Cheltenham Festival 2023 - Day 3

 


14:10 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle


Shoot First was a warm order for this ante-post but had to miss the festival due to injury, but I like one who wasn’t too far behind him on his most recent start in the shape of AN TAILLIUR. He finished third that day over the 3m trip here at Cheltenham on the old course (new course in use today) and the way he finished off his race in the closing stages suggests he is still improving. That was back in October and he hasn’t been seen since, but thats not a concern as they have likely just been protecting his mark and he goes well fresh. The yard have won this race 4 times so know how to ready one.

Another with a good record in this race is Davy Russel who has won 3 of the last 7 renewals, he rides MAXXUM today who I also want onside. He has taken huge steps forward in handicap hurdles since joining Gordon Elliott and this race has been his target for some time. If you take the form of his most recent race at face value it’s easy to say he looks a bit short, but he was hampered at a crucial time that day and I think he’ll appreciate the softer conditions here today.

The final bullet I’m aiming at the race is a horse who has run well at the festival on numerous occasions including when third in this race last year. MILL GREEN was 33/1 when filling third spot last year and his connections have managed to get him here on exactly the same mark of 138. Which surprised me somewhat as he’s only raced twice since and run creditable races in defeat, he’s an 11 year-old now but seems to retain a good deal of his ability and lightly raced for his age - he looks set to go off at a big price again which I want to be involved in.

AN TAILLIUR - 12/1

MAXXUM - 11/2

MILL GREEN - 28/1


16:10 Plate Handicap Chase


So Scottish tops the market for shrewd operator Emmet Mullins and it’s easy to see his claims but the price is just on the short side for me. DATSALRIGHTGINO has form that ties in with the favourite on a line through Boothill and looks a progressive chaser to keep onside. He ran well behind Stage Star (who could boost the form in the opener) over course and distance on his penultimate start where he would’ve finished a lot closer if he’d jumped the last 2 flights cleaner. He stuck to the task well stepped up to graded company at Kempton last time out and with the switch back to handicap company and first time headgear, he could be primed for a big run.

I’m also going to have a very small bet on CELEBRE D'ALLEN each-way in this. The Phillip Hobbs team have had a quiet season but as a result their horses have dropped nicely in the handicap, which Camprond went very close to capitalising on in the Coral Cup yesterday. Cellebre D'Allen finished 5th in this last year off 141 and now returns off a mark of 135 due to the below form efforts since. I think the rain which has arrived is definitely a positive for his chances and the big field and strongly run race should play to his strengths too.

DATSALRIGHTGINO - 9/1

CELEBRE D’ALLEN - 33/1


Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys Handicap Chase

I often struggle to find value at the top of the market in races of this nature but STUMPTOWN looks a very solid proposition here in the day three finale. He looks seriously progressive and comes here seeking a hat-trick after walloping his opposition by seven lengths at Sandown last time out. He was notably strong in the closing stages and the form has been boosted with two of those in behind having won since.


RAPPER was very impressive when winning over course and distance on his penultimate start and I think the market has overreacted to his run at Sandown last time out when beaten just under 10 lengths. It was particularly difficult making ground from off the pace that day and he got caught a bit too far back. The hold up horses from that race have bounced back subsequently, notably Flegmatik who finished 9th beaten 27 lengths was then only beaten a neck in the Grade 3 Coral Trophy behind Our Power on his next start.


STUMPTOWN - 9/2

RAPPER - 20/1

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