Morning all,

Bobby On The Beat was disappointing yesterday but Small Print was returned a very generous 17/2.  From a value perspective I couldn’t have her at the morning prices but hopefully some of you got on before the off.

As a slight aside. I noticed it was trainer David Bridgewater's birthday and of course he had a winner at Ffos Las. Maybe we over complicate things. Just concentrate on trainers with a birthday with runners that day. Mind you it wouldn't be as much fun or much of a challenge.

Inside today’s main piece. I begin my “Path To Cheltenham” series. Plus, I have selection from Chepstow,

Path To Cheltenham

Unlike last season. I haven’t really got stuck into any ante post betting markets for this season’s Cheltenham Festival. That’s about to change. Over the next nine weeks. I will be sharing with you some ante post selections. The first of them is a horse I mentioned in Tuesday’s tracker section.

Pertemps Series Final (Handicap Hurdle)

Irish trained horses have won the Pertemps Series Final for the last six seasons and I think they will win it again this year. Gordon Elliott saddled the winner for three successive years between 2018 & 2020.  Given last year Elliott was forced to miss last year’s festival due to his ban. I fully expect he will have a few plotted up for this season’s handicaps.

One of those plots is hopefully Dunboyne. The 7-year-old has now qualified for the final after 5th of 27 in the Pertemps Series Qualifier at Leopardstown last week.  He wasn’t given a hard race by his jockey after he realised, he couldn’t win. However, he did enough to book his ticket to Cheltenham should connections aim the horse at the race. Which I think they will.  

I don’t think he will be the sole runner from the Elliott yard and given the race he won’t be my only bet in it either. However, for now I have taken the 16/1 available with Bet365.  I also fancy Elliott horse for the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle. Sadly, he’s not quoted in the bookies lists for the race yet. So for now I will hold fire with him.

Selection: Dunboyne – 16/1 @ Bet365.

Thursday Racing

Two jumps card this afternoon at Chepstow and Clonmel and there are all-weather fixtures at Newcastle and Chelmsford.  I have a couple of interest from the Welsh track.

Chepstow

3:20 – Last season was season to forget for connections of Caswell Bay. However, the 7- year-old returned from a 10-month absence with an encouraging 11 ¾ lengths 5th of 9 to the progressive Green Book at Haydock 19-days ago.  That performance came over an inadequate 1m 7 ½ f and he’s better suited to further. A C&D winner in January 2020 on heavy ground, off 4lb higher. He will be sharper for his Haydock return and can go well.

3:50 – Destin D'ajonc is another previous C&D winner in the mud. The 9-year-old won over C&D in February off 1lb lower. Back from a wind operation. He shaped nicely enough on his seasonal return when 5^th of 10 at Uttoxeter last month. The run will have been needed last time and he’s the pick here. Although 4/1 would be the shortest I would be happy to go with.

Thursday Selection:

Chepstow

3:50 – Destin D'ajonc – 9/2 @ Bet365

Good luck with your Thursday bets.

John