Maputo, a smart performer on the flat, has taken to hurdling really well and has won all four starts so far with ease. This is his biggest test to date but there’s little reason to doubt his chances besides the ground, which is probably easier than he’d like. Nicky Henderson’s…
2pts Johns Spirit to be placed @7/2, Cheltenham 14:25 (NAP)
As handicappers go, a big performance from Johns Spirit around Cheltenham’s Old Course rates as something of a banker. The winner of this, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, in 2013, he was mugged at the line by a fast-finishing Caid Du Berlais in 2014 after shooting clear from the chasing…
1pt double win Romain De Senam, Un Temps Pour Tout @6/1
I’ve already talked up the chances of Romain De Senam in the 12:40 – I fancy him to handle the soft ground and build on the promise of his impressive British hurdle debut – so he’s takes the first slot in Saturday’s double. At the weights it’s hard to oppose French Champion…
1pt win Wolf Of Windlesham @12/1, Cheltenham 12:40
The well-bred Wolf Of Windlesham left his poor flat form behind when bolting up on his hurdles debut on good ground at Ludlow. If the rain arrives as forecast, it could be plenty soft tomorrow and, together with Cheltenham’s hill, conditions are altogether different. By Mastercraftsman, who was a classic winner on…
1pt ew Generous Ransom @20/1, Paddy Power Gold Cup
16lbs separate Generous Ransom and Irish Cavalier in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday, yet they last met at the festival when three lengths separated them, with the former receiving just 1lb. A race prior to that, also at Cheltenham, it was Generous Ransom who prevailed with a couple of…
0.5pts ante-post win Sound Investment @20/1, Paddy Power Gold Cup
Cheltenham’s Open meeting is for many the true start of the National Hunt season, with Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase the betting highlight. Final declarations are due Thursday, but the market is already alive with movers and a couple of intended runners immediately catch the eye. One such horse is…
0.5pts ante-post win Bobs Worth @25/1, Hennessy Gold Cup
Nicky Henderson has been markedly positive about 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth’s work at home of late, expressing his regret for not running him in Cue Card’s Charley Hall Chase last week. He would have had to be very good to win that, so his words carry some…
Iveagh Gardens 1pt win @5/1, Golden Amber 1pt win @14/1, Doncaster 14:20
There is great jumps racing action this weekend with some big names having their seasonal debut. But I can’t help but get drawn to the horses approaching the end of their campaign and more specifically, the flat-racing action at Doncaster, with the pick of the card a Listed 6f sprint. Lightning…
0.5pts ew Olofi @20/1, Wincanton 15:15
The race looks to be around Paul Nicholls’s Irving and All Yours. Stable jockey Sam Twiston-Davies chooses the latter after his Grade 1 success at Aintree, yet his trainer has sounded caution over the deteriorating ground and the former is a dodgy jumper so neither can be backed with confidence.…
1pt win Simonsig @2/1, Aintree 14:30
As a seven-year-old, Bobs Worth was good enough to win the Hennessey under a big weight on his seasonal reappearance, but he was a shadow of his Gold Cup-winning self last season and, now aged ten, his best years are surely behind him. However, such has been the impression left…