Cheltenham 2.10
Pertemps Final at 2.10 over 3 miles and 24 run - must remember that we move today to THE NEW COURSE; after 2 days on the inner (Old Course), The new Course is a more galloping track, less tactical, suits stamina horses and although the pace angles can vary; it is the case that it is very hard to run prominently here and win, not impossible. In this race I can visualise front runners like Cuneo; Samburu Shujaa; A Toi Phil; Aaron Lad and Cool Cody all being in contention for a long way. They may stay there and that is the risk, but it has the hallmarks of being a real stayers race, so my first gamble is to look for in form and/or well handicapped hold up horses with experience in this type of race. Of those I will have a 1 point win saver on SIRE DE BERLAIS who could be ideally suited to the trip and has more than a touch of class about him. CHAMPERS ON ICE intrigues me as it has some good Course and Festival form and from a Yard who always target this race, if the decent return run last time brings it on a bit, could be very well handicapped and definitely a fresh horse. FLEMCARA is as tough as teak, in form, won last time, not over penalised and just the kind to battle on in to a place at nice odds. Finally, I just prefer to hold up chances of NOTWHATIAM to the prominent running style of Aaron Lad who may have been targeted here after winning over Course and Distance.