Cheltenham selections Saturday 24th October
The jumps season steps up another gear with the opening fixture of the campaign at Cheltenham and with a very wet day expected, softer ground horses are expected to dominate far more than usual for the October meeting. I have selections from four races on the card. We had a great day on Champions Day at Ascot last weekend with Fifth Column landing the Balmoral (SP 22/1), whilst Paborus was second for the each-way bet (SP 18/1).
Cheltenham 1.10: As Legends Have It & Lisbane Park
A novice chase to kick things off and I am going for one horse with plenty of experience and one making his debut over the bigger obstacles.
AS LEGENDS HAVE IT had five runs over fences last season, taking four attempts to get off the mark before winning at Stratford in March. However he then followed up again at Uttoxeter two weeks later and has only gone up 7lbs in the ratings for both those successes.
Fully proven on soft going, he also ran well here on his previous visit to Cheltenham when third on a similarly soggy day at the November meeting over hurdles. So this undulating track won’t be an issue. That experience over fences should be put to good use against several less experienced chasers.
That said LISBANE PARK could easily be good enough to score on his chasing debut. In his five runs under rules over hurdles last season he looked every inch the budding chaser, and was sharp
enough to win first time out, so the lengthy absence since March should not be a problem.
That Exeter victory came against the recent Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Pioneer Pete, whilst he continued to run well in defeat all winter, including when fourth here to subsequent Supreme winner Old Park Star. A lovely racing weight of 10-10 can be exploited for the Tizzard yard who have hit peak form this week.
Cheltenham 2.20: Moon Rocket
A winner first time out on each of his two previous seasons under rules, MOON ROCKET can complete the hat-trick having been freshened up after a summer break.
Each campaign so far has seen the gelding start off really strongly only to gradually deteriorate as the season goes on. That means he gets in off a mark 2lbs lower than when winning by 13l over fences on his seasonal debut last season. He seemed to lose confidence over fences in the end, and was returned to hurdles at Haydock in the spring, but he was probably over the top by then.
He has already shown though he stays 3m well, so this stamina test is going to suit and he seems well capable of handling ground with a bit of cut. If he can go well fresh again then he might just have slipped under the radar for some decent value in this Pertemps qualifier.
Cheltenham 2.55: Diamond Dealer
Despite being the apparent Skelton second string in this contest, DIAMOND DEALER looks the one to beat in a contest that probably lacks the quality of recent renewals.
He is another horse who goes well fresh, having won first time out the previous two seasons, winning by 26l at Uttoxeter over hurdles, and then making a winning chase debut at Kelso last autumn, also his first start for the Skelton yard. However he retained his form well last season, running poorly just the once when looking a blatant non stayer over 4m in the Borders National at Kelso.
He is a front-runner who is a fluent jumper so his running style should lend itself well to this track on his first visit to Cheltenham. The forecast rain won’t be a problem for him, but might be for the stablemate Here Comes Georgie who steps up in distance.
Cheltenham 3.30: Indian River
This looks an open renewal of the Masterson Holdings Hurdle and can go to the northern trained INDIAN RIVER.
The gelding acquitted himself really well in his juvenile season, finishing in mid-division in the Triumph here before excelling when third in the Grade 1 at Aintree the following month. He had previously won three times in the North in smaller contests, and this looks like an ideal opportunity to bag a decent prize.
He comes here fit having raced in a class 2 handicap at Market Rasen last month. He travelled really well for the majority of the race, like a classy horse, only to fade two out. It simply may be he was not quite match fit from a summer off and perhaps he will come here spot on in a contest where he gets in without a penalty.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – As Legends Have It – 1.10 Cheltenham – 7/1 William Hill (1/4 odds 1st 3)
1pt win – Lisbane Park – 1.10 Cheltenham – 7/2 general
1pt each-way – Moon Rocket – 2.20 Cheltenham – 8/1 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Diamond Dealer – 2.55 Cheltenham – 9/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt win – Indian River – 3.30 Cheltenham – 9/4 general
