The pick of the prices at Cheltenham....

Friday, 27th October 2023

The pick of the prices at Cheltenham….

We leave the flat behind this weekend….

…. and make a cautious start on the jumps….

…. with three decent handicaps to target on Day 2 of Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting….

Low sun can be a factor at this meeting….

…. with obstacles frequently omitted….

Hopefully, we can avoid too much disruption to races tomorrow….

…. two of the three chases on the card will be done by 2.30….

It’s worth noting that course officials have moved the rail 7 yards….

…. increasing the distance of the 1.15 by 44 yards and the 2.25 and 3.00 races by 88 yards….

The races are run on the Old course, of course….

…. this morning the ground is described as soft (good to soft in places) on both the hurdle and chase tracks….

There is a bit of rain around – but nothing too heavy forecast to fall over the track until after racing tomorrow….

…. but who knows for certain? Not the weathermen – that’s for sure….

Onward and upwards….

• In the Epic Value – 1.15….

There’s plenty of pace on in this and that seems sure to suit Joe Tizzard’s TRIPLE TRADE – who can be backed at a reasonable 9s this morning….

He fell at Chepstow on his seasonal debut last term – losing his confidence as a result….

It took a while for him to rediscover his mojo – but he finished last term with back-to-back wins at Wincanton and Kempton….

…. the last win was an impressive 10-length victory – where he powered clear on the run-in….

It was only a C3 and tomorrow’s assignment is a big step up in class – and will represent his toughest test yet….

…. but the horse he beat into second that day has since paid him compliments….

Granted Emma Lavelle’s Light N Strike hadn’t raced for 175 days when turning out at Kempton….

…. but he did win a C2 handicap next time out and showed-up well again at the same level the time after – rising from a mark of 136 to 147 in the process….

Triple Trade is up 10lb himself to a career high mark of 129 and – like I said – the opposition is getting tougher….

…. but at Kempton he looked like he has more to give yet….

…. and he’s at the right end of the weights tomorrow – getting plenty of poundage from the big boys at the top of the list….

Some things – like fitness – must be taken on trust at this early stage of the season – but he’s a potential progressor up at a decent price…. 

• In the Epic Jumps Season – 2.25….

YES INDEED has been disappointing since joining Jonjo O’Neill from France at the start of the 2021 season….

…. he’s had eight runs for the yard without producing a win….

…. despite having previously won a valuable Listed chase in France as a 4yo….

He’s still only 6 though….

…. he had a wind-operation at the start of this year – suggesting he’s had a problem….

…. and he did produce his best performance yet for O’Neill – on RPRs – when stepped up to the 3-mile trip for the first time in May….

He didn’t win that day….

…. but he might have finished closer to an unexposed and progressive winner had he not stumbled badly 3 fences from home….

The suggestion is that he’s going to be a better prospect at 3m+ than was the case over shorter trips….

Like I say, he’s still young and perhaps they’ve had to wait from him to mature and grow his ‘man strength’ (as they say in the boxing world)….

…. but it’s interesting to me that O’Neill has chucked him into this decent handicap on just his second go at this kind of trip….

…. and on a mark of 127 Yes Indeed is certainly weighted to go close if he’s on his game….

He was rated 142 when he joined O’Neill’s yard and he is potentially very well handicapped….

…. certainly well-handicapped enough for me to have a few quid on at a generous e/w quote of 18s & 16s….

• In the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle – 3.00….

I’m backing Gordon Elliott’s GORTMILLISH at the general 14s….

Most punters have him down as the second string for the yard….

…. with Jordon Gainford up on Ringdufferin….

…. but things aren’t always so straightforward….

Gortmillish got well-beaten on his first go at the 3-mile trip last time out at Killarney….

…. but that was a small-field novice affair, they went very steadily at it, and he probably wanted to go a lot quicker….

…. he ran well in a big-field bumper back in the day – proving suited to the hustle-and-bustle…..

This will be his first crack at handicap level….

…. he runs off an opening mark of just 123….

…. gets weight from all but one opponent….

…. and Danny Gilligan takes off an extra 5lbs….

He’s a point-to-point winner in Ireland….

…. you’d think he wouldn’t mind the ground….

…. and he’s totally unexposed….

Another important consideration – he’s up at 14s – a decent enough e/w price….

…. trainers aren’t always desperate to win these qualifiers – just to qualify. If he hits the frame he will have done his job….

• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back after the weekend….

Meantime – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd