Classy Card Shaping Up for Cheltenham on Saturday

The forecast isn’t exactly rosy for jumps racing fans this week as the snow looks set to derail another set of fixtures- confining day-to-day punters to the all weather surfaces. All eyes are fixed firmly on Cheltenham as the countries’ top jumps destination is set to play host to a number of quality graded races this Saturday- not the least of which is the 2010 Tingle Creek Chase.

Final declarations haven’t taken place just yet so punters are dealing with a bit of a forecast market here.

In the 11:40 on Saturday, we’ve got a 2m110y contest over fences where Paul Nicholls is set to deploy the highly-talented WOOLCOMBE FOLLY, who just graduated off the novice circuit and triumphed on his first step up to handicap chase action. The only real blip on his pristine record is a disappointing last place to Sizing Europe in the Irish Arkle earlier this season. A few recognizable names should line up for this one and they include Consigliere, Tartak, Perce Rock and Mad Max- none of whom really look able to challenge WF should he run to potential.

Another Nicholls’ charge SAM WINNER headlines a group of 3 year-old set to tackle a trial race for the JC Triumph Hurdle. The debutante scored on his debut over hurdles in a course and distance score back in mid-November and there is little to suggest that anybody gets up to beat him here. You never know what to expect with jumpers at this age and knowing that he’s got a successful race under his belt gives him a distinct edge on the day.

In the 12:45, Ian Williams’ WAYWARD PRINCE looks a slim favourite here as he enters the race well-rated and fresh off a Cheltenham score from mid-November. He looks set to mix it up with the PJ Hobbs-trained Quinz with both looking to extend a recent spate of victories. This 3m110y test for staying novices also features Balthazar King and he’ll be looking for revenge in this one- having proven he likes the Cheltenham surface, but is still finding his feet as a six year-old.

There is a Grade 2 contest set to run at 1:20 and you can expect Zaynar to take a fair amount of money here based on his ratings, but he doesn’t look in great nick at the moment and his defeat to Silviniaco Conti was predicted here last time out. Unless he deploys a different game plan here you can expect him to disappoint. The play appears to be Alan King’s KARABAK, who just missed out on the day to finish second in the aforementioned Coral Hurdle at Ascot. He likes Cheltenham and should hold up well against company like this. 

It’s awfully tough to bet against MASTER MINDED in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek and you can bank on him taking a fair amount of money on the day though he hasn’t won in his past two kicks at the Cheltenham can and that might see his price rising a bit. That’s good news as he really does have what it takes to make a major statement here against this field. Barring any real disasters, there are really only two or three who can beat him (and none of them are named Kinkeel). Paul Nicholls’ Twist magic boasts talent but will need a major step up to be a factor on the run-in.

The 2:30 is set to boast a quality group of Grade 3 contenders with a number stepping back in grade for this one. There is easily six or seven with a reasonable chance here and that means quality prices to punters who hit the nail on the head in this one. From a momentum perspective, you’d be tempted to side with LITTLE JOSH who scored a cracking victory for the Twiston-Davies yard last time out in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. The real question here is whether or not that was a one-off. Dancing Tornado got up for second on the day and that was only his second race at Cheltenham so connections may have learned a thing or two from that race.

The 3:40 is all about AL FEROF and he was a beaten favourite last time out in the Champion Bumper to the well-respected Cue Card. He’s been selectively raced over the past while and he will be raring to tackle this one for the Nicholls’ yard. He might need the race, as he didn’t win after the layoff last time out, but you can expect him to be available at a decent price.