The racing broadcaster has three selections for the final day of the Cheltenham Open meeting, two for Fontwell, and his regular list of jockeys for courses.
The final day of Cheltenham’s Open meeting is aptly named for a competitive looking Greatwood Hurdle (15:30). With the top seven runners covered by just 4lb it is top-heavy with decent horses and it could be that NEMEAN LION 15/2 can further improve the decent record of top weights in the race.
I Like To Move It gave weight away all round last year to become the fourth top weight in the last 20 years to win with another seven making the frame. With a couple of joint top weights, it means that 11 of the last 22 have either won or made the frame – showing a touch of class can be an advantage.
Nemean Lion comes here off the back of a reappearance victory at Ffos Las where he pulled clear with Anyharminasking, who reopposes on just 1lb better terms. His Grade 2 Kelso win has also worked out well with three next-time-out winners.
Early in the card, TELLHERTHENAME 2/1 looked a winner all over at Ascot last time before getting worried out of it by the highly-thought-of Jango Baie. With that experience under his belt, he will take plenty of beating in the Maiden Hurdle (13:10). He changed hands for £200,000 after winning an Irish Point and, while that sort of money rarely makes commercial sense, at least he showed enough for his connections to expect a win or two.
A return to Cheltenham looks to be a plus for CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK 14/1 after a very lacklustre visit to Ireland. He has won three times and placed once in six runs at Cheltenham and has built up a good relationship with Liam Harrison. With a couple of confirmed front runners in the field they should go a decent pace and, providing he can stay in touch, his stamina can come into play in the closing stages (14:20).
TWO FOR FONTWELL
ITV will also be showing the Southern National Handicap Chase (14:04) from Fontwell where conditions will be very testing.
Even though GERICO VILLE 9/2 is only having his second run over fences, he will have no problem with the ground or the trip having looked a real stayer over hurdles when landing races at Lingfield and Plumpton. The stone he receives from Tommie Beau could prove very useful, as can the reapplication of cheekpieces as he can take a fair bit of driving, so Rex Dingle will certainly have his fitness tested.
The Paul Henderson to Chris Gordon angle is one I have pointed out in the past and there is another making that move in MAASAI WARRIOR SP (15:19). Paul was a very capable trainer but had a quiet last couple of seasons so a few of his horses have dropped to decent marks and this is another example. It is a basement mark in a moderate-looking race, so he is worth an interest on his debut for the Gordon yard.
JOCKEYS FOR COURSES
Here’s our regular list of jockeys riding at tracks where they have a particularly good record:
- Cheltenham – Richard Patrick (10 winners from 51 rides, actual/expected ratio = 1.79)
- Fontwell – Ben Godfrey (10/33, 1.61 A/E)
- Newcastle – Jonny Peate (20/129, 1.54 A/E)
SUNDAY SELECTIONS:
TELLHERTHENAME 2/1 (Cheltenham, 13:10)
GERICO VILLE 9/2 (Fontwell, 14:04)
CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK 14/1 (Cheltenham, 14:20)
MAASAI WARRIOR SP (Fontwell, 15:19)
NEMEAN LION 15/2 (Cheltenham, 15:30)
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