New Post

Cheltenham Selections

Day 3 (Thursday)

This is my favourite day of the week with the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers Hurdle the ultimate races. My Nap of the whole week runs today and along with so many, I can’t wait to see her bolt up for her legendary owner (Hopefully).

1.30 Turners Novices Chase: 11 runners with lots of talent in this. At the top of the betting lies Facile Vega, Grew Dawning, and Ginny`s Destiny. Facile Vega was supposed to be the next star in jumps racing with his superb pedigree, it hasn’t gone entirely to plan over fences for him but it’d be foolish to underestimate a Mullins runner. The one I really like in this race is Ginnys Destiny for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. He is a prominent racer who jumps nicely. He`s won his last 3 races beating Grey Dawning along the way. England need to get a couple of wins on the board and this could be it.

2.10 Pertemps Hurdle: With a massive field of runners this is a tricky race. Ted Walsh trains Gaoth Chuil at the top of the market. Young jockey Shane O Callaghan is claiming 5 pounds on this one and will be fancied by many. He has improved this season with the consistent form shown. I think he’s got an excellent chance in this tricky race at a price of 15/2. At huge odds lies Anna Bunina. His last win was in 2022 but after a few poor runs, he showed he’s on the mend with a nice fourth in a race ran at 3Miles. The meath trainer, Mc Connell has previous in Cheltenham handicaps and at a huge price of 33/1, could be a nice each-way bet.

2.50 Ryanair Chase. Favoritism is split by 3-time festival winner, Envoi Allen and the front-running Stage Star. they are both 4/1 chances. Envoi Allen has been kept fresh for this race and he clearly loves Cheltenham. Stage Star has been nominated as Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobdens best chance of festival winner so he has to be considered. The Horse I believe that has an outstanding chance is Protektorat. This horse placed 5th in the gold cup last year. He ran a nice race last time out where he was 5 lengths behind Shishkin. The trainer, Harry Skelton has talked him up and said he shouldn’t be underestimated. He went off from the front last time where he jumped nicely, he ran out of fuel in the end but today, he drops back 5 Furlongs in trip. I Expect him to run a big race and I’d say he’s my best Each Way bet of the festival. He’s a 9/1 chance for his owner Sir Alex Ferguson who is no stranger to the winning enclosure at Cheltenham. I would give Banbridge a big chance but he won’t get his favoured good ground so I’ll be bypassing him for Protektorat. Hopefully, he can get one on the board for Dan and his brother Harry who’s jocked up on this consistent horse.

3.30 Stayers Hurdle: The favourite is the well-fancied Robcour-owned Teahupoo who’s trained by Gordan Elliot. He was fancied in the race last year but flopped. This year’s race is a wide-open renewal. The atmosphere at Cheltenham will explode if the 2 time winner of the race, Flooring Porter can do it again. Although he’s been sent chasing this season, it’s a surprise to see him go back to hurdling but he must’ve been plotted for this for a few weeks by his shrewd trainer, Gavin Cromwell. He will no doubt adopt the usual front-running tactics and hopefully he can stay there for the 3Miles. He`s an 11/1 chance and is surely gonna be popular with punters. The old boy, Paisley Park is back for his last race of his incredible career. He’s always been a consistent type with his never giving up attitude seen so often at the big race meetings. He will probably be off the bridle from a long way out but he most certainly won’t go down without a fight. He’s also an 11/1 chance and will be popular among many mainly because he’s been a legend throughout his career.

4.10 Plate Handicap: Harry Redknapp owns Shakem Up`arry in this 21-runner field. He won his last race while jumping nicely, A 3-pound raise in weights has been implemented as a result. The Ben Pauling-trained horse finished 3rd in this race last season so it’ll be no surprise to see Shakem Up`arry in the shake up. Top weight James Du Berlais ran a good race in a big field handicap last time out in Leopardstown. The Willie Mullins-trained horse is sure to remain competitive for the double green colours with regular jockey, Daryl Jacob in the saddle. He’s a 12/1 chance. There`s not a lot that interests me at big prices but Fighter Allen is one. He was trained by the Closutton maestro years ago but is now under the trainership of David Pipe. His jumping is inconsistent but he could be a bit of value at 33/1.

4.50 Mares Novices Hurdle: This race is surely between the top 3 in the betting. Top of the betting lies my Banker of the whole meeting- BrighterDaysAhead. I’ll be shocked if she gets bet in this. Second favourite Jade De Grugy is no bad horse as she bolted in at Limerick in a Grade 3 in its last race. Third favourite, Dysart Enos is definitely the best of the English trained but as we have seen over the last 2 days the best of the English is simply not good enough. Gordan Elliot and Jack Kennedy have been talking BrighterDaysAhead up as a potential superstar. She has won all of her 5 starts so far. Last season she had 2 races in which she won by 13 and 4 lengths. This season she won her 3 races by 10, 4.75, and most recently 12 Lengths. This mare will be a superstar in the making if all goes to plan. She`ll race in the famous Gigginstown colours and it’ll be a big shock if she doesn’t collect the first prize for Michael and Eddie O Leary. She cost 310 000 Euro and her trainer has said `` She could be as good as we’ve had here”. It’s a waste of time looking for each-way value in this as BrighterDaysAhead will bolt in on the steel. She’s 11/8 with the bookies but to win by a couple of lengths could be nice value just like Ballyburn where I tipped him at 3/1 to win by over 10 lengths. He won by 13.

5.30 Kim Muir Challenge Cup: 26 runners in this with the favorite 3/1. I see no value whatsoever so will be bypassing INoTheWayUrThinking. The one I like at a price is the Jamie Snowden-trained Git Maker. A consistent type although he finished 6th last race, he will relish the ground conditions. Not a real strong fancy but Git Maker looks overpriced and hopefully can run into a place even if it’s a 3M 2 race.

Thursday Selections:

1.30 Ginny`s Destiny 4/1

2.10 Gaoth Chuil 13/2 and Anna Bunina (Each Way) 33/1

2.50 Protektorat (Each Way NAP) 9/1

3.30 Flooring Porter 11/1 and Paisley Park 11/1 (Both Each Way)

4.10 Shakem Uparry 17/2 and Fighter Allen 33/1 (Small Each Way)

4.50 BrighterDaysAhead NAP 11/8. To win by 5 Lengths or more is 5/1

5.30 Git Maker 22/1 (Each Way)