It’s the moment some people have been waiting months for,
and the moment that will kick off another year of hopes and dreams for punters,
owners, trainers, and jockeys alike. The beginning of Cheltenham’s Open meeting
for many is the start of the jumps season proper, and with the Paddy Power Gold
Cup to come tomorrow and the Greatwood on Sunday, we are now fully in swing
with the jumping game – and there’s the small matter of the 10 to follow entry
deadline less than a day away.
The season’s only just starting this afternoon but one of
the most impressive performances of recent week’s has been David Pipe’s in form
Standing Ovation, who tore apart the field for the Badger Ales trophy on the
bridle to justify extremely heavy support in fine style, landing his fourth
race since October with the most impressive winning margin of his wins so far –
an easy 5 lengths. Under his penalty today he’s actually 6lbs ahead of the
handicapper and some could say that the Opus Energy Amateur riders’ handicap
chase is a weaker contest, making a price of 6/4 understandable, but he’s also
a very short chance in a well contested race and there are value alternatives
in a race made by the favourites. A similar event was run here in February,
where Hunter’s Lodge came from the cloud to take victory for the second year
running ahead of Handy Andy and Fredo, now just weighted to turn around form
with the pair of those rivals on a strict form basis in a race where the
leaders were overdoing it from the drop of the flag to the last strides.
There’s a feeling that the winner that day is flattered by the antics of what
was a mental race – Oscar Davey looked a likely type when he fell at the last –
and Handy Andy, is being more restrained in his challenge, can make a bold bid
and will take some catching on these revised terms with a first run of the
season under his belt.
The lightly raced Reuben Cotter – even off top weight – and
Victix Gale, who has been in fine form over the summer over hurdles for Tony
Martin and has the services of Jamie Codd – are both worthy contenders who
deserve consideration although they’re not quite as tempting an each/way shot
Tony Mccoy’s 4000th winner has been the story of
the season so far and the first Cheltenham winner for the Champ is likely to be
a heartily cheered one following his tremendous achievement. His Eastlake
stands an excellent chance for the McCoy/O’Neill/McManus combination that has
taken so many contests here in the past in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase
(1.35) and has a strong chance of making it five wins in his last seven starts,
but Anay Turge, runner up on that day, is a realistic contender with a 5lbs pull
for the much less known combination of Nigel Quinlan and Mark Hawke, and
deserves respect in an always open contest.
Renard, down to a manageable mark following some below par
efforts up in trip, obviously deserves respect back at this trip off 129 for
the very in form Venetia Williams yard, albeit that there’s little room for
manoeuvre in his price.
The Steel Plate and Sections Novices’ Chase (2.05) is one of
the more mundane betting affairs of the day with just four runners, but it
features two of the season’s most highly anticipated novice chasing recruits in
Oscar Whisky and Taquin De Seuil. Both are Grade 1 winners and exciting in their
own way for the season ahead, although it’s understandable to see Oscar Whisky
as a 4/6 favourite getting 5lbs from a penalised Taquin De Seuil after his
debut win which involved a fair few sketchy leaps at Ffos Las. The Romford Pele
can go well following an excellent chasing debut behind Balder Sucees here
despite looking overmatched on form and The Cockney Mackem looks outclassed.
The race of the day however might be the David Johnson
Memorial Handicap Hurdle (2.40), a race named after one of the most loved and
notable jumps owner of recent times whose colours were made famous by amongst
others, the beloved Our Vic – who has had this blog named in his honour. David
Pipe would obviously dearly love to take this and his Top Gamble has a tremendously
bright future and is a worthy favourite, but in the same colours, Whisper also
deserves recognition and has had his only two defeats so far in graded races,
one behind two Festival winners in At Fishers Cross and The New One, and the
other in a hotly contested handicap hurdle at Sandown the week before the
Cheltenham festival. A mark of 137 is entirely fair for that form, which
includes a post Sandown win over the new course as well as his previous
efforts.
Jonjo O’Neil’s Upswing, unbeaten in handicaps at 2m1f around
Carlisle, could have yet more to give still after a 10lbs rise for his comeback
win, God’s Own’s win at Kempton was even more impressive considering he
repeatedly hung right (something which is likely to be an issue in a better
race), Atlantic Roller looked a top prospect when bolting up at Exeter last November
before being injured and absent since, and Killa Quay brings a fascinating
contender to the charge after dominant wins at Aintree and Chepstow in a race
where any number could be given a serious chance.
In the Cross Country Chase
- always a highlight of the Open for many – one of the banker bets of
the meeting for many is likely to be Balthazar King, the recent C&D expert
whose form around here is likely to make him a top choice for many on today’s
card after his success at the Showcase meeting. His claims are hard to argue
with but his price of just 7/4, while justified, doesn’t leave much room for
improvement and Chicago Grey, a Grade 2 winner at Navan last season, is well worth
a chance on his cross country debut at nearly three times the price. A graded
chaser in his day and past festival winner, if back to something like his best
he should be well capable of getting into the shakeup. Uncle Junior won this by
a large margin last year but has shown nothing of note since, and Diamond
Harry, thrown in on his old form but arguably not the same horse that was a
Gold Cup contender, and the interesting Irish pairing of Zest for Life and
Quicover Fontaine, both of whom are worth market checks for Enda Bolger.
Advice
1 pt each/way Handy Andy, 1.05 Cheltenham, (12/1 general)
1 pt each/way Anay Turge, 1.35 Cheltenham (9/1 Sportingbet)
1 pt each/way Whisper, 2.40 Cheltenham (15/2 888Sport)
1 pt each/way Chicago Grey, 3.15 Cheltenham (7/1
Sportingbet)
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