The Master of Rosewell launches a Boodles raid

 

Coltor (stripes) has a big chance in the Boodles

Twelve months ago, crowds were congregating on their annual Mecca style pilgrimage to Cheltenham for four days of top notch equine action. Unfortunately, due to bloody Covid-19, no crowds, not even owners, will be allowed to attend this year. The atmosphere will be very strange, but the racing remains top class and I will explore four angles on each day to hopefully make a few quid and build up some funds to put away to hopefully put towards tickets for next year's meeting!!

1.20 - Supreme Novice Hurdle

A roaring start quite literally to the meeting, as the leading Irish two mile novice hurdlers take on the home team's challenge. Appreciate It looks the most likely winner with very few cracks in the armour seemingly. His main rivals all come with slight doubts, whether it be the ground in the case of Metier, the late decision of participation with Soaring Glory or an unlikely reversal of form for Ballyadam and Blue Lord with the favourite. 

One angle worth exploring however may be a back to lay back on the Betfair exchange with For Pleasure, the likely outsider of the field. He is a blazing front runner who once they finally worked out the way to ride him at Stratford last July, has subsequently won three further races and gone up 37lbs in the weights for doing so. The final win came on his penultimate start, here at Cheltenham, when bursting a long way clear early and beating Third Time Lucki pretty comfortably in the end. That horse is considered by Harry Skelton as his most exciting ride of the week in the County Hurdle, and they pulled well clear of the rest. I'm not suggesting that I think he will win the race as I'm almost certain he won't, but he could well get a clear freebie again and he is worth backing in the win market (55 at time of writing) and leaving a lay-back at 10 to see how long he can last.

2.30 - Ultima Handicap Chase

A very competitive handicap chase, where cases can be made for many. Most bookmakers are offering extra places and one of the old boys of the party, Vintage Clouds. He has ran in the race for the last three years, twice finishing in the frame, and he is almost certain to give his running once again. Trainer Sue Smith has had a pretty torrid season, but in the last three weeks or so things have certainly started to pick up with a few winners. There were small shoots of a revival last time and with headgear on for the first time, he could go well under Ryan Mania.

3.40 - Mares Hurdle

Concertista and Roksana look set for a fantastic dual in this, with the Skelton team arriving in fantastic form after deciding to head here with Roksana rather than going to the World Hurdle. The one that could outrun her odds is the very likeable Indefatigable for the Paul Webber yard. She won at the meeting last year under Rex Dingle, who rides her again in this, getting up in the last stride to win the Martin Pipe, enhancing her already pretty impressive record at Prestbury Park. She was very disappointing last time out, but has had an extended break, and most importantly a wind operation since then. I think she has fair each way chance at around 20/1.

4.15 - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

This would be the destination of my strongest bet of day one, with Coltor topping the list under Jonjo O'Neill jnr, just over a week since a nasty kick in the face at Leicester. Coltor is lightly raced, having only had three runs over hurdles, improving with each run culminating in a win at Naas last time, beating one of his opponents Zoffanien in the process off level weights. He gets 3lbs off that runner this time and will be tuned to the minute by the master trainer Dermot Weld, who has very few runners here. His last runner was a winner in the shape of Windsor Park at the 2016 Festival. Houx Gris is too short based on what he has achieved, his price mainly out down to the fact he is trained by a certain 'Mr P Nicholls', with Busselton the one in the field I fear most.

So there we go, fingers crossed for a winner or two before a big day, as far as my ante post book is concerned, on Wednesday!!

Be lucky