Evening folks
Two more selections as below, along with the ones already sent and their write ups. Nothing further for Saturday but I will be looking tomorrow for the Cheltenham Sunday card for us and will update accordingly.
1:35 Wetherby
GLORY AND HONOUR– 3/4 Pt Win @ 9/1 888Sport, 8/1 generally
Better than these at his peak, looks very well treated off 117 and the foot of the weights. Has beaten several of these previously, with all of the rest having stamina concerns barring him. Needs to bounce back but on his favoured ground and trip in this discipline, if he does he could win this.
4:48 Newcastle
ELEGANT ERIN– 1.25 Pt Win @ 7/1 Hills boost, 13/2 generally (not all books priced so may be bigger)
Very, very unlucky over C & D in a good Class 3 handicap LTO, has been in good form of late and can make amends here from a decent draw granted/due luck in the run.
1:10 Cheltenham
JIMMY THE DIGGER– 3/4 Pt EW @ 12/1 4 places Hills boost, 11/1 4 normal, 8/1 drifting 4 places generally
A strong travelling horse, although now 11 ran as well as ever over C & D LTO. In fact, he loves this C & D on the Old course where he has returned the form line of 1,4,2 from 3 efforts to date! He is better off with the winner who was given a good ride that day, setting a slowish pace but there looks more pace on in this which will suit our fellow. Trainer going well and the icing on the cake for me was the handicap mark. He goes off just 113 here (7lb capable amateur reduces that to effectively 106!! and will surely know him better after his 1st ever ride aboard him last time) and in 6 handicaps runs from a mark of 115 and below, he has returned the tremendous record of 1,2,2,1,2,1!! Loves good ground so at the price with the place terms on offer rates a decent bet IMO.
2:20 Cheltenham
LETS GO CHAMP– 3/4 Pt Win @ 12/1 Hills/Lads boosts, 11/1 generally
Looks to have been let in lightly for his master trainer who is in brilliant form and is mustard with his handicap chaser at Prestbury Park. Lovely racing weight but as 1st time up, I went win only at what I thought was a value price.
2:55 Cheltenham
ZEEBAND– 1/2 Pt EW @ 20/1 Will Hill boost 4 places, 18/1 4 places generally drifting so may get bigger as 20’s available but 3 places.
Connections took last years renewal with our friend Buddy One and interestingly Zeeband has been following the same path, in the same races (strong form, big field Irish handicaps’) coming into this. Indeed, the trainer has a tremendous record over C & D, training 2 winners & a 4th place for Buddy One last year in the Stayers Hurdle from 4 attempts ALL TIME! So with prominent racer boating a perfect 2 from 2 in good ground hurdle races, looked a big price given what I have said above and worth chancing.
3:30 Cheltenham
WONDERFUL EAGLE– 1 Pt Win @ 10/1 Hills, 9/1 generally
An improving 5 year old (they have a good record in this race), I think this has been the early season plan given he finished 4th (after looking the winner at the last) as an inexperienced 4 year old in this very race last year. He bolted up the last time we saw him over hurdles in a fastish time on good ground over this trip and the trainer combo could have won, barring a faller and a very unlucky 2nd, with their LAST 7 runners!! A strong traveller, he looks well handicapped regardless and although his jumping definitely needs improvement to say the least (hence win only) looked the one in the race for me.
3:48 Newcastle
AZURE ANGEL– 1/2 Pt EW @ 50/1 4 places generally
A speculative selection but we are getting a monster price and there were enough positives to chance IMO based off of the following.
She has a lot to find on official ratings (does get the 5lb extra allowance though), we know that, but these 4 year old’s, especially fillies, can rapidly improve. She is a perfect 2 from 2 at this track and travels smoothly. Her trainer, who is no mug, is in red hot form, running at a 50% Win SR (13 from 26) past 30 days & 66% place on the All weather!
His record here is also exceptional, especially when teaming up with Jack Mitchell who in turn is superb in sprints at this course. In fact, they are 6 from 13 over C & D, 10 of them placing past 5 years which improves to an unbelievable 6 from 9, 8 placers in Non-handicaps at 6F!! She could blow out but I am intrigued as to why he would blow a decent handicap mark to come for this so with 4 places on offer I will pay at the price to see how she gets on.
4:00 Cheltenham
ST IRENE– 1/2 Pt EW @ 20/1 Bet365 4 places, 16/1 Skybet 4 places, 20’s & 18’s drifting generally
Needs to step up on form but she was most impressive LTO and 4 year old’s have a tremendous record in this. Her small time trainer is excellent with his National Hunt Flat runners and is not one to over face them so it is very interesting he sends her here for this as he has ONLY EVER run 2 horses in these type of races at Cheltenham, which yielded a very impressive winner & a close 3rd! Both of those were similar types stepping up in class and the Racing Post have her 2nd in on their Topspeed figures so, with stacks of improvement to come no doubt, I thought she could go well at a price with the favourable place terms on offer.