Horse Racing Betting Tips: West looks the right Approach in Cleeve Hurdle
YOU CAN always feel the excitement building at Cheltenham’s Festival Trials Day, the last meeting at Prestbury Park before those incredible four days in March.
It’s debatable whether tomorrow’s action will have too much bearing on the major races at the Festival, but it’s bound to be competitive stuff with loads of prize money up for grabs.
The highlight is the Grade Two Cotswold Chase (2.25pm) over 3m 1½f, a trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup yet one with a pretty wretched record of horses following up.
Looks Like Trouble was the last to do the double way back in 2000 and you’d be hard pressed to say any of tomorrow’s runners, for which we’ll know the final field later this morning, could go on to Gold Cup glory.
Frodon looks the most likely winner, but no-one knows if he’ll stay the trip, while Elegant Escape is coming here on the back of a hard race in the Welsh Grand National.
The one who interests me most is Minella Rocco on his first start after having his wind done, as he receives weight from the majority of the field and is a classy horse on his day.
However, he normally takes a run or two to get his act together, so I’m happy to keep a watching brief.
A more attractive betting heat is the Cleeve Hurdle (3.35pm) as I’m not quite convinced by any of those at the top of the market.
Again, final declarations aren’t made until later this morning, so we can’t be sure who will take part.
Midnight Shadow was mightily impressive in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day, but he has to go another 3½f here and his previous three runs were all in handicap company.
It’s a similar scenario with Paisley Park who admittedly took the step up to Grade One company in his stride when winning the Long Walk Hurdle last time.
His two other runs this season have been in handicaps, although he did win both of them.
The problem I have with these two is that they have to carry 6lb penalties for their exploits and they are taking on some experienced stayers.
I can see why Black Op has been well backed this week, as plenty of horses have done well when reverting back to the smaller obstacles.
He has to prove his stamina, though, and is just 4/1 which looks skinny enough.
Aux Ptits Soins was good last time and could go well, but the one who looks overpriced to me is Colin Tizzard’s WEST APPROACH.
He was second at 40/1 to Paisley Park off level weights at Ascot last month on his first start over hurdles since April 2017. Tomorrow he gets 6lbs off him.
Just two years ago he was a close third to Unowhatimeanharry in this race as a novice and he looks a good each-way bet at 10/1 with Ladbrokes.
In the 2m 4½f handicap chase (1.50pm), I’m siding with Nick Williams’ improving SIRUH DU LAC at 5/1.
The six-year-old has won four of his last five starts, but I don’t think the handicapper has got to him yet.
An excellent jumper, he doesn’t win by far and he’ll need to go up again in the weights to get into the Brown Advisory Plate back here in March.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Siruh Du Lac 1.50pm Cheltenham
West Approach e/w 3.35pm Cheltenham