Cheltenham 1.10 Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle - Class 2 - 2 miles 5 furlongs - 18 run - Good

 

A strong top 3 in the market with Double Powerful on a 6 timer having risen from a mark of 76 to a mark of 114 today and Plaisir Des Flos also on a 6 timer having risen from a mark of 82 to a mark today of 118 and Young Lucy, well backed from Ireland but whose overall form doesn't add up to much. You can obviously argue that something has to give with the top 2 as one will lose its sequence of wins, I'm actually quite bullish in thinking that it's more likely than not that both will, as Cheltenham has a habit of doing that; doesn't it?

 

The dangers may be Whatsupwithyou, 9th in this last year, 1-2-2-2-2- since and solid off a mark of 126 with a 10lbs Claim but that relatively poor effort here last season does worry me. Il Va Le Sol is a rapidly improving 6 year old who may just need the run given the notorious hill climb here at the end of the race and the rest other than my 2 selections don't really inspire enough confidence.

 

My top 2 rated are last years winner AMERICAN SNIPER who has had a similar prep this time and despite a 7lbs penalty for a win last time still looks well enough handicapped off a mark of 127 with a 6lbs claim, it won off 122 last year. First time blinkers for this one are intriguing! At big Odds of around 50/1 I think FOSTER'SISLAND can create a shock here, I really rate the girl on top who has a lovely tactical brain and this horse is a solid enough contender up north in Class 3 races, and has run well enough before in Class 2 that it can certainly finish closer to the front than the back of the 18 runner field (Robin)

 

I would concur 100% regarding Young Lucy and I think 2 rather more exposed Irish horses have cracking place chances. LITTLEFOOT will need every yard of this and unless he's taken off his feet early one, a restrained ride as others come back to it should see it rattling up the hill in the closing stages. CLONBURY BRIDGE ticks all the right boxes too, the UK handicapper has raised his mark to 112, that poses a question but I don't think an unduly unfair one and 25-33/1 looks like cracking early value. (MG)

 

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Punchestown 3.5 Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 4 furlongs - 21 run - Good

 

The top 3 in the marker really pick themselves, Delias Pet has won off 81 and 88 and tries for the treble off 95, a strong and willing mare, I think she's vulnerable over this Course though today. Tommies Call is up 8lbs for a Fairyhouse win and I remain convinced that far more horses than not can't win at these 2 very different tracks. Dees Getaway is raised a notional 11lbs on handicap debut, is a genuine "could be anything" type but there are some gnarled older warriors in here who are battle hardened.

 

Of the remainder, I have 2 main and confident each way pokes and 3 at very big odds for whom I will suggest smaller e/w speculative pokes.

 

Outside of these brief mentions for Robindevidastar who has won fresh and has Course form and who could therefore be a danger off a 211 day break, Coffeys Forge a long term prospect who I have added today to the TRACKER one who has seemingly lost it's way but who I still think can deliver something on that unfulfilled promise and another for the TRACKER In Chasing Chances a lightly raced 6 year old who should be starting to deliver something in the next 6 months of so.

 

My clear top 2 rated though are GRANDPA GER a cracking ride probably for Danny Mullins here, a decent course and distance run on it's past cv and the drop back in trip looks ideal, I will frankly be disappointed if this one isn't winning today and nice e/w odds. Similar confidence lies with KLASSMAN who was very unlucky twice in running last time and who gets a nice pull with Delias Pet and although he has to break that Fairyhouse > Punchestown course quandary, on this one, I'm happy to take the chance.

 

The 3 at big odds worth a poke are THE VIRGINIAN whose best 2 career runs have arguably been at this track and who is interesting off a mark of 88 with a nice 7lbs Claim and APPIAN WAY who is back below its last winning mark of a few seasons back and who actually ran with more promise last time than the finishing position suggested and who may finally have found that plateau handicap mark it can be competitive off. Finally, and very much like Michael, I remain 100% convinced of a similar scenario in terms of finding a level for the 50/1 poke RAJIN CAJUN off a mark of 99 with a 7lbs claim. (Sean)