A month on from the Cheltenham Festival, we’re back at the home of jumps racing for a two day meeting beginning this afternoon.
We’ve got three Cheltenham tips for the afternoon below, one from each of our resident tipsters on Freebets, Alan Kelly, Charlie McCann and Ed Quigley.
All three offer tips throughout the week on Freebets, so make sure you come back for further updates, which can be found on their dedicated tipping pages.
2:05pm Cheltenham - Lallygag EW (Ed Quigley)
Paul Nicholls won’t be giving up on his quest for another trainer’s title any time soon, and in terms of prize money, every little helps at the moment.
With over £13,000 on offer to the winner, this is a good prize, and keep your eyes on the Ditcheat representative, LALLYGAG.
The seven-year-old has been a little underwhelming this season, but dropping to a mark of 128, he is now looking dangerously well handicapped on last season’s form.
He stayed on up the hill nicely to finish third in this race 12 months ago, and everything looks in place for a big run here, considering he gets into this year’s renewal off a 4lb lower mark.
Harry Cobden is in the saddle, and a bold each-way bid is on the cards, with underfoot conditions starting to turn in his favour.
2:40pm Cheltenham Scarface EW (Alan Kelly)
The JP McManus-owned In Excelsis Deo was a significant eye-catcher when finishing fifth in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival, beaten just over four lengths behind winner Shakem Up’arry. Harry Fry’s charge was badly hampered by a faller 4 out at Prestbury Park and did well to finish as close as he did in the circumstances.
The Dan Skelton stable continues in good form, and his Sail Away will find this much easier than when last of the four runners in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase on his most recent start. Harry Skelton’s mount is better judged on his previous run when finishing a close fourth in Doncaster’s Great Yorkshire Chase, a repeat of which would put him bang in the picture here, racing off the same mark of 142.
The horse I am most interested in however is the Joe Tizzard-trained SCARFACE (Each-Way), who is on a hat-trick following wins at Sandown and Plumpton on his last two starts. The Milan gelding has taken a few runs to get used to fences but there was a lot to like about his Plumpton win of two weeks ago.
Favourite for that race was Chris Gordon’s progressive I’d Like To Know who was pressed for the lead throughout by Scarface until weakening out of contention with two to jump, leaving Brendan Powell’s mount to record a comfortable victory over the Gary Moore pair of Black Gerry and Kotmask.
The seven-year-old still looks fairly treated racing off a 6lb higher mark and is fancied to continue his progression over the bigger obstacles. Gemirande is another to consider, although the Venetia William stable has not been in the best of form of late.
4:25pm Cheltenham - Some Scope (Charlie McCann)
Are U Wise To That has won two of his four starts so far this term over fences and will appreciate the return to a sound surface although he was a big disappointment at Newbury last time. Jonjo O’Neill had a frustrating Aintree but has his string in decent enough form and this inmate must have every chance.
SOME SCOPE was outstayed on soft ground in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster last time when he jumped and travelled like a very well handicapped horse although he did also finish last as only two finished the course!
This is his first start at Cheltenham, and he has been raised 17lbs for his two chase wins, but I believe there remains some mileage in a mark of 127.
Stumptown was never going at Cheltenham in the Ultima last month, but this better ground will suit, and he will certainly have his supporters as he drops in grade. The handicapper has eased him a couple of pounds.
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