Rory Delargy
CHELTENHAM SATURDAY
1:50 BetVictor HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3) 3M 3F 71Y
With original fancy Knock House a non runner, I fancy Cogry to make amends for a lapse in jumping at the Showcase meeting. The Twiston-Davies gelding made a complete hash of the first fence last month, but is normally a safe conveyance and, as a thorough stayer with no weight on his back, should be able to reach the frame. The more rain overnight the better for him.
2:25 BetVictor GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3) 2M 4F 78Y
Paul Nicholls has a strong hand here, but I’m not convinced that Frodon is the yard’s best chance, and both As de Mee and Bouvreuil are given greater respect despite not always convincing with their attitudes. Frodon has come a long way in a short time over fences, but this is not a race for a raw novice, let alone one as young as four.
Tom George’s Double Shuffle was a place behind Bouvreuil here in March, but was again showing a liking for the track, and he looked an improved performer when rattling home to almost catch Art Mauresque at Chepstow on his return. He remains open to improvement, and is at the right end of the weights, so merits the main bet.
Of the others, More Of That looks a terrible favourite given his problems and the yard’s shocking form, which is also a major concern for Taquin du Seuil. Stable form is also a negative for Aso, and plenty of others looking fully exposed, the other runner to bear in mind is the lightly-raced Stilletto, who makes his debut for the up and coming Johnny Farrelly. He was sent off favourite when falling in the Festival Plate in March, and while his jumping needs to improve, he’s unlikely to go backwards on debut for his current yard, and looks overpriced at around 16/1. He’s got the look of a big market mover in the morning, and is worth a saver, especially with the sponsor paying six places.
3:00 REGULATORY FINANCE SOLUTIONS HANDICAP HURDLE (Listed) 3M 1F 67Y
It was galling to watch Will O’The West get caught here last month having got to the lead travelling supremely well between the last two hurdles, and my opinion is that he would have won if getting a lead for longer, seeming to lose concentration as he came to the last, which led to his rider getting unbalanced.
He’s unexposed as a stayer and is bred to do well given a test like this, so he’s well worth persevering with. Corrin Wood has made the move from Don McCain to Dan Skelton, and will attract support for that reason, but he appeals as being best in small fields, and is likely to be overly supported even if retaining most of his old ability.
So Fine might be interesting at a bigger price having won off a similar mark here last autumn. He does need to put a poor run at Newton Abbot behind him, but will be much better suited to this track, and could surprise.
3:35 MARTIN & CO JEWELLERS INTERMEDIATE HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 5F 26Y
I’ve long been a fan of Final Nudge, and he looks quite well handicapped on the pick of last season’s novice form, notably when splitting Unowhatimeanharry and West Approach here last December. That form was boosted considerably when Harry Fry’s gelding won the Albert Bartlett, and while Final Nudge was a bit flat after that, but bounced back to win at Southwell in March, his trainer’s patient approach can pay dividends. Adrian Heskin is an interesting booking and, while fences are where his future lies (he has an entry in a novice chase as early as Tuesday), he’s good enough to go close in this field.
CHELTENHAM SUNDAY
1:55 SHLOER CHASE (Grade 2) 1M 7F 199Y
Much will depend on how the ground rides, and both Fox Norton and Special Tiara would prefer the ground to be as close to good as possible. The former is respected after routing handicappers at the Showcase, but he couldn’t have been fitter than he was for that win, and would need to improve to take this step up.
On the other hand, Special Tiara is the class act on form from the last two seasons, and his blank season in 2015/16 means he runs here without a penalty. That’s also true for the fragile Simonsig who showed that his ability was intact when third to God’s Own at Punchestown in the spring, but Nicky Henderson’s former Arkle hero ran a stinker over hurdles next time and is clearly a risky proposition.
2:30 stanjames.com GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE (Grade 3) 2M 87Y
Like the big race on Saturday, the Greatwood is a race where it’s worth having two against the field, and my pair are A Hare Breath and Song Light. The former won well at this meeting 12 months ago, and had excuses for a poor run when last seen (bled).
He’s been given a break, and remains on a very tempting mark, a notion which is given weight by Ben Pauling’s assertion that he’s the best handicapped horse in the yard.
Song Light is clearly not as unexposed as A Hare Breath, but he’s got solid form in big-field handicap hurdles, is fairly weighted on the balance of his form and ran very well on the flat in preparation for this.
Trainer Seamus Mullins is on the cold list, but Fergall ran really well in a valuable event at Ascot a fortnight ago given a similar preparation, and Song Light looks a player in a competitive contest. He’s not a standout per se, but quotes of 50/1 about him are insulting, He ought to be less than half that price, and should be backed accordingly.
RECOMMENDED
SATURDAY
DOUBLE SHUFFLE 2.35 Cheltenham - 1pt e/w @ 9/1 (BetVictor - paying 6 places)
STILLETTO 2.35 Cheltenham - 1pt e/w @ 14/1 (BetVictor)
WILL O’THE WEST 3.00 Cheltenham - 1pt e/w @ 9/1 (BetVictor, William Hill)
SUNDAY
SONG LIGHT 2.30 Cheltenham - 1pt e/w @ 50/1 (general)
A HARE BREATH 2.30 Cheltenham - 1pt e/w @ 12/1 (Coral, Boylesports)