Cheltenham Greatwood Hurdle Tip by Dave Stevos
Cheltenham Greatwood Hurdle Tip
It was a nightmare for us on Saturday. We didn’t even get a place on the board. Captain Tom Cat fell at the last but I doubt he would have caught the winner. Up The Straight didn’t jump well enough and could never get into the race. I advised Scheu Time for 4 places but the non-runners meant we didn’t get paid on him. Jouska was given way too much to do, Pyramid Place never landed a blow and Kestenna wasn’t good enough. With small fields the order of the day on Sunday (and with me being unable to pick my nose at the moment), I am focussing on one race. Check out our Cheltenham Greatwood Hurdle tip below.
2.50 – Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
The one I like at a big price in this is Rowland Ward. Trained by Stuart Edmonds, this 5yo enjoys the hustle and bustle of these big field handicaps. His last win came at Aintree (16f gd/sft) in the Spring when he won a valuable contest off 122. The horse he beat, Camprond, was rated 125 going into the race (with a 3lb claimer aboard) and after three subsequent wins, including a Grade 2, he is now rated 140.
Rowland Ward was handed a 10lb hike for that 0.5L win and he ran with credit on ground plenty soft for him off his revised rating of 132 next time out at Haydock in a G3 handicap (16f sft). He was beat 14L but only for a couple of poor jumps 4 out and 2 out he would have finished closer. The son of Sea The Stars headed off on his holidays after that run. He was entitled to need his return at Market Rasen (16.5f gd) in late September.
Cracking Effort
Connections decided to step him up to 19f last time out in the G3 Silver Trophy at Chepstow (gd). He ran a cracker to finish 4th of 17 despite getting squeezed on the home turn and also despite the trip being a bit too far for him. He still finished 10L ahead of Gowel Road and the form was franked on Saturday. That effort came off a mark of 131 and he races off the same rating this afternoon.
Stuart Edmonds now drops him back in distance and that looks the correct move. The ground is absolutely perfect for him and Champion Jockey Brian Hughes retains the ride after getting a spin on him at Chepstow. This horse is still just a 5yo and I think there could still be a lot more improvement to come from him at 16f on good ground. Given his hold up style, luck will be required but I think 33/1 looks a massive price. At those odds, he is well worth backing each way.
