Author: Joel Roberts

2m1f  (2m179y) (New) McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)  (Class 1) (5yo+) PIED PIPER has an ideal profile for this race. He’s a strong traveler who should thrive in a big field handicap and he’s got excellent course form as a two-time Cheltenham winner who was a good third in last year’s…

2m1f  (2m179y) (New) Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (The Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB)  (Class 1) (4yo+) 5lb penalties have been no barrier to success in this in previous renewals but you need a significant class edge to overcome them. Luccia might have that but faces stiff opposition here and it…

2m4f (2m3f168y) (New) Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) This looks a match between Mighty Potter and APPRECIATE IT but the latter has to be the bet at three times the price. Mighty Potter ran a stinker at last year’s festival…

3m  (2m7f213y) (New) Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)  (Class 1) (4yo+) TEAHUPOO‘s defeat of Honeysuckle looks rock solid form and he’s getting his soft ground so there really aren’t many reasons to doubt him. I know he hasn’t truly proven he stays 3m in a championship race but nothing about the way…

I’ve been all over Impaire Et Passe for the Ballymore since he made his hurdles debut and have backed him accordingly, but the revised prices don’t have a lot of juice and I’d fall short of recommending him as a lump bet at 2/1 because he does face stiff opposition.…

2m5f  (Old) Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)  (Class 1) (4yo+) There’s a lot of crap in this race and it’s easy to rule out more than half the field. I have to back FIL DOR despite top weight for the simple reason he’s an in-form Graded horse in a handicap with…

2m4f (2m3f200y) (Old) Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) Final decs are in and soft ground is all but guaranteed for day one of the Cheltenham Festival. In probably the deepest Mares’ Hurdle we’ve seen, I’m against older…

2m3½f  (2m3f58y) Ascot Racecourse Supports Schools Poetry Competition Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)  (Class 2)(5yo+) SPRINGWELL BAY didn’t do much wrong in the Supreme Trial at Cheltenham last year but clearly needed to go up in trip. He was caught a bit flat footed on good ground and lost little in defeat, while he…

2m½f  (2m69y) Betfair Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)  (Class 1) (4yo+) Fast going could lead to a reduced field for this so there may be merit in taking an early price. Paul Nicholls’s RUBAUD has to be backed early at 12/1 as by the time Saturday swings round, I’d expect the horse that beat…

2m1½f (2m1f150y) Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+) She’s been well found in the market but the Mullins first string has to be backed at 7/1 here. HISTORIQUE RECONCE may be dropping 4f but she traveled like a train through her maiden and hit…