The 2010 Cheltenham International meeting gets underway at Prestbury Park on Friday with a seven race card which is followed on Saturday by eight races including the re-arranged Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase, featuring dual Champion Chaser, Master Minded. The Saturday card also includes the Grade 2 International Hurdle and the Vote AP Gold Cup, a race created to assist champion jockey’s Tony McCoy’s nomination to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Although there are no graded races on Friday there a couple of really interesting heats, particularly the CITIBANH Handicap Hurdle which will see the seasonal reappearance of 2010 Grand National winner, Don’t Push It. He will be taking on the current favourite for the Welsh National. in Synchronised as well as a host of good quality handicappers in a big field of runners.
Te Listed Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase over 3 miles and 1 furlong should see the Paul Nicholls trained Neptune Collonges manage to carry top weight to victory. Still being nurtured after a long lay-off, the one time Cheltenham Gold Cup third, who won the 2009 Hennessey Cognac Gold Cup at Punchestown should have enough class about him to take this, although there are a number of runners outside of the handicap who will be receiving bags of weight. These include Knowhere, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, who could continue the run of big handicap wins for his in form trainer.
There will be several of the ‘usual suspects’ competing for top prize in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, including the great Garde Champetre with Nina Carberry on board. Second over course and distance last time out in November, the 11 year old will be giving lots of weight away, which he managed to do in this race 12 months ago when winning by ¾ length from Sizing Australia.
As already mentioned the Saturday card includes the Grade 1 tingle Creek Chase over 2 miles, which will see the dual Champion Chaser attempting to win the race for a second time. He is certain however to go off as the odds on favourite, but even with odds of around 10/11 he is probably worth backing as there appears to be nothing in the race to beat him.
In the Vote AP Gold Cup, also known as the December Gold Cup, likely favourites will be Dave’s Dream trained by Nicky Henderson and Little Josh from the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable. The latter of course comes to the race after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup over course and distance in November and will be ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, while lead stable jockey, Paddy Brennan will get the ride on the stable’s outsider, Pigeon Island. Dave’s Dream also won last time out, impressively landing the odds in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase over two miles also in November. Given that he is sure to improve on that run, Dave’s Dream looks to be on a handy mark for this and looks a good thing with current odds of around 11/2.
AP McCoy himself will be riding Finger On The Pulse for Tom Taafe but he will have to improve enormously and jump more efficiently if he is to improve on his last performance when well down the field behind Little Josh in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. That said he was a good winner of the coveted Galway Plate back in the summer, which may give him a small each way chance on Saturday.
The Grade 2 International Hurdle looks to be the race of the day with several young hurdlers lining up against each other. Narrow favourite currently is 2010 Supreme Novice, menorah, trained by Phillip Hobbs and who won on his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle over course and distance in November. Hobbs is confident that improvement will be made, hence the short price being offered. To win however, Menorah will have to get the better of the massively regarded, Cue card, trained by Colin Tizzard and who won the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year. Since then he has taken to hurdles like a duck does to water, winning two from two in breathtaking style, including an 8 length success last time in a good quality Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month.
The other leading contender is the Paul Nicholls trained Silviniaco Conti, who has won all five of his starts, including two Grade 2 hurdle events at Chepstow, before taking the Ascot Hurdle on the 20th November. The vibes about this 4 year old are equally as hot as they are about Cue Card, which makes for a fascinating race, where at this stage it is difficult to pick a winner. It certainly would be a big surprise to see anything other than these three in the frame at the finish.
Cheltenham International meeting Tips
Friday 2.25 – Knowhere (Each Way)
Friday 3.00 – Garde Champetre
Saturday 1.55 – Master Minded @ 10/11 with Boylesports
Saturday 2.30 – Dave’s Dream @ 5/1 with Bet365, Paddy Power & Victor Chandler
Written by Rodwise · Filed Under Bet365, Bookmakers, Boylesports, Horse Racing, Jump Racing, Paddypower, Tips, VCBet
Tagged: 10th december, 11th december, best, bet, bets, betting, cheltenham, Dave's Dream, friday, Garde Champetre, knowhere, Master Minded, saturday, Tips
