Author: Joel Roberts

2m4f (2m3f168y) (New) Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) I got Gaelic Warrior all wrong earlier in the week. He was the best horse in the race and his right-adjusting jumping was no bother. Facile Vega could be a similar story here but for one major…

2m1f (2m179y) (New) Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB) (Class 1) (4yo+) A fantastic race with three really good mares at the top of the market. Hype has taken hold, though, as the word on Brighterdaysahead is hugely positive. I’m not convinced she deserves to be…

2m4½f (2m4f127y) (New) Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) Hopefully antepost pick Banbridge runs here on the fresh ground, and he has an outstanding chance if he does. I’ll be backing CAPODANNO at 9/1 as well, though, as he was brilliant at Cheltenham’s trials day meeting and…

2m5f (Old) Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) Nicky Henderson has a strong hand here but the yard form is a big concern with so many of his runners being pulled up. However my long term fancy for this race, LUCKY PLACE, has taken a walk in the market…

2m4f (2m3f200y) (Old) Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) There’s plenty of rain forecast and the ground is certain to be testing, which makes odds-on favourite Lossiemouth’s task much harder up in trip. She’s so fast it has to be a negative, and…

2m (1m7f199y) (Old) My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) Gaelic Warrior is readily taken on here going left handed around a tight track. He’s his own worst enemy at Cheltenham and comes up against proper two-milers more capable of jumping with him than the stayers he’s…

This year’s hype horse is Fact To File looks set to go off a very short price in the Brown Advisory over 3m, which leaves the Turners wide open and lacking a star. Whichever way you look at it, Ginny’s Destiny is the price he is because his stablemate Stage…

2m (Winter) Coral Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) SECRET SQUIRREL appears overpriced here as his form behind Jeriko Du Reponet is on par with the favourites Lump Sum and Fiercely Proud. He would have won last time out versus Fire Flyer had he jumped better…

2m½f (2m161y) Trustatrader Fully Vetted Tradespeople Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) I’d say the market has the top two the wrong way round as Grade 1 placed FAVOUR AND FORTUNE has superior form to Fun Fun Fun. They’ve met before in the Champion Bumper where the…

2m½f (2m69y) Betfair Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) Antepost Coral Cup selection Iberico Lord is rightly favourite here on bad ground, up a furlong from his Ascot disappointment. He does have to bounce back to form though and I’m sticking with my view he’s a plot job…