2.10 Cheltenham
Village Vic 3pts win @ 5/1 (Paddy Power, Stan James, www.betpack.com, William Hill, independents, guaranteed)
The Jugopolist 2pts win @ 9/1 (Bet 365, guaranteed, 8/1 generally guaranteed)
Great to be back at the home of jumps racing, and the season starts here. Heady days at the festival in March are a long way off yet, but have no doubt the journey there will be an exciting one.
Stamina is required to win this event, particularly when there is a bit of cut in the ground, and jumping is all important too. I am keen to take The New One on, because I don't think he looked a natural hurdler at Plumpton and this looks a decent contest. Paul Nicholls usually has a representative here, but he tends not to win it and whatever he enters usually comes on for the run. It is unusual to see Philip Hobbs with a runner, and his Village Vic is worthy of support at five times the price of the favourite. He was very good in bumpers but is bred to be a staying hurdler / chaser, he will not want for stamina and although he too is likely to come on for the run, Hobbs team illustrated their decent fettle with the victory of Fingal Bay last weekend and with Richard Johnson in such good form, he is selected.
Tony McCoy rides The Jugopolist for Rebecca Curtis, who had the third in this contest last year. Rebecca tends to have her string ready early, and this horse cruised home in a Novice at Uttoxeter twelve days ago. Stamina looks assured, and I get the impression the trainer would like to make an impact on races like this sooner rather than later, this is likely to have been the plan for a while. I have stamina reservations about Special Account and the rest look a little exposed. Although I would not rule out a surprise, I cannot see where it would be likely to come from, and I am happy to support the above pair at nice prices.
Profit & loss: day: -5.00 / month: -5.80 / year: -52.41
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