Cheltenham 1.10
PLACESPOTTER / SEAN - Cheltenham 1.10 Handicap - Class 3 - 3 miles 1 furlong - 14 Run - Going Good
A very competitive race as you'd expect and plenty in with chances.
Clonguie Way is a moderate Irish handicapper who can and has won races off marks of 98 and 99 but whose mark here of 114 seems excessive. Silver In Disguise seems to be on a high mark too and definitely would be better suited by a longer trip. Didiero Vallis is definitely one to TRACK, will likely need the run and no surprise that the Yard has been quiet so far as they wait for the winter ground. Big Nasty could run a nice race at the Odds with glimmers of form and is one to keep an eye on. I'd view Trixster similarly and he is in the long term TRACKER.
Bobhopeornohope is clearly a nice prospect but on balance I think he'll come on for this run, I'll use Ian's judgement to confirm that we think that Anightinlambourn and Valsheda have good chances here but just missed the shortlist.
I think the best 3 Irish hopes are MOLINA GIRL, PUNITIVE and BRAVE WAY and having concurred I think the biggest UK dangers are JIMMY THE DIGGER and CASTE ROBIN.
Looking deeper into those I'm very sweet on MOLINA GIRL at the price. Gavin Cromwell had a winner yesterday, knows how to ready one and I think that the step up in trip will be ideal for this horse and deliver more improvement and it's also absolutely race fit. PUNITIVE can also improve for this trip and based on some early 3 mile P2P form and what may be some leniency from the UK handicapper is another that I really like.
Brave Way would lets be honest bring the roof off with emotion for the De Bromheads, I suspect a bit of that may be factored in to the price and its a progressive horse not clobbered by the handicapper, I'm tempted to go with the 3 Irish horses but am very keen on one of the UK ones. Jimmy The Digger just saw off Anightinlambourn here last time but both are penalised and I'm not 100% sure of how strong the opposition was, I fear both but I really like the profile of CASTLE ROBIN who is race fit and also has Course form, so with a final choice perming 3 of the 5, I'll side with the following.
TIP - Molina Girl / TRACKER - Punitive / Shrapnel - Castle Robin (see notes re the other main pair)