Cheltenham 2014 : Day 3 Preview

13:30 JLT NOVICES CHASE

You know the routine by now the first race of the day belongs to the Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins duo and they are 7/2 to come out on top here with Felix Yonger. The eight-year-old has three wins and two seconds from the last five starts and is in a strong position to hand the Irish their fourth straight victory in this race. The nearest challenges are expected to come from the Paul Nicholls trained Wonderful Charm, the Nicky Henderson trained Oscar Whiskey and the Jonjo O’Neill runner Taquin Du Seuil.

The value is in being in backing the Harry Fry runner Vukovar (9/1) who destroyed a field at Newbury in December on last start and might have more ground for improvement.
RECOMMENDATION: Vukovar, each-way BET 365, best price guaranteed

14:05 PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL

Fingal Bay and If in Doubt are the 7/1 joint favourites for the second race of the afternoon. These two were 1 and 2 in a trial at Exeter last month and should both be in the mix here. The last ten winners of this race have gone off at double figures so this could be one to look around for a little bit of value.

The David Pipe yard tends to do well here having produced two of the last four winners and in Top Wood I think they have another potential one. The horse looked good when winning over three miles last time out and at 16/1 makes great each-way sense.
RECOMMENDATION: Top Wood, each way bet365, best price guaranteed

14:40 RYANAIR CHASE

We have covered the Ryanair Chase in more detail elsewhere on the website. Going into the race three horses look like being in the mix with Benefficient and Dynaste the 7/2 market leaders. These two came 1 and 2 in the Jewson Novices Chase last year at the Festival and will be expected to run each other close this time around. I think the latter has shown enough signs to suggest he can overturn the former this year. Benefficient did win last time out but before that put in three poor performances while Dynaste has registered a win at Aintree and Haydock. True the Pipe runner was fifth in the King George but that was not a race run to suit. Others expected to go well are Al Ferof (9/2), Menorah (8/1) and Boston Bob (10/1).
RECOMMENDATION: Dynaste, to win, bet365, best price guaranteed

15:20 ladbrokes WORLD HURDLE

The race has again been covered in more detail elsewhere on this website. The key question here is whether you believe that Annie Power is as dominant as the runs have suggested? If you think No then you can get some great value elsewhere in the field in opposing the favourite. If you think Yes then 13/8 looks a great price on a horse who has won the last four races behind a combined length of fourty lengths, which is remarkable. Big Buck’s obviosuly loves this race and for some 7/2 will be too big to pass up although the concern is the performance on the last appearance in January. The others in the mix look like being At Fishers Cross (8/1), Rule the World (8/1), More of That (10/1) and Zarkandar (12/1). To me Annie Power has been so dominant in recent races beating a number of good horses with ease and with younger fresher legs should have too much for Big Buck’s.
RECOMMENDATION: Annie Power to win, bet365, best price guaranteed

16:00 BYRNE GROUP PLATE

Colour Squadron and Sraid Padraig are the 8/1 joint favourites for the Byrne Group Plate. The former is without a win in 11 starts though on the positive side has gone close recently in some difficult looking races. The latter was a winner at Fairyhouse last time out in November though has not been seen since. While both look decent improving runners nothing about them screams value so we can look elsewhere for value.

At big prices I can not discount the chances of Cheltenham specialists and veteran pair Tartak (20/1) and Tatenen (25/1) though the best way to play this is to take the 16/1 shot Shangani. The runner comes from the Venetia Williams yard and the trainer has won three of the last seven runnings of this race and it is this to me that is her strongest runner. I was especially impressed by a distance victory in a strong race at Newbury last time out.
RECOMMENDATION: Shangani each-way. BET 365 (best price guaranteed)

16:40 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR HANDICAP CHASE

Another race with two market leaders, Indian Castle and Cause of Causes both 6/1 at the time of writing. The former has to be respected with a course win at Cheltenham in January representing an eighth top two finish from the last eight races. In addition trainer Donald McCain has a good record in this race and tends to target it. The latter comes here on two very narrow second places to two good horses and must be due a victory soon. The Willie Mullins trained Balnaslow is another going well and at 9/1 with ground to suit has to be in the mix.

The selection though is Our Father from the David Pipe yard, this horse was a favourite for the Hennessy at one point and maybe the pair of blinkers is what has been missing from a couple of flat runs. At 20/1 it is certainly worth an each-way interest.
RECOMMENDATION: Our Father each-way, 20/1 bet365

Go To bet365

#Ad

13/03/2014     © Frixo 2026