Cheltenham selections Tuesday 10th March
The finest four days in jump racing are back with the Cheltenham Festival kicking off on Tuesday. Amidst a series of odds on shots, there are still plenty of value bets to be had, especially with the National Hunt Chase converting to a handicap. I am avoiding the odds-on shots, taking one on and concentrating otherwise on the handicaps.
Cheltenham 1.20: Irancy & Romeo Coolio
With Kopek Des Bordes fitted with a hood, the obvious concerns about this horse’s tendency to pull – as well as make mistakes, means he is a horse to take on in the opener. I have two hopefuls against him.
IRANCY is clearly very fragile, but has plenty of ability. He only raced once last season when chasing home none other than Firefox and Ballyburn at Fairyhouse. And we have only seen him once this term, making short work of a field that included Pertemps hopeful Will the Wise.
He is the type of horse that looks easy to settle, can be ridden anywhere and jumps well – all assets that could be a big bonus in a race where plenty like to get on with it. That win at Punchestown was on ground that was plenty quick enough so he should be able to cope with conditions here.
Preference though would be for ROMEO COOLIO, so narrowly beaten in the bumper here last season. He trotted up on the bridle on his hurdling debt at Down Royal on similar ground to here in November.
He was narrowly defeated by Insinuator in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse next time, but bounced back with a convincing 9l win at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. He has been kept back for this since, which could be a good move as he has a great record fresh.
Cheltenham 2.40: Sequestered & Myretown
The novices look the ones to concentrate on in the Ultima.
The highly progressive 7yo SEQUESTERED can give Ireland a rare winner in this race. A reasonable hurdler, he only showed modest form in beginners chases in the autumn. He has been a revelation though since switched to handicaps.
He cruised to a 10l win at Leopardstown over Christmas at this 3m trip, bouncing off the decent ground at that meeting. He was then unlucky to come up against an even better handicapped rival in Backtonormal at the Dublin Racing Festival. Both horses cruised to the front turning for home, but Sequestered ultimately had to give best to that rival. A 7lb rise may not be enough to stop him on ground that will suit.
I always like a front-runner over fences at Cheltenham, especially on the Old Course and MYRETOWN fits the bill nicely. He bounded around Kelso last time, and although that was just a four runner contest, his slick jumping suggests he has the ability to hold off a much bigger field today.
The handicapper has been kind by only upping him 6lbs for two wide margin successes this term, and he was in contention when taking a fall three out in a good race at Windsor in January. 127 looks a fair mark representing a yard that took this race back to back with Corach Rambler recently.
Cheltenham 4.40: Wendrock & Puturhandstogether
The annual cavalry charge that is the Fred Winter can go to a horse converting from flat racing.
WENDROCK has impressed me with his attitude for jumping and can defy top weight. He learned a lot from his debut at Navan where he was third to Total Look and came good at Leopardstown next time when holding off the sustained challenge of Triumph contender Galileo Dame.
He came unstuck in Grade 1 company last time, but was giving it a go for a long way and perhaps the softening ground was against him. Already proven on better ground he has the class to contend here.
Joseph O’Brien has a superb record in this race and PUTURHANDSTOGETHER can give him another win in the race. The choice of Mark Walsh over his stable/ownermate, this horse was not knocked about when second at Fairyhouse last time when coming from the back of the field. That outing qualified him for this race, but it would be no surprise to see him ridden more prominently today.
The drier going ought to suit better too and he had some good performances on decent ground in the summer on the flat, notably when winning over 10f at the Curragh off a mark of 79. His jumping has improved with each race and I fully expect this horse to have a bit more to offer on the big occasion.
Cheltenham 5.20: Now is The Hour
The nap of the day is left to the end. NOW IS THE HOUR has caught the eye on each chase he has contested this season and is expected to be a different proposition switched to handicapping as so many of Gavin Cromwell’s horses are.
The horse has looked a natural jumper, but been ridden out the back in his races over shorter distances. He was only beaten 4l by Three Card Brag at Navan last time and this switch to a marathon contest will I am sure be the test he needs.
He won a heavy ground Grade 2 hurdle at Haydock by 17l last season, defeating the classy mare Dont Rightly Know. I am very hopeful he will act on drier going today, but it is the extreme distance that gives me the confidence.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Romeo Coolio – 1.20 Cheltenham – 7/1 general
0.5pts each-way – Irancy – 1.20 Cheltenham – 14/1 general
1pt each-way – Sequestered – 2.40 Cheltenham – 12/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Myretown – 2.40 Cheltenham – 12/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Puturhandstogether – 4.40 Cheltenham – 7/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 6)
0.5pts each-way – Wendrock – 4.40 Cheltenham – 20/1 Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Now is the Hour – 5.20 Cheltenham 11/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
