Cheltenham Racing Tips

Alan King’s mare is certainly the one who catches the eye here, having run in some competitive races this season this looks her chance to score a first Listed victory over obstacles. Her last appearance was at Cheltenham in the Dawn Run Mares’ Novice Hurdle, where she was the best of the British, finishing a creditable fifth despite losing lengths when being badly hampered two from home. The form has since been boosted by Skyace, who finished 2 ½ lengths ahead at Cheltenham coming out and winning a Grade One Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. She goes on the ground, has course and distance form on her side, as well as much less taxing company this time out. Everything is in her favour and you can be more than hopeful that Tom Cannon should be able to steer this 7yo to her third victory of the season.

Fiveandtwenty has been running against the boys all season and bumped into two proper Grade One performers at Aintree in Monmiral and Adagio, ending her winning streak. Her three previous wins at Musselburgh read well with Herbies, highly regarded by the Greenall team, coming out and winning twice since. Previously a useful flat performer with Mark Johnston, her pedigree should stand her in good stead on the quicker ground and now back in class against her own sex she ought to take all the beating. She is backing up quickly from her Aintree run, although that should not be an issue having run well on the flat after short intervals. Joseph O’Brien’s Irish raider, Scholastic is a danger and must be respected after a good third to the Festival winning Jeff Kidder at Fairyhouse. She does, however, have a fair amount to find at official ratings, but it is not the first time this season Irish horses have had something in hand. The Exacta or Swinger could also be a profitable move here. 

Has been extremely consistent for the Skelton team this term notching up three wins, one a listed success against her own sex, as well as, a creditable third behind McFabulous and Brewin’upastorm in the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle, which is the best form on offer here despite a competitive renewal. She travels strongly through her races and 2m4f appears to suit with three of her 4 career wins coming over the intermediate trip. The ground would be a slight worry as would top weight, but all said she is the classiest horse in the race and holds the highest rating for a reason. She should be able to put Harry Skelton one step closer to a first Champion Jockeys title. Sexy Lot looks progressive on good ground and would be the danger, but this is a step up into a Listed company and she has it all to prove.

The final Listed event on a competitive card and features three reopposing from Kelso a couple of weeks ago. Flower Of Scotland took the winnings that day with Pink Legend in second and Danse Idol a bit off a distance third. However, that run looked too bad to be true for the latter having gone off odds on favourite she never looked as though it was a going day. She is marginally the pick here and if forgiving that run, she has looked a solid chaser in the making for the unrelenting Skelton team. Good ground could be the key for a revival having only run twice on a sounder surface notching up one win and a second in a listed event. She is receiving weight from three rivals, alongside this, a bigger field should see her settle into more of a rhythm and it is worth putting your faith in Dan Skelton to have her back to her best. Liberty Bella also holds solid claims after comfortably dealing with Pink Legend and Roseisaroseisarose at Warwick the last day, but perhaps she would require a little more cut in the ground, having done most of her running with soft or heavy in the going description.