It’s a really competitive day’s racing at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 13th March, as the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle take centre stage. Our in-house tipster opts to veer away from those Grade 1 races and picks out his three best bets from some hugely competitive handicap contests.
2:00pm Cheltenham – Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
A new race on the Cheltenham Festival race schedule this season, the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase looks a hugely competitive contest at 2:00pm and the likes of Nurburgring, Firefox and Springwell Bay all look to be huge players at the head of the betting. However, with a big field going to post then there could be some value elsewhere and it’s Gavin Cromwell’s THE OTHER MOZZIE that makes appeal at big prices.
The six-year-old is two from four over fences and having won on debut at Galway was a disappointing sixth at Cheltenham way back in November. Given a small break after that run, he bounced back to form with aplomb when cruising to an 11-length victory at Naas back in January and a repeat of that effort should see him go close. Given a massive 11lbs rise for that win, he will need a huge career best to play a part here, but he looks to still have huge improvement in him and he looks solid each-way material.
2:40pm Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Gordon Elliott knows what it takes to win the Pertemps Final having saddled the likes of Delta Work and Sire Du Berlais (twice) to victory and the master of Cullentra House can claim victory once again in the 2:40pm at Cheltenham on Thursday. The one that catches the eye is PATTER MERCHANT, who has been running well in hot handicap hurdles this season, but has just struggled to get his head in front.
Fifth in a red-hot handicap hurdle at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival two starts ago, the six-year-old then finished fourth in a Pertemps qualifier at Naas to book his place in this contest. He made a shuddering mistake two flights from home that day, but he stayed on eye-catchingly well to grab fourth spot. He’s been given a 3lbs rise by the British handicapper for that run, but a mark of 134 looks more than feasible and he can storm to victory for the Gigginstown House Stud here.
5:20pm Cheltenham – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Eighth in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, JOHNNYWHO was expected to be a potential Graded novice chaser this season, but the Jonjo & A J O’Neill-trained raider has failed to deliver the goods over fences this season, but is of interest in the Kim Muir at 5:20pm.
Last of three in the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase at Windsor on his last outing, the JP McManus-owned youngster was beaten by two smarts rivals in the shape of Jingko Blue and Lowry’s Bar, and it’s unlikely he will come up against similar talent here. Given a mark of 140 for this event, he will need to improve his jumping, as he has been a little suspect at times, but with Derek O’Connor in the saddle he can get his mount to jump better and he could well be ahead of the handicapper and prove too good here.
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