In my view it is a poor day of racing at Cheltenham today where I have struggled to find something to bet on. I will have to wait for the last race of the day for LETTERSTON LILY who bids to go a few places better than last time out. Peter Bowen’s 4 year old filly has had a different introduction to National Hunt racing making her debut in the Aintree bumper in the Spring before enduring a busy summer where she has developed into a tidy hurdler. She caught the eye here last time out when staying on powerfully up the hill over 2m 4f which might concern you about today’s 2m trip but having won over 2m at Cartmel earlier this year I don’t have many worries about her speed today. At a bigger price in the same race I think CALLIN BATON ROUGE might be worth following now dropped back to 2m. A horse on the up before running in the same race as the former selection last time out he shaped as if the extended trip was beyond him that day. There were some good vibes about him prior to that and I think an each way punt may be rewarded in an open race.
Cheltenham 4.00 – Letterston Lily / Callin Baton Rouge
Saturday
The Paddy Power Gold Cup looks at the mercy of Ginny’s Destiny with stats and course form on his side but his record fresh worries me and I think he is opposable at 3/1. This isn’t a good race for favourites historically so the possibility of Paul Nicholls saddling back to back favourite winners of this race appears slim to me. There are plenty of horses at bigger prices that I would rather take a punt on and top of that list is JETOILE who might just be primed for this race. Ryan Potter’s stable star won the Old Roan last season before performing admirably back here in January and again at Punchestown in the Spring. A pipe opener at Chepstow would have blown away any cobwebs and he now looks weighted to reverse the form with GA Law who beat him here in January.
One of my best bets of the weekend is GOWEL ROAD in the 3m handicap hurdle. A classy performer on his day, was just beaten last time out by Pertemps favourite The Wallpark. That form looks strong and a repeat of that performance should see him go close here despite carrying top weight. The favourite here, Doyen Quest, could be a blot on the handicap but he doesn’t appear to be crying out for this trip so I’m keen to oppose him for the sake of value.
Sam Twiston-Davies could be in line for a quickfire double as Henry Daly’s young mare WYENOT should have more to offer after her impressive victory here last time out. She will have to overcome a big swing in the weights as Alice Stevens took 5lbs off when winning that day but I would like to think she will improve for the run anyway. Her bold jumping should suit this course and I can see her making a bold bid from the front.
Cheltenham 2.20 – Jetoile
Cheltenham 2.55 – Gowel Road
Cheltenham 3.30 – Wyenot
Sunday
We are awaiting final decs as this goes to press but looking at the Greatwood my main selection will probably be outsider ROYAL WAY. I was also keen on Lump Sum but his late defection means I am left with one selection but I’m happy to play him at 40/1 in what is an open race away from the favourite. Dysart Enos could be thrown in off 131, obviously, but with only 3 novice hurdle runs under her belt the hustle and bustle of a race like this might just catch her out and I’m keen to take her on as a consequence. Royal Way was a progressive juvenile last season and returned this season with a 4th in the Masterson Hurdle here last month. On the bare form of that you would say he has plenty to find but a mistake at the last (should have been second last) emptied him out which put pay to his chance but once he got second wind he stayed on nicely up the hill to grab 4th. His first run last season was a blowout so I suggest he is a horse who needs his first run badly and could therefore improve enormously on his second run. At 40/1 he looks a solid each way bet.
Cheltenham 3.30 – Royal Way
