Cheltenham 3.40 Paddy Power Plate
Cheltenham 3.40 Paddy Power Plate - Handicap - G3C1 - 2 miles 4 and 1/2 furlongs - 23 run
Another very competitive race and one where I want to take the top of the market on.
The Shunter comes for a big bonus prize of £100,000 but the trip is a niggle for me as is proven Course form. Farclas is one of those "talking horses" everyone claims to be on ante-post has solid Irish form but was pulled up when appearing at the Festival in 2019. If you want a win saver on anything, I would prefer FARCLAS to The Shunter.
Caribean Boy comes from the Henderson yard and looks more suited up in trip but a note of caution is the fact it's 9lbs above it's last winning mark.
SULLY D'OC AA is a progressive type, 6th here in The Novice Chase last year and well worth an investment off a progressive and improving mark of 137.
At the other end of the market, I'd not put anyone off Coole Cody whose Course record is 2-1-6 but who would probably prefer this was on The Old Course.
In this race last year HAPPY DIVA was runner up off 149, highly tried since, and back here off a juicy looking 145, MASTER WHITAKER was third off a mark of 152, gets a couple of pounds off also off 150 here today and the old favorite OLDGRANGEWOOD 4th last year off 147, won off 142 over Course and Distance since and off 146 today all seem to me to have cracking each way chances once again.
CHAMPAGNE COURT who was 4th in the 2019 Martin Pipe could also outrun Odds off a handy looking 134.
TRACKERS Happy Diva + Master Whitaker + Oldgrangewood - all 1/2 point each way / Sully D'Oc AA + Champagne Court - both 1/4 point each way - 4 points staked