Cheltenham selections Wednesday 11th March
After a cracking opening day to the Festival, day two also has an unusually open look to it, with big fields in the opening two novice contests very good to see. I have selections from three races on the card. We had a solid opening day with double point selections Lossiemouth winning the Champion Hurdle (advised 15/8) whilst there were each-way places for Quebecois (10/1) and Will The Wise (SP 10/1).
Cheltenham 2.00: Kaid D’Authie
Although he was not expected to beat stablemate Final Demand at the Dublin Racing Festival, there did not seem to be any fluke about KAID D’AUTHIE’s win and I think he can confirm himself as a top staying novice here.
Quite a headstrong individual over hurdles, he seems to have settled down over the bigger obstacles and is progressing now at a rate of knots. He showed earlier in the season at Punchestown and Fairyhouse a big tendency to jump to his left, despite winning on the latter occasion, so he looked far more comfortable going left at Leopardstown. Now he has settled in his races I see no reason for him to fail due to lack of stamina.
Cheltenham 2.40: Kateira & Jingko Blue
The BetMGM Cup (formerly the Coral Cup) has usually been won by Ireland in recent seasons, but they may have to give best to the British here.
I particularly like the way KATEIRA has been plotted into this. She was not penalised by the handicapper despite beating the Champion Hurdler Golden Ace 28l at Wetherby earlier in the season (her rival clearly underperforming that day). A fair fourth to the top mare Wodhooh at Ascot, she again seemed to fail to stay 3m at Doncaster next time.
Since then she had no chance over 2m around Musselburgh and was then given a very easy time in rear at Ascot last month. She has now dropped to a mark just 5lbs higher than when winning a big Aintree handicap in 2024 and a stiff 2m5f could prove ideal
An obvious alternative is JINGKO BLUE. This horse was a grade 2 winner over fences last season, but has been returned to hurdles this term. He might have needed the run when only seventh at Haydock on his return, but performed better when second to Stayers Hurdle hope Kabral du Mathan here in January.
Trainer Nicky Henderson started the meeting with a double yesterday and has eased this horse through the season with the aim of getting into some big Festival races this spring.
Cheltenham 3.20: Final Orders
Something of a freak, as he is really a flat bred horse, FINAL ORDERS seems to have really found his niche as a Cross Country horse nowadays.
I am not sure he is quite as good over some of the bigger Punchestown obstacles, and he certainly had issues with conventional fences, but these smaller but varied jumps certainly seem to play to his strengths. He was a very impressive winner over this course and distance at the December meeting and can be forgiven only finishing fifth on Trials day as the going was very soft. Conditions will be much drier this afternoon which can only bode well for his chances with stablemate Stumptown keeping the weights down nicely for him.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Kaid D’Authie – 2.0 Cheltenham – 6/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Kateira – 2.40 Cheltenham – 15/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Jingko Blue – 2.40 Cheltenham – 10/1 Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Final Orders – 3.20 Cheltenham – 13/2 Bet365(1/5 odds 1st 4)
