Dave Nevison's weekend tips: best bets for Cheltenham
Top tipster Dave Nevison has three bets for Cheltenham on Saturday, which includes a fancy in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, plus also reveals his Greatwood Hurdle selection for Sunday. Enjoy all the action live on Racing TV and Racing TV Extra!
I see no reason to desert Mole Court who provided us with a 9-1 winner at the October Meeting.
Even though he has gone up 6lb for only a half-length victory, I believe that could be generous as there was never any doubt he would win after he took up the running.
It has to be significant that Ben Pauling and Jack Andrews combined to win this race last season, and Mole Court has definitely been lined up for this Amateur Jockeys' contest.
It would seem evident that cheekpieces have been the making of this horse as a staying chaser and although his rider has not ridden in a race under rules since guiding Mole Court to victory last time out, I very much doubt he will lack for fitness.
Sam Thomas is proving himself to be an excellent target trainer, and having inherited such a fragile horse as Angels Breath, I am sure this race will have been in the trainer’s mind for some time.
He went off third favourite for the 2019 Supreme Novices' Hurdle where he performed with credit before doing really well as a novice chaser for Nicky Henderson.
However, he unfortunately got injured and was sidelined for three years before he reappeared for Sam Thomas. He ran well in a handicap chase off this rating in the Spring and was then given a break before running in a handicap hurdle at this track in October.
I believe that was the perfect prep race for this as he finished a really good second, and protected his handicap mark over fences.
Provided the trainer has successfully walked on eggshells and got Angels Breath here in prime condition, he could be one who is well ahead of the handicapper. Jonathan Burke won this race last year, too, so looks a positive jockey booking.
David Pipe definitely trains the most intriguing runner in a handicap at Cheltenham this weekend and Placenet might well be underrated by the handicapper.
The fact he is able to run off 124 suggests to me that Pipe thinks that is the case, too, or else I believe he would have raced him at a track such as Taunton or Newton Abbot for his stable debut.
Like many French imports, he has already raced and won over a variety of trips and obstacles but, significantly, he has already won a Listed Hurdle at Auteuil over the longest distance he has raced.
It has been a long time since Unsinkable Boxer landed me a great touch at the Cheltenham Festival, but hopefully this is Pipe junior’s version of that great staying handicapper!
Greatwoood Hurdle tip
Iberico Lord may not have been strong enough, or was possibly struggling with his breathing, last winter when he disappointed on two occasions.
However, following a wind operation, he was transformed last Spring and after winning narrowly at Stratford, he went to Sandown well fancied for one of the most competitive novice handicaps of the season.
He suffered trouble in running and only just failed to get up the famous Sandown hill, plus finished with plenty left in the tank.
His backers very likely felt short changed and will certainly be wanting their money back in this contest. Iberico Lord runs in the J P McManus colours, so will never be a fancy price, but he will surely have been primed for this.
The stiffer finish and slightly softer ground will hopefully help, too.
