Cheltenham 1.15 A very high class handicap to open today’s ITV cards . Panjari is taking a marked step in grade on the handicap debut & I am not sure the opening mark is that much of a gift either , he was also well behind Donnacha in October. Doddiethegreat is the other unexposed runner from a major yard . He was off the track for 2 years prior to winning on comeback 3 weeks ago & the dreaded bounce factor must be a big fear so soon after. Of the others Donnacha is solid enough & will be hard to keep out of the picture. A hard race to call and despite reservations about the top two in the market I am just going to sit this one out
Bangor 1.30 Hold That Thaught currently head the market , but I often think the yards runners don’t seem back up last time wins that much and this one can clout a fence or two. Yes Indeed is a bit of a rouge and can spit the dummy out when the pressure is on to get the job done , while First Lord De Cuet comes into this off the back of a bad mistake and unseating last time out which I never like. Not a race I want to get involved with given the foibles of the head of the market runner
Cheltenham 1.50 I am a bit of a fan about the stable of Malaita , the runners always seem to put in a show if in the right grade and this one does have a course win to it’s name too. But the one that stands out somewhat is La Malmason , the opening mark by the UK handicapper looks to be pretty lenient considering the ones that beat this one last time out when 3rd are graded performers off marks in the mid to high 140’s and this one is off just 126 . Advised Bet 2pt win @ 3’1
Bangor 2.05 A rather low class handicap to be showing on ITV in my view just thrown in for filler & we should not be wasting or time exploring
Cheltenham 2.25 Le Ligerien currently heads the market and is rising 11 . Yes he won well enough last time out and it is a veterans event which tend to be of lesser quality , but the yard has fallen back in to being dreadful yet again and I can see this one getting turned over. Of the rest I think Storm Control is on a good mark these days and if ready to go first time up ( record back off a layoff is not great ) could play a part. Advised Bet 1p place lay standard terms Le Ligerien
Cheltenham 3.00 Galvin was pretty awful when last seen even though he was favourite for the race over the same C&D and allowing for the fact he probably needed the run , but is not one I would trust on this soft ground either ( all wins on genuine good ground ) . Latenightpass was well backed for that same race and only found one too good on the day ( pulled well clear of the rest ) and he has a strong chance of going one better if in the same form. There are a whole host of other Irish raiders and it looks a mine field trying to find out what is best of them , but one of them popping up would be no surprise. A no bet race
Cheltenham 3.35 A bit of a guessing game closing handicap . White Rhino heads the market and looks the obvious selection , but the handicap mark gives nothing away and neither does the current price of 11’4 for a competitive race. Paricolor was just behind White Rhino last time out ( rallying well too ) and is a much bigger price of 12’1 ( just gone up the 1lb ) where as White Rhino has gone up 5 ! Both should be suited by the 3 mile trip and the ground but the prices are just wrong in my view . Advised Bet Paricolor 1/2 pt ew @ 12’1