It is Cheltenham eve and the final chance to boost the Festival fund, so there may be extra pressure on this afternoon’s placepot picks!
We’re treated to three competitive cards over the obstacles, and today we travel to Stratford, where decent sized fields and stiff competition means that the dividend should rise to a sizeable amount.
Leg One: New Street
We start with a tricky juvenile hurdle and after much deliberation, the nod goes the way of New Street who is set for his first start over obstacles this afternoon. Jim Best’s gelding brings some solid flat form to proceedings and after missing his last engagement, when well-backed, the general consensus seemed to be he is one to watch for the future.
He is receiving plenty of support this morning and if he can replicate his form on the level, he looks sure to go close given the majority of his rivals have failed to really make the switch, judged by what form is on offer.
Leg Two: Eastern Witness
The consistent Eastern Witness gets the nod in leg two, with Venetia Williams’ eight-year-old continuing to run well without getting his head in front. He has finished in the first three in his last three starts and seems to relish running in small fields, so the six-runner affair this afternoon is likely to benefit our challenger.
He was well-backed last time out when a staying-on second at Bangor, and he should enjoy the better ground this afternoon. It is a fairly open race, but one that looks extremely winnable – so hopefully Aidan Coleman can kick-start what could be a brilliant week, with a win here this afternoon.
Leg Three: Bincombe
Recent form figures of PP will do little to inspire astute studiers however, there are definitely reasons behind Bincombe’s two poor efforts. After running oyut a game winner at Aintree when well-backed, Phillip Hobbs’ runner seemed to hate heavy conditions at both Lingfield and Wincanton – but now back on a sounder surface, he should relish this afternoon’s test.
It looks set to turn into a real stamina battle which is sure to suit the seven-year-old and now fitted with a new tongue-tie, even more improvement is expected. He looks a big price and although it is unfortunate that the field is down to seven, he looks to have a great chance of making the frame.
Leg Four: Voix D’eau
Harry Fry is unlikely to be in the best of moods considering Rock on Ruby, who looked his main hope of a winner at the Festival, misses the World Hurdle on Thursday. However he is a consummate professional and he can make a trip to the winner’s enclosure this afternoon at Stratford, thanks to the lightly-raced Voix D’eau.
There was plenty of money around for the five-year-old when he made his debut for connections, and he looked set to be in with a real chance as he travelled beautifully down the back – before he faded after the last, eventually trailing home in fifth. He is entitled to strip fitter for the run and he has the scope to improve past plenty of exposed horses in the field, which suggests he is the way to go in leg four.
Leg Five: Mr Mecurial
The penultimate leg is shaping up to be a battle between Mr Mecurial and Can Mestret, and preference is for the former, who has enjoyed plenty of success between the flags. He looked set to score after a decent lay-off at Leicester last time out, but he was headed extremely close to home, and any improvement should see him come clear of the field this afternoon.
He receives four-pound from his main market rival, Can Mestret, and this edges the vote in favour of Mrs Edward Crow’s runner, with the five-pound claimer also looking set to come in handy.
Leg Six: Mister Miyagi
There isn’t too much form to get excited about in the finale, so after plenty of head-scratching we’ve decided to swerve the interesting Mighty Concorde who travels over for esteemed connections, and instead opt for Mister Miyagi. The Skelton’s have been in fair form and their interesting six-year-old looks to have the strongest form on offer, thanks to a decent second behind Rock on the Moor and a solid third at Uttoxeter on less than ideal ground last time out.
He should come on plenty for the run and now back in a sounder surface he is sure to mount a strong challenge against some rivals who could very well be in need of a run. Hopefully Harry Skelton can guide his mount into the first three and in doing so, land us part of a tasty dividend just before the tapes go up for Cheltenham!