Our tipster Karl Hedley provides the odds for the weekend's races
SATURDAY
CHELTENHAM
1-50 MURPHY GROUP HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE 3) – 3 M 3 F 110 YDS
Chicago Grey has recorded two of his last three career wins at Cheltenham and a falling handicap mark makes him look interesting here. As per usual he was held up out the back in a similar event at the Showcase meeting a few weeks ago. He was doing all of his best work in the closing stages, suggesting that this extra couple of furlongs would certainly be in his favour. Jason Maguire has won on him on the only other occasion that he has partnered Gordon Elliott’s veteran chaser and the duo are entitled to utmost respect here.
The Druids Nephew won on his seasonal reappearance for Neil Mulholland by no fewer than twelve lengths and whilst this looks far more competitive, the stable is in rude health. Barry Geraghty rode a big race winner for the yard last weekend and he will be keen to add to that tally. He is still only a seven year old and has relatively few miles on the clock compared to some of these rivals.
Lamb Or Cod has made the frame in two of his last three visits here including a win in a novice’s handicap back in April. Running in the same colours as the mighty Rooster Booster and Detroit City, the Philip Hobbs trained seven year old is likely to prove popular with punters. He is racing off a career high mark though and that may enough to scupper his chances. Sam Winner and Restless Harry may struggle to give the weight away and Pigeon Island tends to find at least a couple too good these days. Chicago Grey represents an in form yard and it will be of little surprise to see him run a huge race.
2-30 PADDY POWER GOLD CUP CHASE (GRADE 3 HANDICAP) – 2 M 4 F 110YDS
Indian Castle has been switched from the yard of Donald McCain to that of Ian Williams and he may well go off at a bigger price as a consequence. It is worth remembering that he is a previous course and distance winner that thrived in bottomless ground here last January when winning a competitive handicap. He was sent off as favourite in the Kim Muir at the Festival over an extra half mile. He was physically exhausted at the end and had to settle for seventh place behind Spring Heeled. This return to two and a half miles is expected to suit the six year old and he has a relative featherweight on his back compared to some of his rivals in this line up.
Buywise seems to have the perfect credentials coming into the race. Seven year olds have a decent record in this and he returned to the track in good form when winning as he liked at Ludlow on his seasonal reappearance. He enjoys rain softened ground and is also a previous course and distance winner. He looks a massive threat to the selection given that he has still not stopped improving and the yard is in good form.
Present View had an extremely hard race last time in which he was asked for maximum effort to get within a head of Vicente. Despite it being a hurdles race, the duo pulled some eleven lengths clear of the remainder suggesting it was noteworthy form. A return to fences is certainly in his favour and that last run ought to have cleared away any cobwebs.
John’s Spirit and Oscar Whisky have excellent track records but may struggle to give weight away to improving and younger rivals. Indian Castle will love every inch of rain that falls and has gone well fresh in the past. He receives weight from many of his rivals this afternoon and if he finds improvement for the switch of stables he has to be high on any shortlist.
3-00 ULTIMA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS HANDICAP HURDLE – 3 M 1 F 110 YDS
Vivaldi Collonges made a pleasing seasonal reappearance over this course and distance just a few weeks ago. He was only just touched off by Jonjo O’ Neill’s in form In The Rough who notched up a four-timer in the process. The front two pulled well over twenty lengths clear of their rivals that day and with that run under his belt, this Paul Nicholls trained five year old has an excellent chance of recording his second win in just six starts. Sam Twiston-Davies has partnered this son of Dom Alco to victory before and they should give another bold account.
Big Easy was well fancied for the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and duly obliged for Philip Hobbs. This is his first run back over hurdles and provided he has maintained his fine form, he looks sure to get involved with Michael Nolan able to claim a useful three pounds. Dragon’s Den produced a fine effort when finishing runner up to Ulzana’s Raid at this track last month in a competitive handicap. He has won over further in the past so stamina is unlikely to be an issue and he will be staying on when others have cried enough. Vivaldi Collonges looks to be a typical Nicholls improver and can make amends for such a brave effort last time out.
SUNDAY
CHELTENHAM
3-15 STANJAMES.COM GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE (GRADE 3) – 2 MILES 110YDS
Garde La Victoire ran a storming race off top-weight at Haydock last month when finishing third to Hawk High. He has previous winning form at this track and bids to follow in the footsteps of Menorah who landed this race for the same connections back in 2010. That run should have left him cherry ripe for this and despite a hefty weight, he could well provide Philip Hobbs with a fourth win in this race since the turn of the century. Richard Johnson gets on well with the five year old and they are entitled to plenty of respect.
Vaniteux has always been held in high regard at Seven Barrows by Nicky Henderson and despite the burden of top-weight he goes well fresh and could well be a class apart. Barry Geraghty was expected to partner Jezki in Ireland this weekend but comes here for this mount and that decision could well prove key. He finished third to the classy Vautour in the Supreme Novices Hurdle last season and he is bound to have improved over the summer.
Clondaw Warrior has won here before and scrapes in at the foot of the weights for Willie Mullins and David Casey. He likes big fields and is also likely to make his presence known. Garde La Victoire looks a classy type and the yard certainly knows what it takes to win this. He looks the value selection in a fascinating renewal of this race.
| SATURDAY 1-50 CHELTENHAM | CHICAGO GREY |
| SATURDAY 2-30 CHELTENHAM | INDIAN CASTLE |
| SATURDAY 3-00 CHELTENHAM | VIVALDI COLLONGES |
| SUNDAY 3-15 CHELTENHAM | GARDE LA VICTOIRE |
