Cheltenham International Meeting Day-2 Tips
Cheltenham International Meeting Preview of Live ITV4 races
Only two of our four selections ran on Day-1 of the International Meeting at Cheltenham. Ballyboker Bridge was very disappointing, drifting to 25/1 and then pulling up. Debestyman ran an absolute blinder. He was ridden more prominently as I hoped, but he was pestered in front the whole way round and that told in the last 50 yards when he dropped from 2nd to 5th. At least we got a decent run for our money. Hopefully Saturday brings us some luck, check out Dave Stevos’ free Cheltenham International Meeting Day-2 tips below…
Cheltenham International Meeting Day-2 Tips: 1.55pm Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (Grade 3)
The final 4 races on Day-2 of the International Meeting will be shown live on ITV4. First up is the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, a 20.5f handicap chase. Due to an administrative error, pre-race favourite Riders On the Storm is a non-runner. That leaves a field of 15 and 6 of them are single figure odds which illustrates just how competitive it is. I tipped up Spiritofthegames last time at Newbury but he ran no race. He will appreciate the return to Cheltenham and looks decently handicapped now. However, he didn’t show anywhere near enough the last twice to warrant a bet today.
I originally put up Lalor for this race but he was scratched less than an hour after the blog was published. With him out, I am going to take a chance on Knocknanuss instead. Gary Moore runs Benatar too but he may need the run on his return from a long break while better ground would suit too. Knocknanuss is a prominent racer and he ran a cracker behind Saint Calvados here back in October. He can be very keen at times and if that is the case here, he won’t get home.
However, if Jamie Moore (who likely had the pick of the two Moore runners) can keep a lid on his exuberance and get him into a rhythm in front, he could make a bold bid. You can safely put a line through his last run as he went right handed and wore blinkers. The headgear is removed, he returns to a left handed track and at 18/1 a small each way bet is the order of the day.
CHELTENHAM INTERNATIONAL MEETING DAY-2 TIPS: KNOCKNANUSS E/W @ 18/1 (5 PLACES SKYBET)
Cheltenham International Meeting Day-2: 2.30pm – Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
8 will line up behind the tapes for this 24f Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle. Fergal O’Brien was amongst the winners here on Friday and Champagne Well is favourite for him here. However, at slightly more generous odds Redford Road looks overpriced. He has a rating of 132 which leaves him with a fair bit to find at the figures. However, he pushed Valtor all the way over 21.5f at Ascot last time and this step up in trip could enable the Twiston Davies horse to turn that form around.
Valtor got a dream run up the inner last time at Ascot while Redford Road was trapped wide. Valtor got first run and I believe that if Bargary can chart a better course at Cheltenham he can keep tabs on that rival. Twiston Davies also runs the unbeaten under rules Mossy Fen but his form is not as strong as his stablemate’s. 9/1 looks too big to us and Redford Road should give each way backers a good run for their money.
CHELTENHAM INTERNATIONAL MEETING DAY-2 TIPS: REDFORD ROAD E/W @ 9/1 nb
Cheltenham Preview: 3.05pm – International Hurdle (Grade 2)
The feature race of the day on Saturday at Cheltenham is the Grade 2 International Hurdle. The last 8 renewals have been shared between Twiston Davies (3), Nicky Henderson (3) and Paul Nicholls. Henderson is on a hat trick after Brain Power’s win in 2018 and he fires two bullets here. Pentland Hills, the horse with thousands of owners, is the 2/1 favourite.
He was a shock winner of the Triumph here last year and his win over Fakir D’oudairies at Aintree proved his festival win was far from a fluke. Connections will be eyeing up bigger prizes in the Spring though and he would prefer good ground.Henderson also supplies the 2nd favourite Call Me Lord. He has form at all sorts of trips, his last win coming over 21.5f at Sandown. He is officially rated 7lb higher than Pentland Hills yet he gets 3lb.
Lecoq Could Go Well For Kelly
However, whether he has the natural speed to land a race like this over `17f is a doubt. County hurdle winner Ch’tibello also brings festival form to the table and his 2nd to Supasundae at Aintree (20f sft) was a cracker. He has taken a run or two to come to hand in the last couple of seasons and he may need this after a break.Gumball ran a cracker last time in the Greatwood here to finish 2nd, a neck ahead of Monsieur Lecoq off level weights.
He looks sure to make another bold bid but with Elixir De Nutz in the field he is unlikely to get his own way up front. Monsieur Lecoq is 4lb better off with Gumball here and he will be suited by a strong pace. His form figures on soft ground read 1213 and if they go a good clip up front he could play a big part. Lizzie Kelly owes us one after her final flight fall on Galice Macalo and at odds of 16/1 Monsieur Lecoq is the each way selection.
CHELTENHAM INTERNATIONAL MEETING DAY-2 TIPS: MONSIEUR LECOQ E/W @ 16/1
Cheltenham International Meeting Day-2: 3.40pm – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
The concluding race of the International Meeting at Cheltenham is a tricky looking Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. Run over a trip of 20.5f, a field of 17 will go to post and extra places are available for e/w bets. Regular readers will remember me tipping up Mega Yeats at Haydock last time at huge odds. She showed up well for a very long way (24.5f gd/sft) before fading late and the drop back in trip today will definitely suit.
She raced off a mark of 134 on that occasion and the handicapper dropped her to 131. That looks more than fair considering she likely needed the run last time and she should be much fitter now. Mega Yeats has placed form in the book at Cheltenham, finishing 2nd in a Listed Bumper in November 2018. That is strong form, as was her 3rd in a Listed mares event at Haydock in February. Back down in trip and with a run under her belt, Mega Yeats is the each way NAP of the day at odds of 12/1 with 5 places available.
