13:30 Cheltenham 15 Mar 2023
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
Champ Kiely £10 or 2pt win only 8/1 (VirginBet money back offer) – Unbeaten until running into Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond back in December. was able to put that dissapointment behind him next time out when returning a comfortable winner over a decent field at Naas. Today’s step up in trip plays to this ones strengths and should the ground be a little tacky and hard to get through then this candidate is certainly one that won’t be hindered by that.
14:10 Cheltenham 15 Mar 2023
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Galia Des Liteaux 1pt win only 20/1 (Antepost) now 12/1 – One from the 50 to follow who has looked a natural since being switched to the bigger obstacles. Relishes testing conditions and looks like he will appreciate this stiff finish here at Cheltenham. Dan Skelton has made no secrets about how highly he rates this one and has touted it as his best chance of a winner this year. Whether he is up to the level of this unbeaten favourite in Gerri Colombe though i guess only time will tell. The favourite is yet to win over this trip tackling fences and could be vulnerable at the business end.
14:50 Cheltenham 15 Mar 2023
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Langer Dan 1pt win only 12/1 + Off Your Rocco 0.5pt EW 100/1 (6places Will Hill) – Langer Dan is another from the 50 to Follow who has been unlucky coming to the festival. Was unfortunate to run into Galopin Des Champs two years ago in the Martin Pipe when clear of everything else in the field and was Brought down when looking to go one better in the same race last year. Granted a clear round he should be able to play a hand here and maybe claim the prize he very much deserves. Gordon Elliot landed this race last year with a 50/1 winner and he sends 5 today so deciphering which one will hold best sway is very tricky. The selection however fits the bill and ticks plenty of boxes for this race so we will take a wild swing on one that is far from without a chance on his best form.
15:30 Cheltenham 15 Mar 2023
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
Greaneteen 0.5pt EW 25/1 – All the talk around this race has been about the top two in the market but we have seen already this year that neither is without a chink in the armour and both look beatable as the reopposing Editor Du Gite has shown on more than one occasion. He himself is not without chance but would need to be backed from a win perspective. The selection once lowered the flag of the mighty Altior so we know that he can be readied for a big occasion and whilst looking to have a bit to find on recent form offer a fair EW shout in a nice looking race. Yard won this with a similar looking type 3 years back and they will be desperate to take this today.
16:10 Cheltenham 15 Mar 2023
Glenfarclas Chase
Deise Aba 0.5pt EW 33/1 – Not a race that we have gotten to deeply involved with in recent years as it has often looked like a full gone conclusion. The selection however finished just ahead of todays short priced favourite over this course back in Jan and despite there being a big turn around in the weights today he ought to run a big race again.
16:50 Cheltenham 15 Mar 2023
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Call Me Lyreen 0.5pt EW 16/1 + Battleoverdoyen 0.5pt EW 40/1 (6places general) – Call me Lyreen took well to fences last term but was let down by his jumping on his last two starts. Has been absent since Oct and returns with a little bit to prove today but he looks the exact sort that would go well in this race. Battleoverdoyen from the same yard also fits the bill as a likely winner of this event and would be hard to discount having fallen down the weights since his heyday for such a canny trainer who is building a bit of a reputation in these big handicaps here.
17:30 Cheltenham 15 Mar 2023
Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Chapeau Du Soleil 0.5pt EW 25/1 (4places) + Queens Gamble 0.5pt EW 20/1 (5places B365) – Both selections are from the 50 to Follow and both hold good EW chances today. Chapeau was unable to justify his short odds on his debut but he ran very green that day and had not been on track for 217 days and he will be more than entitled to improve for that run. His reopposing rival that day Better Days Ahead had the benefit of a run under his belt and we fancy the selection to reverse that form with interest. Queens Gamble is already twice a winner here and can be forgiven her latest defeat when the race fell apart and she hit the front too early. She was conceding weight that day too and ought to run a big race once more.
Charity Bets
£2 Yankee – Good Land / Energumene / Delta Work / Andy Dufrense
£3 Treble – Gerri Colombe / Edwardstone / Delta Work
Todays Charity bet is on behalf of Giddosgift selected by Andy Cummings and sponsored by Rich Higson
Horses4Causes 