DAY two of The Showcase meeting at Cheltenham is really competitive with some large fields, a strong Irish challenge and plenty of exciting types throughout the card. In the Jumps Season Handicap Chase at 2.25 I have deserted The Wolf Unibet 16/1, a Unibet blog regular, who was second in this last year to Lord Accord, who reopposes here, in what looks a deeper renewal.
Earlier on in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle at 1.50 Blueking D’Oroux Unibet 11/8 can justify favouritism and beat his main rival Spirit D’Aunou.
At Doncaster, Friday’s meeting was abandoned, having had over 85mm of race in the last week and they are inspecting on Friday afternoon for Saturday’s card featuring the Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes Group 1. If racing goes ahead Ancient Wisdom Unibet 6/5 is my selection below.
I’ll be at Cheltenham and I’m looking forward to an excellent day of racing.
Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or Doncaster or watching #athome on ITV Racing.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.15 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (2m)
In Excelsis Deo (nap) looked a natural for fences when winning with any amount in hand on his chase debut at Hereford last year with an excellent round of jumping. He then didn’t continue the momentum when pulled up on his next start at Warwick and then he was well held at Chepstow, but he did run much better on the figures when second of three at Southwell on his final start to Thelasthighking. The key might be that the two good efforts came over two miles, and he simply didn’t stay over two miles four furlongs on the poorer runs. There is plenty to like about In Excelsis Deo and catching him fresh could be beneficial, whilst he is still unexposed over fences on a good mark of 131.
Unibet are paying MONEY BACK AS CASH if your pick finishes 2nd or 3rd in this race!
2.10 Doncaster – Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes (1m)
Ancient Wisdom on his win in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes looks the best form in the race, and the fact it was achieved on soft ground, and in such style, marks him out as smart and a potential Group 1 winner. His pedigree decrees he should be, he has slower ground to cope with again here, but that’s the same for all of them, and he should handle it on breeding. He is the one to beat.
2.25 Cheltenham – Jumps Season Handicap Chase (3m 1f)
Undersupervision for the inform Nigel Twiston-Davies team is very tricky to catch right, but there is no doubting he’s well handicapped on the best of his form. He was third on his reappearance here last December and had he not made a couple of serious errors at key times, would have got a lot closer. He won the Grimthorpe Chase in 2022 and was second this year when beaten a neck by Moroder, when showing plenty of determination. This talented individual will like the ground, he’ll get this run to suit, and you will see him staying on up the hill.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race
Kinondo Kwetu has raced nine times over fences and has been victorious on six occasions, with three third place finishes. At Uttoxeter on his last appearance in their Summer Cup he was unlucky to finish third to Twig, who reopposes here, when Kinondo Kwetu was making up lots of ground late on after a mistake three out. Kinondo Kwetu is normally a very good jumper, a strong traveller and Cheltenham will really suit this smart individual who has to be in the mix.
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3.00 Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3m)
Bugs Moran can score for the Irish on the back of some strong placed efforts, including when second to Gold Speed at Listowel over two miles four furlongs last time out when looking like a return to three miles would be a big plus. He showed that he is really effective at this distance when winning a smart novice handicap at Fairyhouse in April 2022. Bugs Moran runs off a mark of 136, is a lightly raced six-year-old, who is having only his eleventh career start.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race
Espoir De Romay looks overpriced on the pick of his form, and remember he had a chase mark of 160 back in March 2022. He has showed he is capable of good hurdles form too when twice placed in the spring at Ascot and Uttoxeter respectively. He is lightly raced for a nine-year-old and it is worth remembering he won easily after a break and wind surgery back in 2020, as is the case here. The Kim Bailey team are in great form and Espoir De Romay should get this run to suit, with the pace sure to be strong.
The Wine Tipster’s Treble
Does this treble tickle your fancy?
Roll these three Chekltenham picks from our red-hot tipster into an treble and that currently pays 617/1 – £5 each way potentially returns £3,495.21 if they come in!
Click the image below to add directly to your betslip!
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