THE Cheltenham Festival is an emotional week of hopefully more highs than lows from a punting perspective and amongst the highs there is nothing more satisfying than marking up a big priced winner. Anticipation is a wonderful thing and I’m certainly looking forward to seeing my long shot selections give their best running at The Festival.
At The Festival as well as my broadcasting and media work I’ll be enjoying a glass of fabulous award-winning English Sparkling Wine courtesy of Nyetimber on their 1968 Routemaster bus in The Orchard area, whilst marking the card each day. I have been a fan of Nyetimber for years and they produce Grade 1 wines.
Remember to look out for The Park, a new feature for 2020, with live music, a daily DJ set, new bars and top street food from Digbeth Dining Club, who I can highly recommend.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
4.10 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4f
INDEFATIGABLE for Paul Webber looks a great each-way play at 25/1. With the possibility of one, none, or indeed still both, of Honeysuckle and Benie Des Dieux not turning up for this and running elsewhere at the Festival, there are some big prices kicking around for mares not that far behind on the figures. Indefatigable was fifth in the Mares’ Novice last year, doing all her good work late on, she’s been better still stepped up to two and a half miles this year, and ran a personal best at Warwick on her latest start in February, giving a penalty away to some decent sorts. She won at Cheltenham last April and was second to the talented Dame De CompagnIe at Prestbury in December. Note she is also entered in the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe, however this look the best opportunity.
Unibet each way 25/1
2.50 Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 2m 5f
This is a great race for each-way players with only one single figure priced winner in the last ten years and with Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson looking sure to have a great Festival his DAME DE COMPAGNIE makes plenty of appeal.
She returned to action after a 577 absence to finish fifth in the Greatwood in November, ahead of stepping up to 2m 4f to beat Indefatigable (see Mares’ Hurdle) in fine style. She showed real improvement here and went up to a mark of 140 and with her Cheltenham record at 2m4f (she’s 2-2) you’d have thought the Mares would be her target, but she’s not entered up. Although she is also in the Martin Pipe, remember Nicky Henderson won this race last year with William Henry.
Unibet each way 10/1
2.10 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 3m
TREACYSENNISCORTHY is looking to make it five on the bounce for trainer Robert Widger and owner Paula Widger, giving a big shout out for one of the smaller yards. This eight-year-old has been in tremendous form this season and continues to defy the handicapper as he showed last time out when leading from start to finish to win at the Dublin Festival.
Given a good tactical and confidant ride by regular pilot three-pound claimer Kevin Brouder, Treacysenniscorthy was ridden out, clearly showing he stays three miles and more.
Robert Widger’s charge runs with so more enthusiasm and I can see Cheltenham really suiting this eight-year-old, who will be having only his thirteenth career start.
Unibet 14/1 each way
5.30 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase 3m 2f
FORZA MILAN is one to watch wherever he goes at the Festival – it could be the National Hunt Chase or it could be here, which I hope it is.
His form in his last two starts is right back to some of his very best novice runs and since moving from Jonjo O’Neill to John Nash his new trainer has had to be patient, but now seems to have got him right back to form. Second in two chases to potential Grade 1-ers Castlebawn West and Carefully Selected, which saw this eight-year-old beaten four lengths at 25/1 really catching the eye. He went straight in the notebook at the time as he stayed on well over three miles at Naas.
Forza Milan will need soft ground, a necessity with his fragile legs and this trip looks ideal.
It is worth noting that he is a big price in comparison to Carefully Selected, who is very short for the National Hunt Chase.
Unibet 20/1 each way
2.10 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3 2m 1f
Whilst I have backed Embittered, who looks sure to step up from his sixth at the Dublin Festival, the value really lies with REMILUC for Chris Gordon’s yard. This eleven-year-old might defy all the stats and be overlooked as he was at Newbury when third at 66/1 to Pic d’Orhy and Ciel De Neige in a hot contest on his second start after a 643 day break. Remiluc has an excellent Cheltenham record and was second in the County Hurdle in 2018, having won at the Festival Trials meeting and finished runner-up on his previous start at Prestbury.
If he can combine his Newbury run with his Cheltenham record, he looks a great each-way price.
Unibet 25/1 each way
