Good morning all,

My weekly look back at the weekend’s action, including four eyecatchers from Cheltenham. There’s also a Monday tip from Ffos Las and a look ahead to Saturday’s big Ascot Handicap Hurdle.

Have a great week and enjoy the read.

I have to say my delve in political betting didn’t work out so its back to racing this week. The Caspian Caviar Gold Cup apart, the weekend’s racing wasn’t great. However, it was good to see David Pipe back with a big race winner at Cheltenham.

Pipe’s back in the big time

David Pipe hasn’t been getting the quality of horse into his yard to compete in the best races in recent seasons.  So, it was welcome to see the yard get a big race winner with Warthog landing Saturday’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.

Always up with the pace, Warthog made a mistake at the last and it looked like Spritofthegames had the race won. Credit to Warthog he fought back under a strong ride from jockey David Noonan to land the spoils.

The first two home upheld the trend of horses having run previously in the BetVictor Gold Cup as I mentioned in last week’s column.

Cheltenham eyecatchers

Something slightly different this week. As I give you a few horses that caught my eye from Cheltenham’s December Meeting.

Friday

Chantry House, trained by Nicky Henderson, made a winning start to his hurdling career in the first. The slow early gallop didn't suit the 5-year-old, who should be seen to better effect in a stronger run race.

He’s got the potential to be a contender for the big novice hurdles back here in March.

Pipesmoker a stablemate of the winner was also making his hurdle debut. He got a little outpaced two out, when the sprint for the line was on but stayed on well to the line to take third.

A son of Authorised he’s a middle-distance flat pedigree but shaped like he would get further than 2m 1f.  there are similar races in the 4-year-old.

Falco Blitz, another trained by Nicky Henderson, a runner-up here on his handicap hurdle debut last month looked competitive off a 4lb higher mark.

Still bang there after the last he just found his stamina run out on the run in, he’s a winnable mark and probably needs a slight drop in distance,

Saturday

Mister Fisher, runner-up on debut over fences at Warwick last month went one better in the 2m 4 ½ f novices chase. The 5-year-old held off the useful Good Boy Bobby, after the last with the pair pulling well clear of the third.

Not surprisingly his odds for the JLT Novices’ Chase were cut after this success.

After the race trainer Nicky Henderson said, “He'll be better on better ground”. If that's the case he could be interesting if the ground is good to soft at the festival.

Brelan D’As, trained by Paul Nicholls, had finished one place ahead of Warthog in the BetVictor Gold Cup. He was still in contention when stumbling three out. It was a race ending mistake. Not subjected to hard race after he was allowed to finish in his own time.

He will no doubt come back for a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival.

Looking at the stats Paul Nicholls is operating at an 11%-win strike rate in the past 14-days. Interestingly last December he had a 28% win strike rate.

Have the Nicholls horses had their flu jab early?

Big Race Preview

Ascot – Betfair Exchange Trophy (A Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) – 1m 7 ½ f

Last year’s race was won by the Dan Skelton trained Mohaayed who bids for back to back wins in the race.

The 7-year-old’s three runs this autumn have been disappointing but he’s dropped back down to last years winning mark.

He’s a best priced 33/1 for the race with Ladbrokes.

Monday Selection:

Another dismal Monday for solid betting opportunities.

Ffos Las

3:10 – Definitely Vinnie has yet to win over fences after 13 attempts, but he’s on a competitive mark and was only beaten 1 ¾ lengths into second over C&D 18-days ago. That run came on heavy ground which he seems likely to get again. Nudged up 4lb, which looks a bit harsh but he can still go close.

Definitely Vinnie

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Until next week