The Greatwood Hurdle plays host to two horses supposedly very well in at the handicap. However, Matty Sutcliffe backs a 33/1 chance and stablemate of Dysart Enos in the big race on Sunday…
1:45 Cheltenham – mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+) – Bob Bob Ricard 10/1 1pt EW 3 places
BOB BOB RICARD shaped much better than his eventual finishing position suggested over C&D last time out, having travelled well into contention despite some novicey leaps early on, before being completed hampered by Lord Of Thunder coming down two out. It’s impossible to say how close he’d have finished there, but he was moving well enough to suggest he’s entitled to go well from a pound lower this time around.
This looks a marginally weaker contest, and it’s worth noting he was 2/2 over fences prior to that effort last time out, and the latter of those (over this trip) was boosted by the second winning cosily last time out. His form over the fences rates him a solid contender here, as does match fitness/ground suitability, which can’t be said for some others.
2:55 Cheltenham – Holland Cooper Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Does He Know 9/2 1pt win
DOES HE KNOW took this last season off a two pound higher mark on his second run after a wind op, and having fared well from the front on seasonal debut here last month, he can take this again now on his second run after another wind op.
He’ll appreciate Nassalam taking him off top-weight, and along with his course record reading 11512014, the quick conditions will suit him more than most for the in-form Kim Bailey.
3:30 Cheltenham – Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Tintin 33/1 1pt EW 5 places
I’m quite happy to let Dysart Enos win at 5/2 here, as for all she’s somewhat of a ‘hype horse’ and supposedly the best handicapped horse in training, the large majority of that reasoning is her nine-length success over Golden Ace in a bumper. Bumper form and hurdles form shouldn’t always be treated as gospel together, and if we were to judge her solely on her hurdles form, then a mark of 131 doesn’t look obviously lenient. She beat Beat The Bat two lengths in receipt of 7lbs, and that one is only rated 132.
Fergal O’Brien’s other runner, TINTINTIN, looks to have been seriously overlooked in the market with the weight shifting toward the mare, but this son of Tin Horse could still have more to give off the mark of 126 in handicaps.
His record second time up after a break reads 211, and he shaped as if needing the run when beaten twelve lengths at Wetherby on seasonal debut. That form’s worked out ok, given the 3rd (Allmankind) wasn’t entirely disgraced in the G2 West Yorkshire Hurdle when not staying the trip, and the second has come out and won well next time out now rated 5lbs higher.
Tintintin beat Doyen Quest by a length at Taunton last season giving him 2lbs, and that one has form figures of 211 since now rated 13lbs higher, and he also had the now 136-rated Our Champ and 126r Tapley in behind when taking a competitive handicap here on the new course on good ground in April, before faring well from off the pace in the Swinton with the winner suited by a soft lead when making all.
His end of season form was progressive enough to see him competitive in a race of this nature, and he can creep into the race in rear under Jack Hogan whose 3lbs claim will be of use.
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