Cheltenham 2.00 Handicap Chase 2 miles 4 1/2 furlongs 12 run

 

Oldorangewood (a favourite of ours) and Kalashnikov reoppose after a recent close race at Newbury and the market clearly favours Kalashnikov. I remain unconvinced about the fact that this horse is quite as good over fences as hurdles and about this trip, especially up the hill here. A great horse but not for me today and Oldorangewood looks appealing at the price but it was a ding dong battle at Newbury that may have flattened both horses out temporarily.

 

Cepage for Venetia Williams is on a nice mark but not totally convinced about this Course and Going and of more interest would be Mister Whittaker, although he returns after a break and one I will watch, note and track up to the Festival.

 

The drop back in trip for OK CORRAL is very interesting and the horse definitely ran as if in need of the run over 3 miles on seasonal debut. Henderson is a crafty old so in so and can't be 100% sure if this is a run to open the tubes up or a "plan" but I'm prepared to put my money on it as on form and still scope to progress an intriguing poser.

 

The each way banker for me though is BAYHILL and I think the market has over-priced him based on a win in this race in 2019 and placed in 2019, won off 133, placed off 144, back to a very appealing mark of 137 with Sam Twiston-Davies up for the old man and I think a bold show is assured.

 

TIPS - OK CORRAL + BAYHILL (track Mister Whittaker onwards but no investment today).