2013 Cheltenham Festival Tips for the Neptune Novices Hurdle Part 2

At Fishers Cross is a JP McManus-owned jumper who has taken two scores at Cheltenham in a row - one a handicap hurdle in mid-December and the other a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle where he bested the New One. He looks to be in cracking form and brings an undefeated record to the table for this one. He has shown a consistent ability to stay on well under pressure and his previous efforts coming up the hill at Cheltenham have been successful. He is undefeated over course and distance and looks a force to be reckoned with at 7/1. 

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Melodic Rendezvous has a co-entry into the Supreme Novices’ but looks considerably more likely to win this race than the big opener on day 1. He’s been taken into 8/1 from a 14/1 price tag and was most recently seen getting the better of Puffin Billy at Exeter in a field of five. He’s never finished outside of the top two in any of his previous efforts and has taken three victories on the bounce at this point. He’ll get a good advantage over many here with the 11-7 weighting as he looks extremely good from a form perspective. He has a bit more experience than some of the other leading fancies and also looks to be a horse who just knows how to find the line. 

Champagne Fever not only boasts a quality price of 10/1, but he’s also coming in fresh off an important Grade 1 prep victory in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. Expect him to go to the front early in this one and attempt to wear down the opposition. He put in a solid shift to finish second to Jezki at Fairyhouse back in December and that’s an important reference as Jezki is the current second choice in the ante post market for the Supreme Novices. He’s also gotten the better of Melodic Rendezvous, albeit in a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race at the Punchestown Festival last year. 

Those looking for a genuine outsider with a real chance would do well to check out Alan King’s Two Rockers - he’s been clipped down to 20/1 from 33s and remains undefeated in four starts, including one point to point. He took a Grade 2 score at Haydock last week over a field of five and looks to be finding form at just the right time. With a five length victory on the day, he was able to prove that he flourishes over heavier going. 

Prediction: At Fishers Cross to surprise with Two Rockers pushing him the whole way. This could be a big-money race this year.