Cheltenham Five To Follow

Good morning all,

Delighted to say I recovered from the Covid just in time to get myself to Cheltenham last week. And what a week it was. I don't think I've ever seen anything as good as Constitution Hill for a long time and I was delighted he won. He's shown himself adaptable ground-wise now too, and it's becoming hard to find any chinks in his armour.

Anyway, here are the five I think are worth following – a couple for the near future and a couple long term. I really like the first one – he looks Albert Bartlett material all day long – so have a read on….

Seabank Bistro (Willie Mullins)

Willie had the usual battalion for the bumper and whilst Facile Vega was one very much for the now, long-term I was really taken with Seabank Bistro in the preliminaries and the rain that had steadily fallen all day turned the race into a bit more of a stamina test, which really suited him.

He’s got plenty of size about him and I suspect he’ll not be mucking around for long over hurdles, as chasing is surely where his future lies. The dam is a half-sister to the Killultagh Storm, who some of you may remember as a very useful 140-rated chaser when the mud as flying, and given Seabank’s Bistro’s size, I suspect plenty of cut will suit him too.

Fourth in the bumper, he just didn’t quite have the speed of the front pair turning in after travelling well but stuck willingly to the task all the way to the line on only his second start. I think he’s a very exciting prospect for next year and I look forward to watching him progress.

Oscar Elite (Colin Tizzard)

He looked in tremendous nick before the Ultima and it really wasn’t hard to make a case for him on form, given that he might well have won at the track back in November but for crashing out three from home and would have beaten some good horses that day. He travelled and jumped really well here and looked for all the world like winning turning in until run out of it at the last by the power-packed finish of Corach Rambler.

It later transpired he’d bled, making the effort all the more admirable but of course that’s going to be a concern going forward. Nevertheless, he looks more than capable of winning a big handicap from his mark (upped another 6lb for this to 140) when it all goes right, and I’d expect to see him try his luck at Aintree, a track that ought to suit him well.

Honest Vic (Henry Daly)

He’s a horse I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for, and after trying chasing earlier in the season and finding out that it wasn’t really his thing he’s reverted to hurdles and looks a lot happier for it too.

You can argue Richard Patrick went for home a bit soon in the Pertemps, kicking on in the straight and opening up a two-length lead but to be fair, the in-running punters felt it was a winning move too as he traded around 4-7 when he did. He’s got tired late on and faded to fifth but all the same, it was a much better effort and shows he’s still got wins in him off his current mark. There’s a 3m hurdle back at Cheltenham on the Wednesday of their April meeting and that would look a natural target for him to aim at.

Brorson (Martin Keighley)

I’d been banging on about Brorson for the Pertemps as a potential winner but sadly he didn’t get in. Instead, connections took their chance in the Albert Bartlett on the Friday and despite going off a huge price, he ran a really good race, helping force the pace and holding a chance of a place until late in the day when he finally wilted, and faded to finish eighth.

He’s another that looks very well handicapped from his current mark and might also chance his arm at the April meeting, but a word of warning – he was treated for post-race ataxia here and looked very tired, having given his all. He might need plenty of time to recover from this but all the same, he’s a horse to very much keep onside.

Porticello (Gary Moore)

Physically, he looked well ahead of the majority of the Triumph field (some of them looked utterly outclassed) but sadly, the ground had dried up too much more him and this turned into a speed test, which wouldn’t have suited him either. I’m not suggesting he’ll be top grade by any means, but even so he was the best of the British runners and stepped up in trip next year, he’ll be a tough nut to crack in the winter among his British counterparts. Put a line through this run, he’s better than this.

There's very little I like today, and the only bet I've had so far is a small e/w one on Top Brass in the 2.10 Hereford. Warren Greatrex has had a pretty poor season by his own high standards but Top Brass was useful on the Flat and showed a lot more at Warwick last time, only fading late on to finish fourth. If he can be ridden with a touch more restraint today I see no reason why he can't hit the frame, at worst.

Today's selection – Top Brass (e/w) 2.10 Hereford

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.