Storm Control for Kerry Lee and Richard Patrick. This 7yo relished the step up to 25f on his first try beyond 3 miles under rules here last time.
It was probably a career best performance off a mark of 131 and he is in off just 6lb higher today. Storm Control made all for his win 4 weeks ago and similar tactics will likely be employed here. He will probably set the race up for the favourite and while I think he will make a bold bid, he may just have to play second fiddle to the Mullins horse. With just 7 runners and 2 places on offer, I’ll be playing the Court Maid/Storm Control reverse forecast.
Cheltenham International Meeting Friday Tips: Court Maid/Storm Control Reverse Forecast
Cheltenham 3.00pm – X-Country Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Kingswell Theatre and Beau Du Brizais filled the first two places over 30f in the last X-Country race here and they are unsurprisingly fancied to go well again. They both raced from well out of the handicap last time thanks to the presence of Tiger Roll but they are running from their correct ratings today.
However, the likely softer conditions are unlikely to suit either of them and on paper at least, Neverushacon rates as a big danger to both. Jessie Harrington’s charge won well over the banks at Punchestown last time (24f hvy), winning by 11L. He likes it soft and he clearly enjoys the unique jumping challenge this race poses, but I am not sure he stays this far.
Trip To Suit McConnell’s Charge
The one I like at a massive price finished 3rd behind Neverushacon last time. Some Neck was having his first X-Country start and it looked like he really took to it. He got outpaced 3f from home but in the final furlong he stayed on really well. This step up to 30f looks well worth a try and while he has attempted this sort of trip before, the ground was good.
The grey son of Yeats could be fairly treated off 137 and his jockey takes off another 7lb. He has 15L to find with the Harrington horse and he is only 2lb better off, but this extended trip could enable him to close the gap. At odds of 22/1 with 4 places available, Some Neck is the e/w selection.
Cheltenham International Meeting Friday Tips: Some Neck e/w @ 22/1 NB (4 Places)
Cheltenham 3.35pm – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
A 24f handicap hurdle closes the show on the first day of the International Meeting at Cheltenham. The one I’ll be taking a chance on here is good old Sykes for Nicky Martin and Matt Griffiths. This stalwart has yet to win at Cheltenham but he has gone mightily close. He was 3rd on his last visit behind Tobefair back in October 2019 (24f hvy) and that effort came off 147. However, the run that makes him of real interest today was his short head second to The Mighty Don off 139 back in October 2018.
The son of Mountain High is 2lb lower today so he is handicapped to run a big race. His form figures at Cheltenham read 2023 so he clearly enjoys the track and his trainer Nicky Martin has had a winner and two places from her last 6 runners. Sykes had a pipe opener at Newbury last month so he should be cherry ripe on his return to Cheltenham. I think this prominent racer will make a bold bid from the front and if old father time hasn’t caught up with him, Sykes is capable of running a massive race at odds of 20/1. With 5 places on offer from Skybet, Sykes is the e/w NAP of the day.
