Racing Chat - Friday 10th December

[The Brigadier]

Here’s my thoughts on the 4 Cheltenham ITV races Friday where the ground is currently good to soft but rain is forecast so could soften up.

 

Cheltenham 1.50

An intriguing 11 runners mares handicap chase run over 2m 4F 127yds with likely favourite Fontaine Collonges the most likely winner as the betting suggests. Venetia Williams’s 6 year old is 7lb higher than when winning at Warwick in November when beating the re-opposing Princess Eleanor by 2 3/4L. The latter is now 4lb better off and there shouldn’t be much between them if the both run up to their form. Colin Tizzard saddles the most interesting runner in the contest in the chasing debutant Rose Of Arcadia who’s wearing a first time hood today. I think that the Fergal O’Brien runner Timeless Beauty maybe the one who’s slightly overpriced and represents some value. She made her chasing debut for her new stable having previously been trained by Warren Greatrex for the same owners when winning a 6 runner handicap chase at Lingfield last month and although it wasn’t all plain sailing she got the job done and despite a 6lb rise in the weights should be competitive here today. 

TIMELESS BEAUTY 1 point each way @ 7/1 1/5^th 12345 William Hill

 

Cheltenham 2.25

10 staying chasers go to post for this 3m 2F handicap chase. The weights are headed by the ex Nicky Henderson chaser Santini who has been given a definite chance by the handicapper in dropping him 8lb to a career low of 159. Let’s not forget that he was runner up in the 2020 Gold Cup and has always run well at this track with his form figures reading 13212P. The question is will the change of stable from Henderson to the more than capable yard of Polly Gundry spark him up enough to beat these after an absence of 266 days? The warm favourite is the Paul Nicholls trained Enrilo who was disqualified from first place in last seasons  bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and was going well enough in the Ladbroke Handicap Chase at Newbury on his re-appearance when crashing out 7 from home. It was too far out to say what the outcome would be and although he’s probably the most likely winner here he’s been well found in the market at around 5/2. Just a pound out of the handicap proper is the Venetia Williams trained Commodore who was 3L down when unseating at the last in this race last year and is 3lb lower now with a recent wind operation also in his possible favour. I’ll take him to take this at a value each way price but can’t resist a small re saver on Santini. 

COMMODORE 1 point each way @ 11/2 1/5^th 1234

SANTINI 1/2 point each way @ 8/1 1/5^th 1234

 

Cheltenham 3.00

Not everyone’s bag but there’s still a winner to be found in this 16 runner 3m 6F cross country handicap chase with the obvious starting point being the similar race run over course and distance at the last meeting a month ago. On that occasion Martin Keighley’s Back On The Lash landed a gamble to get up on the run in in from Singing Banjo with Diesel D’Allier and Plan Of Attack all finishing within 2L of the winner. Plenty of others who ran in that race re-oppose and look safely held. The value from the quartet that finished at the top of the race may well be Singing Banjo who seems too big a price compared to the other three. I’m of the opinion that the whole race was weak by usual standards and I’m happy to oppose that form line with Enda Bolger’s runner  Midnight Maestro. Bolger is a past master at training these cross country horses for his main patron JP McManus and has won this contest twice in the last 6 years. This will be the first time he’s run over this unique cross country course but it would not be a shock if he had already been over to school over them. He has run over the Punchestown cross country course however when finishing a credible 7L runner up to his stable mate Shady Operator last month which should have teed him up nicely for this and he’s the bet. 

MIDNIGHT MAESTRO 1 point each way @ 9/2 1/5^th 12345

 

Cheltenham 3.35

Sporting John heads the weights for this 11 runner 3m handicap hurdle and this classy Philip Hobbs trained, JP McManus owned 6 year old will be very hard to beat. He reverted back to the smaller obstacles when winning quite cosily I thought over course and distance at the last meeting and although he is now 4lb worse off with the runner up Onagatheringstorm for 2 1/2L I expect him to confirm that form today. The best outsider for me is the Mrs Jane Williams trained Agrapart who has fallen down the weights and is back on his last winning mark of 142. The softer the better for this proven stayer and he may hit the frame but for  me this is all about Sporting John. 

SPORTING JOHN 3 points win @ 15/8 William Hill

 

[MCLARKE]

NH selection

Doncaster 2.50

VOYBURG 11/8