We’re up and running with a brilliant first day of the Open Meeting in the can at Cheltenham, with Razor Royale bagging the biggie he’s always threatened and Henry de Bromhead’s Loosen The Load staking his claim as a hurdler to follow this season (at over 18 hands he’s going to be some chaser under big weights with a penalty in his novice campaign), followed by banks specialist Garde Champetre stealing the show in the Cross Country race. All that despite the rain.
It’s brilliant being back at Cheltenham with its lively, friendly, knowledgeable crowd, and on Saturday afternoon they can profit from backing Irish raider Northern Alliance in the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup at 2.35pm.
Plenty of positives to recommend this horse with too: in good form this year in all disciplines having being at least placed on the flat, over hurdles and fences in recent times, he took the Guinness Kerry National at the Listowel Festival last time out in the hands of Ruby Walsh, beating a solid yard stick in the shape of veteran Church Island.
Paul Carberry resumes his partnership with the eight year old this time, and this sound jumper who has won three of his seven chase starts can land a major prize here.
The likely deluge arriving at Prestbury Park won’t damage his chances one iota – as his win on heavy ground at Punchestown on this weekend 12 months ago neatly illustrates.
He acts around Cheltenham too, finishing fourth in the Jewson back in March despite being unable to land a blow having been hampered.
Proven at the trip Nothern Alliance also has plenty of speed in his locker, but won’t be lacking for stamina when others cry enough.
Neatly weighted on 10st 12lbs due to Our Vic compressing the weights he can make the frame at a reasonable looking 11/1 with totesport.
Anyone who disagrees should have a close look at the sponsors’ market: Paddy Power are refunding stakes to any punter unlucky to back a horse that finishes second to one of the Paul Nicholls-trained trio of Chapoturgeon, Poquelin and Tatenen.
Get a £50 Free Bet with the Paddy Power Open Meeting Sponsor, Paddy Power, on this weekend’s Racing
Both Ballyfitz and Tranquil Sea have been all the rage in recent times, but the one I really fear and could also see making the frame is Malcolm Jefferson’s According To Pete, who carries no weight, handles very testing ground, was a talented novice last year and is fit from a couple of recent outings on the flat.
He’s also performed very well at Cheltenham in the past, showing a definite liking for the track with a third placed finish in the 2008 Pertemps Final.
A saver at 14/1 with any of Sportingbet, Victor Chandler or William Hill wouldn’t do any harm.
The other one I like on the card is Venetia Williams’ Miko De Beauchene as he takes his chance in the long distance Servo Trophy Handicap Chase at 1.55pm.
An absolutely wide open race sees the nine year old attempt to carry top weight in what look likely to be pretty severe conditions, but he’s exactly the type to turn in a big run in an adverse climate.
Making his first appearance for Venetia since a switch from Robert Alner he’s has twice won on his seasonal debut (2005 & 2006), and has a proven track record of being able to shoulder big weights in a gruelling slog.
His new stable are in a bit of form too, with four winners so far in November, and we all know where the Grand National winning trainer really likes to win!
Don’t forget this is the same horse who just two years ago won the Welsh National and followed up in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock for good measure. He’s a stone higher up the handicap nowadays, but he a big scopey type built for carrying plenty of weight.
His shrewd trainer wisely opts to remove 5lbs of his burden by utilising the services of Will Biddick in the saddle, and although his most recent form figures are a bit of a mess due to a couple of falls and unseatings, I reckon the 12/1 with VC Bet looks too big.
Good luck!
Saturday’s Cheltenham tips:
1.55 – Servo Trophy Handicap Chase – 1 Miko De Beauchene – (each way) @ 12/1 (Victor Chandler)
2.35 – Paddy Power Gold Cup – 8 Northern Alliance – (each way) @ 11/1 (totesport)
2.35 – Paddy Power Gold Cup – 14 According To Pete – (each way) @ 14/1 (Sportingbet, Victor Chandler, William Hill)
Tags: according to pete, ballyfitz, betting, chapoturgeon, cheltenham, form, grand national, malcom jefferson, miko de beauchene, northern alliance, odds, open meeting, our vic, paddy power, paddy power gold vup, paul carberry, paul nicholls, poquelin, red square vodka gold cup, ruby walsh, runners, servo trophy handicap chase, sportingbet, tatenen, tips, tom lee, totesport, tranquil sea, vc bet, venetia williams, victor chandler, welsh national, william hill
