There are even bigger and better things to come on Saturday, but Friday sees the first day of the International Meeting hosted at Cheltenham Racecourse and we have a tip for all seven races on the card.
12.05 (Novices’ Hurdle – Class 3) – JPR ONE
Even over two miles and a furlong this hurdle race may take some getting for some of these novices, but despite the need for a little stamina there’s no shortage of class on show either for the grade.
The likely favourite is Hartur D’Oudairies. While he is unbeaten after a bumper win in France and a successful hurdling debut at Warwick in which he was described as “impressive”, he looks far from unfillable to us.
Much of his reputation in the market comes from him carrying the JP McManus colours and being trained by Dan Skelton, but we’ve had his favourites beaten here before at odds and we’re looking to repeat the trick with Jpr One.
Also a winner on his hurdle debut for Colin Tizzard, Jpr One reached a higher level than Hartur D’Oudairies in our opinion and has the capacity to kick on now. Washington and Datsalrightgino can fight it out for places.
12.40 (Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – Class 3) – CORACH RAMBLER
In what looks like a competitive race for a seven-runner affair, Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell may well be able to make her trip with two horses pay, Corach Rambler being her most likely winner.
The seven-year-old ran well on his chase debut to finish third at 14/1 at Perth in September, and improved upon that when winning very well at Aintree in October.
Off the track since then, he can prove he is on an upward curve, one that would make him well handicapped off his rating of 134. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not Derek Fox’s mount is well backed considering he was punted into 5/2 at Aintree before scoring by six lengths.
Eva’s Oskar is next on the list after his win at Chepstow and fine second at Ascot, with Coeur Serein and Undersupervision also considered. Barbados Buck’s probably has to improve plenty at the weights.
1.15 (Handicap Hurdle – Class 3) – QUINTA DO MAR
Quite easy to put numbers against in terms of handicapping here were The Grey Falco, Broomfield Burg, Royaume Uni, Punxsutawney Phil, Castel Gandolfo and Lively Citizen who were all very close on our ratings.
When things are that close, at least on paper, it’s best to look for something potentially very well handicapped and therefore we are taking a chance on Ben Pauling’s Quinta Do Mar.
The six-year-old is on a hat-trick now and won very easily by 31 lengths last time. We’re banking on taking that form at face value and there being more to come and if there is, then there is little doubt that the bay is best at these weights. He just has to handle Cheltenham.
1.50 (Mares’ Handicap Chase – Class 3) – ROSE OF ARCADIA
While it doesn’t work every time, many jumps horses show a factually better performance over fences if taking to them than they do over hurdles. With that in mind, we go for a punt on Cheveley Park’s Rose Of Arcadia here for the Colin Tizzard yard on her chase debut.
She finished her five-run hurdling career on a mark of 119, but it appears that overall, her team thinks that does not truly speak for her ability.
Timeless Beauty represents Fergal O’Brien and can go well, with Jubilympics and Fontaine Collonges also on the shortlist.
2.25 (Betfair Handicap Chase – Grade 3) – ROCCO
Our Grade 3 feature race over 3¼ miles looks like a cracking race, but still an eminently winnable one.
Enrilo may be favourite. He is only 7 and comes from the Paul Nicholls yard so he is an obvious candidate, one that fell last time but showed some solid form before that.
Hurricane Harvey is interesting as are Fagan and Commodore, but we bank on Rocco doing the business for Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies for the first time at Graded level.
Suddenly kicking on and improving after twelve chases, Rocco was a convincing winner last time out at Wincanton in the Badger Beer where he beat Potterman and the aforementioned Hurricane Harvey and there looks sure to be further improvement to come.
He hasn’t been tried over fences around here, but he was a good third at Cheltenham at Grade 2 level over hurdles some time ago and looks primed for the run of his life.
3.00 (Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase – Class 2) – PLAN OF ATTACK
With Tiger Roll and Easysland not on the scene, these cross-country races are wide open and there may be a form turnaround this time.
At the November meeting we successfully went for Back On The Lash to do the business and while another big run is on the cards, the horse back in fourth that day has more to give and a handy 3lb weight pull.
That horse is Henry De Bromhead’s Plan Of Attack. Fourth in the 2020 Kim Muir and a faller when going well in it this year, Plan Of Attack took fourth place and was staying on nicely in the last cross-country race here and it’s easy to see him going a few places better now.
3.35 (Handicap Hurdle – Class 2) – SPORTING JOHN
There will need to be improvement from The Wrekin and Botox Has, who have place chances, but the two to concentrate on in the finale have already battled it out around here at the November meeting and may do again.
Runner-up last month was Fergal O’Brien’s Onagatheringstorm who will surely put in another solid performance, but he was no match for Sporting John that day who perhaps has more to come over hurdles and remains the sensible betting choice.
Sporting John was tried over fences but staying hurdles look like his game and he can land this before moving up in grade.
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