We managed to find the winner of all 3 tip races yesterday and a nice e/w placed one at decent Odds to places or enhanced places also. Myretown back in from 12/1 was visually very impressive as was the confidently tipped Puturhandstogether, whilst Haiti Couleurs ran very well to win the final race on the Card.

 

We are attacking just the 2 Handicaps today, Wednesday for me is by far the weakest day with a pair of Races that I would not have if the Festival was 3 days, which I much preferred and they are the Cross Country and the NHFlat race that closes the Card. A perfect opportunity for some pie and ale and to be in the car home in my opinion. 

 

We will focus on probably the second best Handicap race of the week, The Coral Cup at 2.40 and also the Grand Annual Chase at 4.40 which I think sits much better in this slot than late on FRiday afternoon after the Gold Cup where it was traditionally scheduled.

 

We have a Placepot perm on the first 6 races on the Card too.

 

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2.40 Coral Cup - Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 5 furlongs - Class 1 - 26 run - Good to Soft 

 

One of the best betting heats of the week and with significantly enhanced places and just the 2 handicaps to attack today we'll go to 5 strong and confident selections and a pair of very lively outsiders for smaller stakes.

 

The Advisor for the UK and Sean for Ireland have come up with the following.

 

As you would imagine there are many chances here, so let's look first at some who warranted very close inspection but just missed the final cut.

 

Jipcot for Jonjo O'Neill is a danger but I was disappointed with the Stables runners overall yesterday and whilst feared this one slipped down my initial rankings. Samui is an ex Flat horse who will love the conditions, we just question his stamina. Maxxum has been a great servant to us and always a chance he'll pop up but he does look to be carrying a lot of weight in such a competitive race. The irish trio of Bunting, who is the most unexposed horse in the race, Al Gasparo and very decent horse from Gavin Cromwell and Sandor Clegane, something of a Cheltenham specialist for Paul Nolan are all very strong options who just missed Sean's final cut. Beat The Bat has a great engine but is a sketchy jumper and it would be a huge ask to make an early mistake here and recover ground. Jimmy Du Seuil and Ike Sport were another pair whose chances are obvious and whose fear level is very high in terms of beating our final selections.

 

We both feel that 3 horses have been deliberately and carefully laid out for this race. 

 

BE AWARE by the Skelton team, our ante-post selection COMFORT ZONE by young O'Brien and IMPOSE TOI by Henderson who has some notable Course form. We cannot look beyond these 3 as very strong selections here and although they are at the top end of the market, all look excellent each way.

 

Just behind them in our ratings are BALLYADAM, runner up to Langer dan in this race last year and surely primed again and the admirably consistent and always dangerous at Cheltenham mare ANNA BUNINA who really does look significantly over-priced.

 

For £1 e/w shrapnel one for each of us, BECKETT ROCK is very unexposed for De Bromhead but a real eye-catcher last time, he may well be one for next year but the Yard know how to prepare one for the day and too many respected UK analysts are confident enough in Evan Williams MINELLA MISSILE back at the right trip for us to ignore too.

 

(Sean / Advisor)

 

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4.40 Grand Annual - Handicap Chase - 2 miles 20 run - Good to Soft

 

The likes of JPR One, a very classy horse but so far a much better record right handed, Dancing On My Own, the admirable De Bromhead veteran, Fringill Dike, who is very interesting off a 157 day break, American Mike whose best seems to be reserved for Fairyhouse for the Elliott team and Primoz an unexposed Lucinda Russel Chaser all warranted close attention and a mention here.

 

With 4 main selections, it was hard to leave out both MIDNIGHT IT IS who may have had a health issue when disappointing last time but whose prior form was very strong and JASKO DES DAMES another unexposed one for De Bromhead who should definitely be noted for future Cheltenhams, both warrant a £1 e/w side bet if that floats your boat.

 

The top 4 tough do look very solid and in preference order are UNEXPECTED PARTY, winner of this last year; laid out for this race by a Skelton Team who having been denied the Trainers Title at the Festival last year have noticeably and in a very calculated way, kept a few back for this year as much more lightly raced and honed to the day they hope. JAZZY MATTY for Cian Collins will be a massive danger and cannot be overlooked. MY MATE MOZZIE too for Gavin Cromwell has claims that cannot be ignored and it would not be a surprise to see those finish 1-2-3 here.

 

If there is one who could be upsetting that applecart is TRAPRAIN LAW who may be the stable second string but very similar type and profile to Myretown yesterday who was for many also their second string. TRAPRAIN LAW is very likely to try the same front running tactics and if they give it similar leeway and let it get a blow in coming down the hill, then a similar outcome could be the result.

 

(Robin / Michael)

 

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PLACEPOT PERM

 

1.20 - 10 - The New Lion / 7 Potters Charm

2.00 - 1 Ballyburn / 4 Gorgeous Tom

2.40 - 17 Be Aware / 15 Comfort Zone

3.20 - 12 Busselton / 14 The Goffer

4.00 - 6 Marine Nationale / 1 Captain Guinness

4.40 - 7 Unexpected Party / 15 Jazzy Matty

 

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Back with more tomorrow