The Cheltenham Festival has been and gone, but there’s no need to worry as we’re still treated to some fantastic action over the sticks. We have four National Hunt meetings, with Exeter, Wetherby, Down Royal and Wexford, as-well as Southwell’s all-weather track to choose from.
Exeter’s meeting looks the most intriguing with attractive field sizes, top-class performers and the chance to land a decent dividend. So, it is here we go for this afternoon’s placepot picks!
Leg One: Quebec
We have a tricky seven-runner race to start us off, and with plenty of rather uninspiring form on offer, it may pay to side with the unexposed Quebec. After showing a fair level of form on the flat in France, he was given a rather difficult first engagement, as he trailed in last of all behind the classy Bivouac.
He threw any chance he had away, when taking a keen hold early on, but now he is dropped in class, he looks the one to beat. He is sure to come on for the run, and the money for him this morning is very encouraging.
Leg Two: Rugged Jack
Victor Dartnell’s eight-year-old, Rugged Jack, was well-backed when going off favourite for a tough handicap hurdle at Exeter earlier this month, and he lost little in defeat. He stuck on gamely after looking as though he held little chance at all, and now back on a better surface, he should take all the beating again.
He won this race last year, and he looks to go off a nice mark after showing he has still retained his ability. The addition of first-time cheekpieces can ensure he concentrates a tad more, after developing a habit of racing rather lazily – and with Denis O’Regan back in the saddle, he looks sure to go close.
Leg Three: Jay Are
It’s hard to ignore the claims of the improving Jay Are, who still looks to be ahead of his handicap mark. The six-year-old learned a lot on his first three starts under rules, racing in hot contests, before being dropped to take part in a chase at Plumpton earlier this month.
He was backed as if defeat was out of the question, and so it proved as ran out an impressive eleven-length winner. He is still well-in, and the penalty shouldn’t prove too difficult to defy.
Leg Four: Dunraven Storm
There will be plenty of eyes on the warm favourite, Carraig Mor, but his confidence may be shot after unseating his rider, and failing to perform in difficult conditions at Haydock – so preference of for the classy Dunraven Storm.
He claimed the scalp of Vibrato Valtat earlier in the season, and after running well behind the aforementioned, as-well as Ptit Zig, he was outclassed in the Arkle last week, when pulling up. He had been travelling well before a blunder, mind, and it is not worth giEving up on Phillip Hobbs’ charge just yet. The ten-year-old can prove that was just a blip and win the race, which is necessary to progress, as there is only four horses at the time of writing.
Leg Five: Magical Man
There has been plenty of moneyF around for Magical Man this morning, and the eight-year-old shaped with plenty of promise on his last start, which is why he is worth a chance this afternoon. He has been highly inconsistent in the past, but he travelled majestically last time out and looked the likely winner until blundering the last two fences, which ensured he could only manage a laboured third.
The way he travelled was extremely eye-catching and the fact he gets in off a mark of 82 means he is definitely worth another go today. Paddy Brennan takes the ride and he is attractively priced for an each-way selection.
Leg Six: Follow The Tracks
Follow The Tracks is up seven-pound for a taking all the way success at Taunton earlier this month, and that may not be enough to stop him going close again this afternoon. He has made the places on four of his last five starts, and as consistency is key when it comes to placepot picks, he gets the nod.
Michael Heard takes a handy seven-pounds off his back, and with the better surface he is likely to encounter this afternoon, sure to be to his benefit – he can hopefully round off a good day with a nice piece of the dividend!
For all the latest placepot news – head to totepool!