As the national hunt season is gradually hitting full swing again, I thought it would be a good point to start this site back up with previews of the big meetings and weekend/meeting selections! Enjoy!
Cheltenham
1.50 – A mega competitive handicap chase to start things off, 7-1 the field makes for some big price opportunities and I’ve gone for Rebecca Curtis’ RACING PULSE at 16/1. The form figures aren’t necessarily attractive however this horse was always going to be a better chase and with the yard in patchy form last year, no horse got going. Already this year a number of horses have come out from the yard and won with patchy form last season and they’re all coming out on decent marks. With the form Nicholls is in, Keltus has to be respected as does Nicky Henderson’s Full Shift, who had a winner yesterday.
3.00 – A competitive little 4 year old race is always tricky, with horses improving, or not, its hard to grasp where they are. Adrian Du Pont is a worthy fav with the Nicholls form but I worry how he’ll settle on his first start of the season. Leoncavello is very interesting making his debut for the Ben Pauling yard and itll be interesting to see if theres any improvement there. Alan King holds the cards with Sceau Royal and Gilbralfaro, and the market will tell us who’s most ready but I like Wolf of Windlesham who has to give weight to a few but the course form should stand him well.
3.30 – Fox Norton is a worthy fav after his novice campaign last year where he ended up 3rd behind Douvan in the arkle. Always on the Run looks progressive and will still be improving but I’m going with two more experienced horses. Henry De Bromhead is flying and had the 1-2 in a novice chase here yesterday, he saddles Devils Bride who has only had one start for De Bromhead after joining from Mullins and I think he can eek out a little more improvement with Richardson taking 5lb off. The other I like is another Irish raider in ROCK THE WORLD, at 16/1 I think this represents a cracking ew bet with the course form this horse has. Having already won here he was sent off a well backed fav at the festival and ended up 3rd. He won on this card last year so Jessie Harrington will have him ready.
4.05 – Another very competitive handicap, this time a hurdle race over 3m. Any money for Byrnes’ Top Of The Town would be significant however, yet again, I’m going for an Irish raider in the shape of Gordon Elliot’s TAGLIETELLTE. At 12/1 theres juice in the price, with a number of factors appealing. He returns to hurdling after a patchy spell chasing, he runs off a mark the same as when finishing 4th at the festival in this Pertemps qualifying final. Headgear returns and Cian Collins takes off 7lb, who recorded a win for Elliot earlier in the week on De Plotting Shed. This horse needs the 3m and I think a return to hurdling will benefit as well with the yard flying.
4.40 – A very high class, although small field, novice chase. Qualando has to be respected with yard form and course form however I think he falls short of the top 2. Shantou village will be expected to win and put in a display to excite fans for next March but I wasn’t THAT impressed with his jumping on chase debut and he already has to give the rest his 5lb penalty. I think thats enough for me to side with BROTHER TEDD at 3/1. A nice chase debut behind a smart horse n Virgilio, I’d have Virgilio ahead of these and even though Brother Tedd never landed a blow, he wasn’t given a tough debut and he can improve from it while also getting the weight.
5.10 – No bet, however a very interesting bumper with some exciting prospects. Rebecca Curtis usually sends a good one here so Coroners Report is worth a watch, along with River Wylde and Brahms De Clermont who both won easily the last day. I’m interesting in seeing how Kalanisi Circle does. Hes sure to improve from debut and being a brother to Barters Hill, he could be more of a bumper horse than most of these.
Selections
1.50 – Racing Pulse 16/1
3.30 – Rock the World 16/1
4.05 – Taglietel1li 12/1
4.40 – Brother Tedd 3/1
Elsewhere here are my selections for the rest of the day.
Newbury : 1.45 – Executive Force 5/1 / 2.20 – Frontiersman 7/1 / 2.50 – Lord ben Stack 6/1
Kelso: 2.00 – Brio Conti 6/4
Doncaster: 2.40 – Dutch Masterpiece 12/1 / 3.15 – To Be Wild 6/1 / 5.00 – Novoman 3/1 / 5.35 – Castle Harbour 7/2
Punchestown: 1.55 – Bilko 5/2 / 2.30 – Loughaderra Prince 4/1 / 4.10 – Three Wise Man 6/1
On The Hunt 