The horse racing broadcaster offers four selections for the opening day of Cheltenham’s three-day meeting, with big names including Jonbon and Conflated on show.
Ground conditions are still playing their part in small fields for ITV4’s four races on the first of the three-day November meeting.
First up is a 3m 1/2f Novices Chase, where SPRINGWELL BAY
6/4
(13:45 Cheltenham) will be looking to follow up his Chepstow victory. That was his first run over fences and his task was made easier by the sad loss of favourite Captain Dibble, but he is always a horse I have had a lot of time for, appearing in the stable tracker last year as well as being my Racing TV horse to follow for the campaign. He won first time up last year at this meeting but was lightly raced afterwards. A fall at Aintree on his last start when just coming to challenge was particularly frustrating. That form has worked out well, and even though 3m may be as far as he wants, conditions here are unlikely to place the emphasis on stamina. Highest rated Buddy One may be the main danger after running well here at the Festival, but his jumping lacked fluency last time at Wexford.
The feature race is the Grade 2 Shloer Chase, which looks an ideal opportunity for JONBON
4/11
(14:20 Cheltenham) to get his season up and running. His absence from last year’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase when many of the stable’s runners were running below par must have been a particular frustration to connections, given the way the race panned out with hot favourite El Fabiolo pulled up afer a bad early error. Jonbon himself put up a distinctly mixed round of fencing on his last Cheltenham appearance, but rectified that with wins at Aintree and Sandown. Second-favourite Edwardstone’s Game Spirit win does not look particularly strong form and he could only make the frame in that weakened Champion Chase.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase sees CONFLATED
7/2
(14:55 Cheltenham) trying to give away a lot of weight, but so superior is his rating that he keeps several out of the handicap. Conflated had been touted last year as a Cross Country possible but eventually was campaigned over the conventional obstacles, making the frame in Grade 1 races in the Ryanair and Melling chases. Champion Irish point-to-point rider Rob James is an absolute steal for a 7lb claim and his class can tell. Despite the marathon distance being unknown territory, such is the sharp turning nature of the track that it usually develops into a dash for the last half mile, which should play to his strengths on this ground against some rather more dour rivals.
Last up is Grade 2 Hyde Hurdle, which can throw up candidates for both the Albert Bartlett or Gallagher Novices Hurdle at the Festival. POTTERS CHARM
5/6
(15:30 Cheltenham) can preserve his unbeaten record over obstacles at the expense of Valgrand. That seemed to represent a massive step forward and made me slightly suspicious of the depth of the field he beat which included another of today’s rivals in Gale Mahler. There was still room for improvement in Potters Charm’s jumping in novice company last time and he can take the step up in class here.
Stable Tracker update
With it being a quiet week, I will take the opportunity to update this a day early. Two runners, both of whom were unplaced:
First, Chillingham (0, 7-1), who disappointed in the November Handicap. I always feel he is better ridden a little more quietly but in truth on the day was a long way from good enough. He has one run left.
Ostend (0, 33-1) returned off a long absence at Bangor and needed the experience on his chasing debut. He is certainly built to jump a fence and can be judged better on his next run, though that absence since being added to the tracker at Ascot last season is a slight worry. He has two more runs left.
With field sizes being so small over jumps nothing is added so no changes to the battalions this week a full list of which can be found here.
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