Cheltenham Handicaps preview and tips: Who to back and where to get the best odds
Renowned Horse Racing Tipster and Journalist Ed Quigley, aka ‘Longshot Ted’ takes a look at some of the trickiest puzzles of the week as he offers up his best bets for The Handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival.
Tuesday – Ultima Chase
Before Champion Hurdle, we have a real head scratcher. Perhaps with all the recent rain, the Joe Tizzard trained THE BIG BREAKAWAY is the each-way answer. He is a bit of a quirky sort and perhaps hasn’t won the amount of races his ability has hinted at, but he is a dour stayer who loves Soft ground and has a good record at Cheltenham having won here over fences on the Old Course. A runner-up in the Welsh National when last seen, I can see him staying on when others have cried enough and he can hit the frame at attractive odds.
Tuesday – Boodles Hurdle
Soft ground won’t be an issue for METAMORPHEUS who looked good on his penultimate start before finishing 5th to Sir Allen at Naas last time out. He shaped as though he would improve for that outing, and he could easily have more to offer here in this big field where he can be switched off behind rivals. He can give punters a good each-way run for their money for shrewd handler Paul Nolan.
Wednesday – Coral Cup
CAMPROND will need the ground to dry up, but if it does, he has massive claims off a mark of 138. Fourth in the race last year when the ground went against him, he is 2lb lower this time around, and given his record at the venue he looks a huge player. The Philip Hobbs team are in much better form than they were a couple of months ago and he has solid claims.
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Thursday – Pertemps Final
I was really impressed with how WALKING ON AIR jumped and travelled to win at Exeter on his most recent start and in doing so, booked his ticket to the Pertemps Final. Nicky Henderson thought initially that the horse had the ability to make up into a Stayers’ Hurdle candidate, but reaching those lofty heights proved unrealistic at this stage of his career. However, he clearly is starting to get the hang of things, as his jumping has let him down in the past, but he was much more fluent in that department at Exeter – probably the best he had ever been in that regard. I like his unexposed profile, and I am sure we are yet to see the best of him. He only got a 5lb hike in the weights for his Exeter win which could be lenient and he will look to follow the route of Fingal Bay who won the same race in 2014 before winning the Pertemps Final.
Thursday – Plate
If FRERO BONBOU takes his chance in the Plate he has the potential to be one of the best Handicapped horses of the week, but crucially moving up in trip to the extended 2m4f on the New Course looks tailor made for him. He has been crying out for a step up in trip and he can flourish when presented with the demands of this assignment. He was third in last season’s Grand Annual when looking outpaced for most of the contest, and the Venetia Williams team have got him to Prestbury Park off a 6lb lower mark. Cut in the ground will be perfect for him.
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Friday – County Hurdle
The Dan Skelton trained PEMBROKE has a cracking each-way chance in the County Hurdle. The Skelton’s have a terrific record in the race, winning it in 2016, 2018 and 2019, and Third Time Lucki and West Cork have gone close since. He shaped like a non-stayer when runner-up over an extended 2m4f on testing ground in the Ballymore Trial at Cheltenham on his latest start, but previously to that had looked a horse of some potential when winning by 16 lengths at Ludlow. He was outstayed by the stayer on that occasion but this will be much more his bag. Down in trip, and onto Cheltenham’s New Course will be perfect for him, and I am finding it hard to knock him out of the frame off a mark of 136.
Friday – Martin Pipe Hurdle
MIGHT I ran an eye-catching race at Cheltenham last time out with a view to this contest. Lorcan Murtagh knows the horse well, so it will be important to have his experience in the saddle. He has the burden of top weight – but for good reason, as his Novice Hurdle form was smart, chasing home the likes of Constitution Hill and Jonbon. This intermediate trip should suit him perfectly and he can get involved at the business end of proceedings.
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