Tuesday, 12th March 2024
Betting advice for this afternoon – Day 1 at the Cheltenham Festival – was distributed yesterday. View it here….
I go out early doors with my advice in the hope of bagging the best of the prices about my race selections….
Sometimes I get the value. Other times it goes the other way – like so much else in racing….
Because I go out early, we are always a little ahead of the game….
The flag hasn’t been raised on Day 1 – and I’m already thinking about Day 2….
…. which means the Coral Cup, the Grand Annual & the Champion Bumper….
Gordon Elliott’s JIGORO at the general 14s is the bet for tomorrow’s Coral Cup (2.50)….
He’s qualified for his opening handicap mark of 141 racing over the 2-mile trip –
…. running the last twice behind Mystical Power and Tullyhill….
…. both horses prominent in the betting for this afternoon’s Supreme Novice’s Hurdle….
He hasn’t exactly set the world alight over the minimum trip….
…. with performances best described as solid and gradually progressive rather than spectacular….
…. but I think he’s nailed on to improve for the extra furlongs in tomorrow’s race….
He’ll benefit from the pace this big-field will generate….
…. prevailing ground conditions shouldn’t be a bother for him….
…. and I see it as a bonus that Jack Kennedy chooses to ride this one over the other three horses Elliott has engaged in the race….
HARDY DU SEUIL at the general 12s is my bet for the Grand Annual (4.50)….
Jamie Snowden’s charge was a good novice chaser a couple of years back before returning to hurdles….
…. for reasons I confess I’m unclear about….
He’s only been seen once this term – at Sandown last month – when he produced a decent performance back over fences….
…. running on into third up the hill – producing a strong finish from further back than ideal….
He appears to have been kept fresh for the spring and that Sandown run will have put him something close to spot-on for tomorrow’s assignment….
…. where you’d think he’d be ridden a bit more positively than last time….
The ground won’t be a problem….
…. he’s down at the bottom end – the right end – of the weights….
…. and a mark of just 132 could prove to be extremely generous if he’s fitter for the Sandown performance and improves just a few pounds….
The Snowden/Sheehan partnership has proved effective in big handicaps this term….
…. and I expect another big performance from the pair with this horse tomorrow….
In the Champion Bumper (5.30) I like Ben Pauling’s SIXMILEBRIDGE at the general 16s….
Willie Mullins is responsible for nine of the 24 runners….
…. and everybody else is clearly up against it trying to stop him winning the race for the 13th time….
Mullins almost always has superior firepower for this event….
…. but Ben Pauling has a good crop of young horses this year too….
He’s produced seven winning horses in Bumper events since September – and nine wins in all from a total representation of 33 runners….
…. and Sixmilebridge – Pauling’s only entry in the race – looks to be the best of them….
He’s certainly worth a bet at the price based on his one appearance on the track to date – at Sandown last month….
…. where he beat Juby Ball – himself a winner – 2.75 lengths….
…. with the rest of the field – including three more previous winners – 9+ lengths in arrears….
He won it easy – lolling along with the rest of them paddling away – and looks a smart prospect in the making with bags of improvement to come….
If he can find some of that improvement tomorrow then he’s one who could get competitive at a fancy price….
The pick of the prices….To recap on my bets for tomorrow…. In the 2.50 @ Cheltenham….
e/w terms = Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 8. It’s 1/5 the first 6 generally…. In the 4.50 @ Cheltenham….
e/w terms = Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 6. It’s 1/5 the first 5 generally…. In the 5.30 @ Cheltenham….
e/w terms = It’s 1/5 the first 5 generally…. Advised prices are correct at the point of publication – but prices are subject to fluctuation. Consult Oddschecker – you may find better quotes and terms than advised…. |
That’s all for today….
I’ll be back tomorrow with my analysis and selections for Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival….
Meantime – Contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk
And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….
Stay tuned….
Operated by Spa Publishing Group Ltd (Company No. 15830286) 
