RICK DOYLE'S CHELTENHAM TIPS
Rick Doyle gives his selections for every race on Day 1 of the cheltenham Festival.
1:20 CHELTENHAM
SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE (GRADE 1) (GBB RACE)
TALK THE TALK - 9/2
TALK THE TALK looks a high class novice after landing a Grade One at Leopardstown, where he finished strongly to beat Ballyfad and King Rasko Grey. He had earlier won a Grade Three at Fairyhouse and was travelling well when falling at the last in another top level race. Still improving with experience, the Joseph O’Brien trained five year old looks capable of another big run.
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2:00 CHELTENHAM
SINGER ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY NOVICES' CHASE (GRADE 1) (GBB RACE)
KOPEK DES BORDES - 11/8
KOPEK DES BORDES (NAP) looks one of Willie Mullins’ standout chances at the Cheltenham Festival. He was hugely impressive on his only start over fences when bolting up by 13 lengths at Navan, travelling strongly throughout and showing the high cruising speed needed for a race like this. Although still lightly raced over fences, he has reportedly schooled extensively and if reproducing that Navan form, he looks the one they all have to beat.
3
2:40 CHELTENHAM
MCCOY CONTRACTORS JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE (PREMIER HANDICAP) (REGISTERED AS THE FRED WINTER) (GBB)
GLEN TO GLEN - 15/2
GLEN TO GLEN looks a strong option for Joseph O’Brien, who has an excellent record in this race. A useful Flat performer who ran well at Royal Ascot, he showed he could adapt to hurdles when winning at Cork in December. With that run likely part of a careful preparation and plenty of improvement expected, he looks well placed to take a big step forward here.
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3:20 CHELTENHAM
TRUSTMARQUE ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE)
RESPLENDENT GREY - 16/1
RESPLENDENT GREY looks worth an each way chance at a bigger price. He was placed at the Festival last year and the drying ground should suit him well. The addition of first time blinkers could bring about improvement and with Sean Bowen booked to ride, he looks a solid value play.
3
4:00 CHELTENHAM
UNIBET CHAMPION HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY (GRADE 1) (GBB RACE)
PONIROS - 14/1
PONIROS could be the value play in this year’s Champion Hurdle. The Triumph Hurdle winner shocked the Festival at huge odds last season and remains one of the least exposed runners in the field with only a handful of starts over hurdles. His recent run behind Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth looked more like a prep than a true test, and with a strong pace expected he could be produced late again. Proven at Cheltenham and still open to improvement, he has the profile to run another big race at a price.
3
4:40 CHELTENHAM
SUN RACING PLATE HANDICAP CHASE (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE)
WILL THE WISE - 9/1
WILL THE WISE looks worth an each way chance in the Plate Handicap Chase. He has good experience in big field handicaps and showed his ability when finishing sixth in last season’s Pertemps Final before running a solid fourth in the Troytown at Navan. A strong stayer who should be suited by the race setup, he can be expected to travel well just behind the leaders and could be involved at the finish.
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5:20 CHELTENHAM
NATIONAL HUNT CHALLENGE CUP NOVICES' HANDICAP CHASE (GBB RACE)
ICEBERG THEORY - 15/2
ICEBERG THEORY looks a very interesting staying chaser for Paul Nolan and could be primed for a big run. A useful winner over hurdles at three miles, he has taken well to fences, finishing second on debut before winning a beginners’ chase at Limerick and then scoring again on handicap debut at Cork. Still lightly raced with stamina clearly a strong asset, his mark of 133 looks workable and he has the profile of a horse who could improve again for this marathon test.
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