Cheltenham 5.30 - Kim Muir - Amateur Jockey - Handicap Chase - Class 2 - 3 miles 4 furlongs - Soft - 24 run

(Robin - UK / Michael - Ireland)

 

The quality of this race improves by the year but Conditions by race time may be very attritional.

 

Robin - I think that the very nature of this race these days plays in to the strengths of the Irish horses and jockeys and they have far more experience of this type of race on their calendar and the bigger Irish yards are stacked with suitable types. Given the conditions I think we are playing with redoubtable plodders who may stay on at big odds and pick up some decent enhanced place scraps if all goes well in running.

 

Of the home hopes I think CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK has the best proven stamina, it's run more on better ground but the Yard will have a tilt and almost certainly run to finish and then pick up what they can. RAPPER is a real favourite of mine as you know, excellent form and Course credentials and if its ridden conservatively and given a chance to be in contention on the turn hill whilst he may fail for lack of stamina he won't fail for lack of heart or ability. DIDIERO VALLIS is the type who can pop up at any time and this is exactly his sort of race to do so 3rd last year and optimal conditions for a repeat. I just feel the Irish are stronger-:    

 

Michael - I think we have 2 cast iron chances with DUNBOYNE for Elliott and Jamie Codd and MR INCREDIBLE for the Mullins yard and with luck in running I can't see past those pair and will play F/Cast and T/Cast accordingly.

 

Aside from those pair I really do like PUNITIVE , if you ignore the Thyestes run he would be bang on with the front pair in the market and if running to previous and progressive form he looks very strong too and will form a bet and a T/Cast perm for me. It's very likely BALLYKEEL will be right on their coat tails too and I can't leave him out of the reckoning.DEFI BLEU lurks on an incredibly generous mark even from the UK handicapper and together with Western Zara is the type to get round at big Odds

 

The Irish really do have a nap hand here and I suggest shrapnel on the UK tips from Robin if that floats your boat.

 

TIPS (1) Dunboyne / (2) Mr Incredible / (3) Punitive / (4) Ballykeel / (5) DefI Bleu - see notes re. Captain Cattistock / Rapper and Didiero Vallis