Swinging the bat at Cheltenham on Sunday....

Saturday, 15th November 2025

Swinging the bat at Cheltenham on Sunday….

Get my Saturday picks here….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in all the biggest betting heats on Sunday at Cheltenham….

I’m on NO ORDINARY JOE in the 3.30 – up at 28s….

…. I’m on TORNEO at 10s & 9s in the 2.20….

…. and I’m on NASSALAM at 14s in the 2.55….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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It’s great news that Cheltenham passed its inspection earlier this morning….

…. and with just light drizzle forecast in the early part of the day – followed by a dry period – I’m hopeful that we’ll have no problems tomorrow either….

The going description changed earlier this morning to heavy (soft in places)….

…. and I wonder if that hasn’t gone against a couple of horses towards the top of the betting in tomorrow’s feature – the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (3.30)….

Mirabad – unraced this season & fresh off a wind-op – has done all his winning on better ground….

…. Alexi has done nothing so far on anything worse than good….

…. and Celtic Dino is another one I’d be worried about….

It could turn out to be a funny race on this kind of ground….

They might not go too quick….

…. it won’t be easy to make up ground from the rear….

…. and all the ingredients are conspiring towards a freak result….

Iberico Lord wouldn’t quite be that – but he could figure on this ground if Henderson’s got him right….

Knickerbockerglory could be a candidate for a shock win – he’ll love the ground, he goes well fresh, and he could dictate from the front under a useful 7lb claimer….

But at a bigger price – general 28s with a smidge of 40s still about – I’m drawn to 9yo NO ORDINARY JOE….

He’s changed ownership – JP McManus moving him on and Faye Bramley taking over training duties….

…. but he’ll get ground he acts on, he stays a bit further than 2m – which could be useful – and he’s got form at the track (he was 2nd in the 2023 Martin Pipe on soft ground)….

… and its worth noting that Bramley trains at AP McCoy’s pre-training yard in Lambourn, she knows him well having worked for him for years, he rides out for her occasionally….

…. and the relationship being what it is – and McCoy so thick with JP McManus – it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that a useful horse with something left in the tank might find its way from one contact to the other….

…. If you see what I mean….

You can read too much into these things – but the dots are there to be joined….

What really got my antenna twitching was the 9yo’s first go for his new trainer at Uttoxeter last month – where he ran wide and was tenderly handled….

It was a run that attracted the attention of the stewards and resulted in a running & riding enquiry….

It could be nothing but sometimes shenanigans (and I cast no aspersions) are indicative of a greater plan….

…. and tomorrow’s race could well be it….

Conditions are friendly and the price is there. No Ordinary Joe could prove a livelier player – 6lb off his peak mark – than prices suggest….

Richie McLernon rides – and he might well be another one of those dots with all the right connections….

TORNEO at 10s & 9s is the pick for the Hine Solicitors Talking Sense Handicap Chase (2.20)….

…. he could be fitter than most for tomorrow’s assignment – having had the benefit of a race at Wetherby last month that was run in a record time….

…. and he’s also got a bit of form in soft conditions – which is a helpful feature to have onside tomorrow….

The yard’s in form and tomorrow’s race represents a good opportunity for a horse who will surely rate higher than 122 going forward….

Finally, in the Oddschecker Handicap Chase (2.55), I’m backing NASSALAM at the 14s….

He really suffered for a wide margin win in the Welsh National back in 2023 – going up 16lb to 161….

That was a huge overreaction and form figures that read P0PPP tell you that nothing’s gone right since….

But he’s down now to 147 – which is a dangerous mark….

…. and ahead of his seasonal debut at Cheltenham last month – his first go for a year – his trainer reported that they’d done all they could at home to get him fit and that he would benefit from the run….

He pulled up two fences out that day – but he’ll strip fitter for the outing tomorrow….

He very much gets conditions to suit– a marathon trip on pretty desperate ground….

…. and this is a genuine bounce back opportunity for a horse – still only 8 – with lost time to make up for….

If he’s fit enough tomorrow – and firing – everything’s in place for a big run….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more in the week….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd