Cheltenham Festival Day Two: It’s Every Man for Himself in Champion Chase Dual

Another top-class day of jumps racing is ahead of us on the rain-softened Old Course and once more we have dug out some good value bets as we look to take the bookmakers on during day two of the iconic Cheltenham Festival.

1.30 (Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 1) – SPORTING JOHN

All sorts of targets were mooted for the unbeaten Envoi Allen and, when a horse has never lost, it’s impossible for bookmakers to offer any sort of price.

Indeed, they haven’t as Gordon Elliott’s 2019 Champion Bumper winner is a best-priced 5/4 at the time of writing for this race and having beaten the likes of Abacadabras and Darver Star he kind of deserves it, however his form doesn’t make him unbeatable by any means.

Enter Sporting John, another unbeaten horse of Philip Hobbs’ who some couldn’t understand being so well supported at Ascot last time.  He duly won easily though and has also taken care of the 144-rated Harry Senior in the past when still a very inexperienced horse, and we feel he has what’s needed to take the opener.

There isn’t much to choose for us between Longhouse Poet, Easywork and The Big Breakaway who may all challenge for place money.

2.10 (RSA Novices’ Chase – Grade 1) – ALLAHO

It seemed certain that Nicky Henderson’s Champ was heading for a win in the Dipper before crashing out, but even if he’d stayed on his feet his level of form while admittedly impressive, doesn’t automatically entitle him to win this race.

There are close form ties from their hurdling days between likely favourite Minella Indo and Allaho, with the latter seemingly having been the one to watch for the future over these trips when they met.

In fact, he has arguably shown a higher level of form in chases thus far and over 2m5f too, so now he’s up in trip we should see him reach a whole new level and that should be enough for him to take this race.

2.50 (Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle – Grade 3) – PROTEKTORAT

Nicky Henderson and JP McManus typically hold a strong hand here and they have two of the front three in the market in the shape of Birchdale and Dame De Compagnie, jockey Barry Geraghty favouring the latter.

Both of those horses have had their issues though and both have been held back a little while for this race, which isn’t always ideal, whereas the fitter Protektorat has rock solid form and a great profile for this race.

A winner here on New Year’s Day, he will have no issues with the track, is improving all the time and possesses the tactical speed needed to avoid the rather parlous situation many will find themselves in when the pace increases before the turn.

3.30 (Queen Mother Champion Chase – Grade 1) – CHACUN POUR SOI

This looks like a match-up at a glance, and to be honest even after a more careful look, between Clarence House Chase winner Defi Du Seuil and Dublin Chase scorer Chacun Pour Soi but we reckon the market has started to get it right with the latter who looks the better horse.

Defi has won twice at the festival already and is a fan favourite, but he’s far from infallible at the top level especially over this distance, while we have to remember that his main rival today has already beaten him and fairly comfortably so.

While that was on a flatter track, Willie Mullins’ runner could actually improve for this test and he looks the rightful market leader overnight and is backed to score.

Of the three outsiders with any sort of chance on the books, Dynamite Dollars looks the one to give the big two most to do.

4.10 (Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase) – EASYLAND

This race revolves around Tiger Roll of course, the four-time Cheltenham Festival and dual Grand National winner as well as defending champion, though he doesn’t have the luxury of coming into this year’s contest having had an uninterrupted preparation following injury.

Add to that the fact that he’s now 10 and it’s hard to see him getting back to last year’s level really so, while it remains possible, he doesn’t look an odds-on shot in all truth.

It would be utterly terrific to see him land this race again, after all he really is the people’s horse now, but it could just be that French raider and Cheltenham cross country winner Easyland is to be a party pooper.

Unbeaten now in six, David Cottin’s six-year-old can get up to the required level now and even came close to it when winning over the cross country course in December.

If reinvigorated, former Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite could run a place too.

4.50 (Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle – Grade 3) – GALAHAD QUEST

This is a typically open four-year-old handicap, but if we’re allowed to dare stick with proven form around here then Trials Day Grade 2 winner Galahad Quest looks hugely overpriced at around 20/1.

Proven in the conditions, Nick Williams’ runner has raced recently enough to be as fit as a flea and yet has had just enough time off the track to remain fresh, so given that more improvement is very likely he can outrun his current handicap mark.

Old rival Night Edition looks strong on paper too, as does big-priced Irish challenger Gealach.

5.30 (Weatherby’s Champion Bumper – Grade 1) – QUEENS BROOK

Willie Mullins’ Appreciate It has been dominating the market and may well prove to be a superstar in this sphere, however at the odds there is more than enough to like about Queens Brook and it’s Gordon Elliott’s mare who gets the nod instead.

A very easy winner at Gowran Park in February, her level of form is already not far away from what’s required and yet she has a year on the favourite and will be properly fit.  Ferny Hollow is best of the rest in the lucky last.

Cheltenham Festival Day One: Pentland Just Champion on Day One

The Cheltenham Festival is back upon us once again having seen off extreme weather and, hopefully, the coronavirus outbreak too.

Day one gets off to its usual frantic start with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in which we’ve gone for one to upset the favourites in the market.

1.30 (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 1) – FIDDLERONTHEROOF

An exciting renewal of the Supreme and one in which there has been serious money for Willie Mullins to follow-up the win he managed last year with Klassical Dream.

His Asterion Forlonge, under the same ownership as long-time favourite Shiskin of Nicky Henderson’s yard, has overtaken his rival in the market on the run-up to the opening day despite carrying the second-choice colours.

We’ve found it incredibly hard to split the two as well on all known evidence and both look more than capable of putting up a bold show, however having registered his equally impressive speed figures in soft and heavy ground, Colin Tizzard’s Fiddlerontheroof is fancied instead to outpace them when it counts before staying on to the line.

If his hat-trick is landed we’ll be off to a great start, with Willie Mullins and JP McManus’ Elixir D’ainay also fancied to run well at a price.

2.10 (Arkle Challenge Trophy – Grade 1) – BREWIN’UPASTORM

Too many British trainers keep their Cheltenham Festival hopes off the track for too long and Olly Murphy falls into that category when it comes to discussing Brewin’upastorm, but he has been having some away days and so as long as he is indeed fit enough for this then he looks the best horse in the race to us.

A perfect two from two over fences; he has proven he can handle a stiff track, has enough pace which is needed on the Old Course to get into position, has run well on soft ground and is also among the horses with the most potential improvement left to come.

Esprit Du Large could arguably be overpriced for Evan Williams and Notebook is the obvious danger to all, while Al Dancer shouldn’t be overlooked.

2.50 (Ultima Handicap Chase – Grade 3) – THE CONDITIONAL

With so much in his favour in terms of track, trip, ground and weight it’s perhaps surprising that this course and distance winner and Ladbrokes Trophy runner-up isn’t favourite.

That honour goes to Vinndication who may just be carrying too much, while there could be big runs coming from Discorama and Who Dares Wins too.

David Bridgwater’s The Conditional however has so much in his favour that he’s impossible to ignore and he may well provide his yard with a massive win on the opening day.

3.30 (Champion Hurdle – Grade 1) – PENTLAND HILLS

A competitive renewal of the day one highlight, but certainly not the strongest we’ve ever seen.  Favourite Epatante is arguably no better at the weights over this sort of track than around six other contenders in the race, but in the absence of Buveur D’Air and with topsy-turvy form from the British prep races the Irish Champion Hurdle form could be worth more than just a second look.

With winner Honeysuckle not being aimed at this race, it falls to Darver Star to represent that form and he may do so very well however there may yet be a home winner and one indeed for trainer of the favourite Nicky Henderson in the shape of Pentland Hills, the 2019 Triumph Hurdle winner.

His form is among the best on offer here and, while he was beaten last time, he will be better on this ground and for the benefit of his recent breathing operation.

4.10 (Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle – Grade 1) – HONEYSUCKLE

On paper there aren’t too many mares who should get into this uncompetitive affair, save for perhaps Stormy Ireland running into a place maybe, but it’s her teammate Benie Des Dieux who once again dominates the betting for this race.

The winner in 2018, she became one of Ruby Walsh’s unfortunate infamous last-flight fallers when trying to double-up last year but she has a whole new challenge this time around anyway in the shape of Irish Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle.

Given the form this year as mentioned above, Henry De Bromhead could have gone for the big one 40 minutes earlier but she’s arguably better over this 2½-mile trip and she looks good value to overturn the jolly.

4.50 (Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase – Listed Race) – IMPERIAL AURA

In a race in which the handicap is so tight, things look competitive on paper but perhaps are much less so in reality.

It’s doubtful that all of these 20 runners are within 7lbs of each other really, so while it’s true that some may well show a big improvement from their last run to this one given that they are novices, a race of this nature often needs a horse who has the requisite experience and that in this case is undoubtedly Imperial Aura.

Second to Pym over an apparently unsuitable 3m1½f here back in December, Kim Bailey’s seven-year-old improved on that when runner-up in a course and distance novice handicap in January and with the form working out well, he is taken to go one better now at the expense of the overpriced Paint The Dream.

5.30 (National Hunt Challenge Cup – Grade 2) – NEWTIDE

We have another typically hot favourite from the Willie Mullins yard in the shape of Carefully Selected here, but he appears to have been winning well without necessarily improving massively and around here he could be vulnerable.

The one to catch him out might just be Newtide.  A winner when idling at Ffos Las, he followed-up at Wetherby but was underestimated having initially not been able to go with them over three miles and having to swerve.  The form of that race therefore can be upgraded in the context of him going over 3m6f here and another step forward would see him right in the front rank, maybe giving Kim Bailey a wonderful day.

Springfield Fox is best of the rest.

Cheltenham Festival 2020 Should Go Ahead Despite Coronavirus Fears

After Monday’s Cobra meeting regarding the worldwide coronavirus outbreak and its effect on sporting events, the BHA have moved to assure punters that the government has told them it should be business as usual as we head towards Cheltenham Festival week.

Odds Shortening on Festival Thumbs-Up

A horse racing industry steering group made up of horsemen, the BHA and the Racecourse Association, has been coordinating government advice and sharing it with the appropriate parties during this process.

As of now, they remain in contact with government sources as it considers what to do to stem the coronavirus outbreak in the UK, although the industry is now confident that the Cheltenham Festival will not be affected after fears of cancellation following announcements that large gatherings should be limited.

The good news comes as the odds on betting exchanges for a scheduled start shorted drastically, showing the festival now going ahead as being around a 70% chance after betting indicated earlier that the likelihood was closer to 50/50.

This is all based on guesswork and conjecture of course, but this more positive outlook more closely mirrors the wider racing industry’s viewpoint, at least in terms of betting and journalism, which has been carrying on regardless as though the £4.5million meeting was never in doubt.

The betting market on this has been surprisingly lively, with over £1.5million traded on whether the festival goes ahead or not, something that just epitomises everything that is the Cheltenham Festival.

Sport Already Affected Worldwide

It seems all is well at present as trainers, jockeys, owners and racegoers make their final preparations for National Hunt’s biggest meeting of all, but nobody should get too cocky just yet as the threat of government action still looms.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired the Cobra meeting on Monday morning and spoke out to warn that the coronavirus outbreak is likely to escalate further in Britain in the coming weeks.

The PM said it is a problem that is likely to become more significant but it seems horse racing doesn’t need any further excuse after the words “business as usual” were uttered by the country’s leader, and it seems the industry is well prepared.

Wagering has been as hot as ever in the build up to the start of the action on Tuesday March 10th, with the announcement of the handicap weights triggering the betting markets with tens of millions already placed on ante post bets.

Despite the confidence now flooding within racing, Cheltenham being given the go-ahead was never a shoo-in.  This week three French meetings are to take place behind closed doors, despite nothing like the expected 280,000 at Cheltenham being in attendance, while other sporting events have already been affected.

The Six Nations rugby match between Ireland and Italy has been cancelled, while the Chinese Grand Prix has been called off too although much less surprisingly given its location.

Cheltenham Trials Day: 25th Janury 2020 - If The Cap Fits, Back It

It’s trials day at Cheltenham with up to 62 runners looking to put their names forward for a place in their desired race at the festival in March.

Paisley Park and Bristol De Mai are probably the ones many people are turning up to see, but we have some fine value bets against them to get stuck into.

12.40 (Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle – Grade 2) – MONTE CRISTO

This isn’t the strongest Triumph Hurdle trial we could have wished for, but in fact given that that’s the case it’s perhaps surprising that Nicky Henderson’s French recruit Monte Cristo isn’t odds-on overnight given that his Gallic form already looks too good for this opposition and his trainer tends to improve them from there quite a lot.

Henderson has won four of the last 7 renewals of this race and there’s no reason, on all known evidence, to think he won’t win it again at the possible main expense of Rowland Ward and Gerolamo Cardano who may make up the places.

1.15 (Class 2 Novices’ Handicap Chase) – IMPERIAL AURA

While Champagne Court will be popular after two wins, especially being tongue-tied for the first time, he’s never put his best foot forward around here before and so the track may well hamper him again.

Harry Whittingdon’s Simply The Betts handled the hill brilliantly at Newcastle and so should see things out right to the line today, though at the weights that doesn’t make him a better proposition than Imperial Aura for us and so it’s Kim Bailey’s gelding who gets the nod.

Having also won at Newcastle this time over hurdles, this horse began his chasing career with a virtual gimme before chasing home the talented Pym here in December.  That last run was over three miles and it really stretched him, so over this 2m4½f distance he should continue his improvement and be good enough to score.

1.50 (Cheltenham Trophy Handicap Chase – Grade 3) – LALOR

This is a frightfully tight race to call with a number holding chances, but it’s former Arkle favourite Lalor who catches the eye the most for us.

Kayley Woollacott’s gelding was a real rising star this time last season but fell in the Arkle when apparently holding a fair chance on form.  After some under-par runs the 8-year-old was upped to this 2m4½f trip on New Year’s Day and almost came home best of all in the Paddy Power, finishing third in a blanket finish.

That’s the best form on offer we feel and given that he can improve at the distance, he should have an advantage over some familiar faces over this track and trip such as Warthog, Highway One O One and Spiritofthegames who all have strong place claims.

2.25 (Cotswold Chase – Grade 2) – SANTINI

A nice race in its own right of course as a Grade 2 with £56,000 going to the winner, but the point about this event is that it is a genuine Gold Cup trial with several trainers entering horses they believe could be the real deal.

One of those trainers is Emma Lavelle who is adamant that her Ladbrokes Trophy winner De Rasher Counter can be a Gold Cup horse but to be honest as good as he undoubtedly is, he’ll need to take a couple of huge strides forward to enter calculations there.

Some improvement may put him near enough on a par with what can reasonably expected of Bristol De Mai, the Haydock specialist who is never quite the same around here.  His best Cheltenham effort was of course last season’s Gold Cup third but that was still below his very best and he now has to give a couple of pounds away to Santini.

Back from a wind op, Santini comes here fresh having won easily back in November, his only appearance since a very strong second in the RSA Chase at last year’s Festival with feeling being that if the Cotswold is indeed to produce one horse to put it up to the current Gold Cup favourites, it’s likely to be this one.

3.00 (Classic Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 2) – HOUSE ISLAND

Far be it from us to simply put forward the horse with the highest rating or even the best past form, but it does rather seem as though Paul Webber’s horse has been way underestimated by the bookmakers and he is simply too big a price overnight to ignore.

Likely favourite King Roland is rated 133 after two very easy hurdle wins but he’s had no real opposition up against him and we don’t know how good he truly is.  Protektorat (139) gives weight away all round and is more exposed, while our horse has achieved his mark of 143 from only three starts, improving in bundles each time.

Should he improve again, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t, he could make anything over 5/1 look a little silly.

3.35 (Cleeve Hurdle – Grade 2) – IF THE CAP FITS

This is a proper trial for the Stayers’ Hurdle and it’s a race that revolves around last year’s winner of both events, Paisley Park.

There’s no doubt that, on current evidence at least, Paisley Park is the best in his division but he’s missed a race and has had a very different preparation to last year so you’d be brave if you said you were taking odds-on about him today.

In the case of If The Cap Fits we have a horse who has won a Grade 1 over three miles at Aintree and the 2½-mile Coral Hurdle (Grade 2) on soft ground, now he simply has to put it all together by winning a three-mile race around Cheltenham and we’re backing him to do so and shake-up the Stayers’ Hurdle market.

Our old pal Summerville Boy also runs here but should be no better than third if the big two are on their game.

4.10 (Class 2 Handicap Hurdle) – EN MEME TEMPS

A chance is taken in the last race on Philip Kirby’s runner En Meme Temps, whose form from Carlisle may have been underestimated and who at around 10/1 would be far too big a price.  He may get the better of benchmark Sofia’s Rock.

Cheltenham New Years Day 2020: Singlefarm to Provide Our Payment

There’s no better way to start 2020 for jumps fans than with a Cheltenham card and so it’s great to begin as we mean to go on.  We have some great value selections for the first meeting of the year, beginning in the Ballymore Novices’ event.

12.15 (Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – 2m4½f – Listed Race) – WELSH SAINT

A good event to kick off our seven-race card and it’s one in which we trust crack trainer Nicky Henderson to have prepared his Welsh Saint well enough to handle the rigours of Cheltenham.

While Nico de Boinville’s mount is unproven in such company and around such a tough course, we feel this horse is the one with the most potential having won his maiden hurdle at Warwick ever so easily and at the likely odds, he could also represent some value.

Top weighted Redford Road is the most solid contender in the line-up and rates next best for us, just ahead of Imperial Alcazar.

12.50 (3m2½f Handicap Chase) – SINGLEFARMPAYMENT

There are some good old Cheltenham types in this line-up, one of which is Tom George’s ten-year-old Singlefarmpayment and while we don’t expect him to reach his career highs in terms of ability on the day, the level he can get to off his current mark could see him win this.

With a record most encouraging around this track, Singlefarmpayment is sure to give us a run for our money and based on his improvement from race one to race two this season, a fourth placed finish in the BetVictor Handicap Chase in December, we think he can take another small step forward which off a mark of 140 could be enough.

Both Doing Fine and Singlefarmpayment’s old rival Cogry remain of interest and should give a great account of themselves, but at both these weights and the likely odds we stick with Jonathan Burke’s mount.

1.25 (Dipper Novices’ Chase – 2m4½f – Grade 2) – CHAMP

Even at probable long odds-on, it’s very hard to oppose Cheltenham Festival ante post favourite Champ in this race but every horse can have an off day, so we don’t recommend having too much on him.

Should you need an alternative, one in the ‘without the favourite’ market or for the Placepot for example, you could do worse than back Deyrann De Carjac who rates as our second-best, but is third in the market overnight at around the 6/1 mark.

2.00 (Paddy Power Handicap Chase – 2m4½f – Grade 3) – EX PATRIOT

After an excellent effort at Newbury in defeat when losing a shoe, it’s very much expected that solid top weight and Grade One winner Kalashnikov will put up another bold show in this race but as the likely favourite he won’t offering a great deal in the way of betting value to do so.

Money may come for former Arkle Trophy favourite Lalor and that would be interesting, but the best value in the race lies with Irish raider Ex Patriot of the little known Ellmarie Holden yard.

His form so far, while going under the radar perhaps on this side of the Irish Sea, is good enough to get him involved at a big price and should he improve further which we expect, then in fact he could prove to be a very well handicapped sort indeed.

2.35 (3m Handicap Hurdle) – SKANDIBURG

Both Rapper and Goodbye Dancer are solid propositions here in what is a highly competitive three-mile hurdle race, the two being by our reckoning very close at these weights with former top-class staying chaser Might Bite meaning quite a battle for place money could be on the cards.

Even in taking into account that as an Aintree winner Skandiburg may not be quite as good around this track, Olly Murphy’s six-year-old still comes out on top for us so given that he could even improve today he definitely rates as the most likely winner and the best value in the line-up at around 6/1 overnight.

3.10 (Relkeel Hurdle – 2m4½f – Grade 2) – SUMMERVILLE BOY

Another fascinating race, one in which Nicky Henderson tries again to make hay over hurdles with a horse proven over fences, this time in the shape of Janika.  It remains to be seen how good he is over the smaller obstacles these days though and as favourite, we don’t like his price much either.

William Henry is solid though he gives weight away, while Emitom is probably the one with the most ticks in the most boxes and would be the one we’d recommend for a place.  A chance is taken at a nice price however on Summerville Boy who returns to hurdles having fallen on his second chase start and he’s one that could just outclass them in this sphere.

3.50 (1m6f Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race – Listed Race) – GRAND ROI

It’s always hoped that the lucky last can either supplement our winnings or get us out of trouble, but with not a lot to go on there are a fair few leaps of faith we need to take in order to pick out the right one in the closing bumper race.

It does look though that, on all known evidence at least, we can pick out two against the field with first of all Belle De Manech of Anthony Honeyball’s yard holding a winning chance in receipt of weight following her simple enough win at Warwick in November.

She has a tongue-tie for the first time and is expected to improve, though that may still not get her to the level of Grand Roi of Nicky Henderson’s yard and he gets the nod.

A very, very easy Wincanton winner, we have no idea yet where the bottom of this horse is and as such, he brings the most potential into this event.

 

International Meeting: 14th December 2019 - Time of the Lord in International Hurdle

A few favourites went in early on day one of the meeting and it’s hoped punters have another good day today at Cheltenham, the feature races this time being the Grade 2 International Hurdle and the Grade 3 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

12.10 (Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Hurdle – 2m1f) – BOTOX HAS

Whether or not he will ultimately prove good enough to challenge for the Triumph Hurdle itself remains open to some doubt, but on this occasion Gary Moore’s Botox Has appears to have a very fair shout in this trial race.

Receiving 3lbs from two-time winner Langer Dan this time, Joshua Moore’s mount won at Fontwell on his British debut before running well in second in a Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle trial here recently and he should have enough ability to see off most of this field comfortably enough, with the possible exception of Irish raider Tremwedge who remains of interest in this sort of grade.

12.45 (2m 4½f Novices’ Chase) – MISTER FISHER

All things being equal, this race could come down to likely market leaders Mister Fisher and Good Boy Bobby, with the former being favoured this time.

Nicky Henderson’s 5-year-old has had just the one chase start, finishing runner-up to Torpillo over two miles at Warwick which is good form, and it’s thought he should progress rather well now going up in trip and that’s something which gives him the edge at these weights.

Good Boy Bobby, carrying a penalty for his Wetherby win, shouldn’t be far away while Beakstown is probably best of the rest.

1.20 (2m½f Handicap Chase) – BALLYWOOD

This is a very tight one to call between two outstanding challengers, and while it’s expected that there will be a bigger weight of money behind Destrier, who ran a cracker to finish third in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last time out, we are happy to take a chance on Ballywood of Alan King’s yard.

Himself third at Ascot last time, while Ballywood was beaten a long way in the end the bare result doesn’t tell the full story and so we think the performance can be upgraded somewhat.  As a 5-year-old it could also be argued that he has more improvement to come that Destrier, giving him the edge, while old-timer Croco Bay could once again make himself competitive and is taken to sneak into a place.

1.55 (Caspian Caviar Gold Cup – Grade 3) – NOT THAT FUISSE

It goes without saying that our feature race, a £130,000 handicap, is hugely competitive but that usually means it’s best to look for one who could be very well-handicapped and we have that in the shape of Dan Skelton’s Not That Fuisse.

The 6-year-old did well here earlier in the season over two miles but it’s felt he’ll be better off over this sort of distance and it’s hoped, as is so often the case, that even more of an effort will be coaxed out of him now that he’s in a handicap and not a slowly-run novice event.

Only a young chaser, this being his fourth run and second around Cheltenham, he has a ton of potential and based on his close form with Al Dancer, his official rating of 131 may well have underestimated his abilities and so he is taken to land this ahead of Knocknanuss and Good Man Pat.

2.30 (Bristol Novices’ Hurdle – 3m – Grade 2) – CHAMPAGNE WELL

Once again things look close in this high-level Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle trial for the Festival in March, but while we like the chances of Igor in big races to come, he is not certain by all accounts to thrive over the full three miles and so on this occasion the percentage call is Fergal O’Brien’s Champagne Well.

Having landed a huge gamble here in October, the locally-trained horse came back to finish second to Thyme Hill last month in an improved showing and it’s felt that he has not finished progressing yet.  This extra three furlongs could unlock yet more and so he gets the shout at reasonable odds, with Mossy Fen and Valtor perhaps getting into things too.

3.05 (International Hurdle – 2m1f – Grade 2) – CALL ME LORD

Nicky Henderson has an extremely strong hand here and while his unbeaten dual Grade 1 winner Pentland Hills is very much the better fancied among the public and bookmakers going into the weekend, his more experienced Call Me Lord could just be the shrewd call.

Getting 3lbs from his younger stablemate, Call Me Lord as well as being largely consistent probably already boasts the best form in this field given that it has been achieved not just in juvenile company, while he also appears to be getting quicker as he gets older.

Having won over 2m5½f before, he came right back to this sort of trip for the Imperial Cup last season in which he was third, before returning in Ascot’s Grade 2 Coral Hurdle where he was runner-up.

His form is solid and reliable and he can be backed at nice prices to tough this out ahead of his teammate Pentland Hills, and perhaps the returning Ch’tibello who remains of interest.

3.40 (2m4½f Mares’ Handicap Hurdle) – DAME DE COMPAGNIE

This is a very competitive race on paper to finish off the card, but it’s one in which Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty could team up to win once again for JP McManus with this 6-year-old mare Dame De Compagnie who is on the comeback trail.

Having had some significant time off the track, she returned last time with a thoroughly decent fifth in the Greatwood Hurdle last month and she can kick on from that now to record a first victory in 20 months since scoring in a Listed race around this track in April 2018.

In behind the competition is numerous with JP’s other horse in the race, 4-year-old Vision Du Puy likely to go well, along with another Nicky Henderson mare in Lust For Glory.

International Meeting: 13th December 2019 - West the Right Approach in Day 1 Feature Race

The International meeting gets underway on Friday and, while Saturday’s card is the one most people are looking forward to, todays has on it the £60,000 Grade 3 BetVictor Handicap Chase, a race that may have implications for bigger upcoming events.

12.10 (2m1f Novices’ Hurdle) – GLORY AND FORTUNE

5-year-old Chantry House should be very popular here, representing crack connections JP McManus, Nicky Henderson and jockey Barry Geraghty.  He in fact should be the market leader and he shows up pretty highly on our ratings too, though he is vulnerable we feel to one with a little more racing experience.

That contender is Glory And Fortune who, while only a 4-year-old, has run in two hurdle races already, acquitting himself well including at Haydock last time out in a Listed race when he was hampered in his run en route to finishing third.  He should improve and will be good value to land the opener.

12.45 (3m1½f Novices’ Chase) – PYM

Stoney Mountain is interesting now going chasing while Imperial Aura should go on after winning last time, however in fighting for place money they may have their work cut out to get past Rockpoint who is consistent rather than brilliant, but has run well around here twice now and is clearly improving steadily.

The one to be on though seems likely to be Nicky Henderson’s Pym, the 6-year-old who has already left his hurdle form well behind after just two chase starts, reaching a mark of 149.  He won very well at Ascot last time with the major point about him being that he can jump brilliantly, meaning he’s able to take lengths out of his opposition and keep much needed energy for the hill.

1.20 (2m1f Handicap Hurdle) – BARNTOWN

With 14 runners this at first glance looks like a highly competitive handicap hurdle, but there are three that for various reasons appear as though they may be a little way ahead of the handicapper and as such should be the ones to concentrate on.

Ecu De La Noverie, Philip Hobbs’ runner who is a good deal better now than when he last ran over hurdles and Oakley, our next best and also trained by Hobbs, is very much going the right way and seems to handle this track quite well but they may both have it all to do to get beyond Barntown.

Right at the bottom of the weights, Tim Vaughan’s runner doesn’t have a lot to carry and yet is used to an undulation and some heavy ground, so should see things out well here.  Given natural improvement from his latest Lingfield success, he could be a horse heading into the 120’s making his official mark of 112 for this race look very lenient indeed.

1.55 (2m4½f Mares’ Handicap Chase) – CHEQUERED VIEW

None of the six mares involved here can be considered to be out of form as such, and so this is a pretty open race on the face of it.

At nice prices the likes of Skewiff and Parlour Maid can get involved in the finish, but the solid one of the bunch appears to be last-time-out winner Chequered View and she gets the nod.

Her win at Fakenham was achieved on good ground and over three miles, but her stamina could come in handy at the death here and arguably her most impressive performance to take came over this trip on soft ground at Worcester in the early autumn, meaning there’s not much not to like about her profile.

2.30 (BetVictor Handicap Chase – 3m2f – Grade 3) – WEST APPROACH

It’s tight at the top in this important race, but while several are in contention on paper there are doubts lingering over them.  Whether it be taking a punt on some coming back to form or chancing whether or not they’ll handle Cheltenham, runners such as Singlefarmpayment, Dandy Dan and Cogry are all viable options but all have question marks.

West Approach on the other hand, the likely market leader for trainer Colin Tizzard, does handle Cheltenham just fine and is going the right way.

Having won well here over a slightly longer trip in November, he was sent off favourite for the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury no less but crashed out at the seventh.  If you’re in the frame of mind to say he was the rightful favourite that day, which we are, then we have to believe he can put in the sort of performance that would make him well handicapped today off a mark of 150 and with no concerns regarding the track, the trip or underfoot conditions, he is the percentage call.

3.05 (3m6f Cross Country Handicap Chase) – NEVERUSHACON

There are some good old favourites lining up here including Yanworth, Josies Orders and Kingswell Theatre who we think could go very close at the weights, but interesting too in this sphere are Chic Name and Jessie Harrington’s Neverushacon who rates as just about the selection.

The 8-year-old was behind Yanworth last time in Ireland but should enjoy it here while he also looks capable of coming on plenty from that run at Punchestown.  Should he indeed improve in this contest, then off 11st4lbs he is weighted to win we feel and at around 10/1 would represent great value too.

3.40 (3m Handicap Hurdle) – GOODBYE DANCER

The lucky last is a very, very wide-open race and so a leap of faith will be required to a degree.  At the likely prices though, it could be worth taking a chance on Fergal O’Brien’s Goodbye Dancer.

The local trainer has a great record here and has only just recruited this horse from Nigel Twiston-Davies’ yard, a move that it is hoped will trigger some reinvigoration and improvement in his form.

Having already shown a liking for Cheltenham, he may well make light of his current mark now he’s had a change of scenery and could get the better of the likes of Ask Ben, Falco Blitz and No Getaway.