THE second day of The International Meeting at Cheltenham features the Grade 2 Unibet International Hurdle, with last year’s winner Song For Someone and the fourth Sceau Royal renewing rivalry. At Ascot, Song For Someone ran a good race to finish second to Nicky Henderson’s Buzz, with Guard Your Dreams in third (reopposes today). The evergreen Sceau Royal was third at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth behind the dead-heaters Not So Sleepy and 2020 Unibet Champion Hurdle winner Epatante, when running another fine race. At the time of writing on Friday there is only a couple of millimetres or rain forecast for Saturday, so the ground should be good to soft, good in places. This is a typically tightly matched renewal and I just favour Sceau Royal over Song For Someone in an intriguing contest.
In the previous race at 1.50 Gold Cup Handicap Chase it would be great to see the November meeting winner of the Saturday feature Midnight Shadow follow up here and emulate Pegwell Bay, Senor El Betrutti and Exotic Dancer, who was the last horse to complete this double in 2006.
In the 1.50 Gold Cup Handicap Chase at the other end of the market have an each way play on Topofthecotswolds Unibet 40/1, who has a good race in him.
Enjoy whether #athome or at the races.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.50 Cheltenham – Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2m 4½f)
Midnight Shadow (nap) was napped in my Unibet blog when winning the Gold Cup Handicap Chase at the November meeting and can complete the double off a 7lb higher mark. Midnight Shadow hit the front after Coole Cody’s fall at the second last and then stumbled on landing at the final fence before holding off Protektorat, who won a Grade 2 at Aintree last Saturday in tremendous style. Midnight Shadow had come to the November race in good form, after a strong third in the Old Roan when racing enthusiastically and the good ground certainly suited him. This eight-year-old was second to Chatham Street Lad in this race last year, saves his best form for Cheltenham and can show this season he has the class to complete a memorable double with conditions to suit.
Unibet 15/2 each way
Farinet is having his first start since March for the inform Venetia Williams, who showed at Newbury with Cloudy Glen, that her string can win big races after a break. This six-year-old Farinet is certainly progressive, having ran well last season, including a good win in a listed novice handicap at Sandown on his last start. Farinet is running off a light weight, is very genuine and a good jumper, who will be fine on this ground.
Unibet 15/2 each way
2.25 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3m)
Blazing Khal looks like a chaser and was very impressive when scoring over a couple of furlongs shorter in the Novices’ Hurdle when beating Gelino Bello here at the November meeting. Blazing Khal quickened away well from the last and the step up in trip will suit. This five-year-old can win here and could be a major player in the Albert Bartlett in March.
Unibet 5/4 win
3.00 Cheltenham – Unibet International Hurdle Grade 2 (2m 1f)
Sceau Royal has a bit to find with Song For Someone on last year’s form but the ground will be better this time around and he has won his first two starts of the season, ahead of a good third in the Fighting Fifth. Sceau Royal has won three times at Cheltenham, as well as running some great races in defeat and he has the class to take this renewal.
Unibet 5/2 win
3.35 Cheltenham – Close Brothers Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (2m4½f)
Martello Sky came up the hill well to score here in April, when showing plenty of enthusiasm and determination. She improved again to win at Market Rasen in October, going from last to first very smoothly after three out to lead over the last two. Last month she shaped perfectly well at Aintree staying on for fourth in a competitive race behind Brewin’upastorm, when looking like a greater test of stamina was needed. On that evidence the return to Cheltenham will surely suit Martello Sky and the Lucy Wadham yard are in winning form too.
Unibet 4/1 win
