THE weights were unveiled for the Cheltenham Festival handicaps on Tuesday and Irish horses are dominating the top end in almost every race. For example, in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, where I have selected The Tide Turns, eight of the top ten in the weights are Irish based, with seven of the top ten in the Pertemps Network Final from Ireland.

My selection in the Pertemps is Sire Du Berlais, who carries top weight, with Gordon Elliott at this stage showing a preference for the Pertemps over the Stayers’. Following on from Sire Du Berlais’ 2021 Stayers’ performance when second, I had originally written up Sire Du Berlais in my Unibet Outsiders piece for this year’s renewal as it looks wide open. If Gordon Elliott has a change of mind, then Sire Du Berlais Unibet 20/1 each way is a strong selection for the Stayers’.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

Tuesday March 15th

4.50 Cheltenham – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m ½f

The Tide Turns was useful on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott and has taken well to hurdles, winning on debut in the sphere at Punchestown. He was then far from disgraced when fourth behind Vauban, stablemate Fil Dor and Il Etait Temps (goes for the Triumph Hurdle) in a Grade 1 at the Dublin Festival.

The Tide Turns then needed to have a third hurdles run to be able to run in the Boodles and was thrown in at the deep end against Teahupoo at Gowran last month when running well to finish third after travelling smoothly. There has been plenty to like about the genuine The Tide Turns, with a mark of 137 looking more than workable.

Unibet 5/1

Wednesday March 16th

2.50 Cheltenham – Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f

Drop The Anchor for Pat Fahy is interestingly only entered in this race, having finished a close seventh in the County Hurdle last year over two miles and a furlong. If you rewatch Drop The Anchor’s County Hurdle performance you will see that he is doing all of his best work after the last, when staying on well up the hill and giving every indication he will get this trip.

On his last start at Leopardstown at the Dublin Festival he very much caught the eye, when never put into the race but stayed on steadily to finish a close fifth over two miles. Drop The Anchor is 3lb lower than last year and he’ll go close if held up to make a late challenge.

Unibet 7/1 each way

Thursday March 17th

2.10 Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle 3m

Sire Du Berlais performs best in the spring and whilst it is possible age might be catching up with this ten-year-old, he has an excellent Festival record of 4112, which includes two Pertemps wins and a second in the Stayers’ Hurdle last year.

It is worth remembering that this will only be his twenty second career start, with Sire De Berlais going for this off top weight, but Rob James (ridden over 200 point-to-point winners) will take 7lb off, meaning he’ll run off 149 and suddenly you’ve got a class act off less than 150 in a handicap.

He qualified for the Pertemps Final by running at Warwick last month when fourth and looking in need of this appearance after a poor effort at Leopardstown over Christmas. Interestingly, Sire Du Berlais also finished fourth at Warwick in 2020 in the qualifier ahead of winning the Pertemps!

Unibet 7/1 each way

4.10 Cheltenham – Plate Handicap Chase 2m 4½f

Foxy Jacks returned to form last time out for Mouse Morris when second to Birchdale at 33/1 at the Dublin Festival over a similar trip. He was staying on well in a competitive race and his last success was at the Punchestown Festival when 25/1 over two miles four furlongs. Foxy Jacks has an entry in the Ultima, however this looks the right opportunity for him, as you can really see him staying on well up the hill over a distance where he has stronger results. He runs off a good weight too and is ground versatile, having won on good ground earlier in his career.

Unibet 25/1 each way

Friday March 18th

2.10 Cheltenham – County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f

Colonel Mustard has multiple entries for the Lorna Fowler team, including the Supreme and Ballymore, though they might very well be tempted to go here off 140, as that’s a very good-looking mark (could easily have been higher) given the company he’s been keeping in Graded company this year. Last time out he was third to Sir Gerhard at the Dublin Festival in a Grade 1, having finished runner-up to Jonbon on his previous start at Ascot in a Grade 2. You can’t help but think that Colonel Mustard, who has only finished once outside the first three in ten career starts would be a much shorter price for a more high-profile trainer. The form is clear to see, he will relish the final climb for home in the race that looks the right opportunity.

Unibet 16/1 each way