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13:50 Cheltenham We start the Channel Four tips with a belter of a Caspian Gold Cup over an extended two mile four furlongs and a field of fifteen declared. Irish Cavalier was the early favourite for this race but due to a bug in the Rebecca Curtis yard and her recent form he has taken a bit of a walk. He will likely need this after an easy couple of weeks and blew up when hitting the front in the Paddy Power. The first two from that race meet here again. Annacotty who is looking for a famous double went up a fair five pounds for that and could still be well treated with Alan King remaining in good form. Buywise is a cliff horse for me and never really let me down without winning. To my eye he still is well treated even with a small raise in the weights. He doesn’t jump that well but didn’t get the clearest of runs in the Paddy Power. He should reverse the placings with Annacotty and should again hit the frame. There are a number of unexposed types here. Mainly Champagne West, a good novice last year he makes his seasonal reappearance after coming back from an injury. Philip Hobbs can ready one but Richard Johnson has picked the stable other runner instead. Village Vic takes a market step up in class but is generally progressive. Johns Spirit has won three times over this course and distance. He is still above his last winning mark but had been running in Graded races since a head second in 2014 Paddy Power where he was one pound higher than today. If he can re find that form and given his course form he should be involved. The Irish contingent is interesting with Mazaltov and Texas Jack. The former makes his race course return after just shy of six hundred days off the track. He wasn’t the most trustworthy as a novice but given connections must be respected. Texas Jack is another who has been running nearly exclusively in better races and over trips too long. Its only his second race in a handicap but could be chucked in off 150. He looks overpriced but given Noel Meades record at Cheltenham, there could be other opportunities in handicaps for him. Texas Jack is one to watch for in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Buywise (E/W) Johns Spirit (E/W)
14:05 Doncaster This grade two is probably at a lower level than last year where Peace And Co won very impressively. However it is a competitive race and Fouburg was unlucky last time out. He had to deal with some interferance and lack of a racecourse appearence behind Who Dares Wins who was fit from the flat. A four pound since in Fouburgs favour should be enough to reverse those places. Roberstown is an interesting newcomer and should be fit from the flat where he won twice of four for Jim Bolger. Once on heavy and once on Good to Firm. He should handle conditions and the trainer is an expert at getting these ready. But this looks competitive and may just need sights lowered. A case could be made for Sir Chauvelin but he was poor on the flat and may just be found out here. Fouburg (WIN)
14:25 Cheltenham The next race at Cheltenham is a trick Albert Bartlett Novice hurdle over a ridiculous couple of yards shy of three miles. Unowhatimeanharry is a short priced favourite and while he would need to improve again to win this, he has the potential to do so against a so so field. He won two handicaps off 123 rating but should need to improve here while also needing to prove he stays this trip as effectively. Net Work Rouge has no stamina doubts and is fairly unexposed at this trip. Kim Bailey makes no secret of his truely awful record round here. The same can be said for John Ferguson horses Ennistown, This trip is a true unknown for him and I doubt he will stay. Another who looks likely to struggle over this trip is Final Nudge. On breeding and running style he should stay however his only try he was pulled up, albeit in a grade one. His bumper form is high quality but looks a bit trip less over hurdles. Of the outsiders Colin Tizzard horse West Approach is interesting. He is the least exposed runner in the field and won despite greenness on racecourse début. A good run on hurdles début behind Wait For Me in February is solid however he let himself down next time out on seasonal reappearance. He is a half brother to Thistlecrack who stays this trip well and the Tizzards think this horse could be even better. I think there is more to come from him and am willing to take a chance. West Approach (E/W)
14:40 Doncaster The final trip to Town Moor is another grade two, this time a novice chase. It’s A Close Call was a very very lucky winner at Chepstow when Beast of Burden was going to win before crashing out. He is a horse with some potential. Southfield Royale is the selection and he hammered Zeroshadesofgrey by twenty lengths that day and jumped supremely. If he comes on for that run again he should go very close. River Maigue is a dual winner for this yard but that was early season summer form and this is another step up in class after a poor run at Ascot when not given a tough ride. The other three runners have there chance but I think Southfield Royale is destined for the top table and would be disappointed if he didnt win a tad cosily here. Southfield Royale (WIN)
15:00 Cheltenham The feature of the weekend as the International hurdle over two miles. A small field has assembled here. Peace And Co is seen as the main British threat to Faugheens Champion Hurdle crown and if that is to be the case he should be winning here. The winner of the Triumph hurdle last year over this distance he looks a potential superstar. Won first time out this time last year in the earlier Juvenile race at Doncaster. While his price is restrictive it could and probably should be shorter. He has the beating of Hargam and Old Guard from the Triumph last year. With the latter advertising that form in handicaps since. The older horses Cheltenian and Melodic Rendevous look out of there depth and Sempre Medici shouldn’t be good enough here. This should be a fairly straight forward victory for Peace and Co and while I don’t expect him to be that impressive as that is not his way but he should get the job done Peace And Co (WIN)
15:35 Cheltenham We finish with the OLGB handicap hurdle over two and a half miles. A competitive affair with 5/1 the field at the time of writing. Broxbourne and The Govaness both head the market. The latter won over further last time out and the drop in trip has to be a concern. The Govaness makes his first start for Dr Richard Newland. Finished third at Haydock, she looks high in the weights and will need the change in scenery to find a bit more. Blue Buttons comes back from a failed attempt over fences where she fell at short odds. She won a listed contest on her last hurdle start and is only two pounds higher here. She could take some beating. The concern I have is that she may just have her confidence dented from that fall. Pass The Time is another mare who falls into this category and may just need this return to timber to boost her confidence. Flementime is the selection for local trainer Martin Keithly who had a mixed bag on Friday. A winner, poor performance and the tragic loss of a horse was sure to be a roller-coaster of emotion for the trainer but Flementime could ensure he makes the short trip home happy. She has run well at a higher level and without looking chucked in, the adding of cheek-pieces could allow here find that bit extra. Flementime (E/W)