Racing Post Plate Betting Tips and Preview

The valuable Racing Post Plate at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday isn't anywhere near as competitive as the numbers imply. As such, Paul Nicholls' main hope in this Grade 3 contest, Opera Mundi, has to be respected as he's lightly raced and open to a good deal of improvement. However, while he can be forgiven his defeat at the hands of Ursis at Wincanton last time as the combination of the two-mile trip and the sharp track provided an insufficient stamina test, I wouldn't be rushing to back this inexperienced five-year-old novice at around the 4/1 mark. Indeed, this 24-runner event, although consisting of what are largely a bunch of exposed horses, is still by far the stiffest test that Opera Mundi has faced to date. Sure, his jumping has looked pretty slick - as is the case with many of these French imports - but he will be asked to jump at greater speed than has been the case so far, and over stiffer obstacles than he has encountered to date. The best option for punters in this race to my mind is James Fanshawe's Reveillez, who is still potentially well treated off a mark 12lb higher than when winning the ultra-competitive Jewson Novices' in ready fashion at this meeting last year. I reckon Champion jockey Tony McCoy will rue his decision to partner owner JP MacManus' other runner Moncadou. Admittedly, Reveillez could be coming into this race on the back of more encouraging displays. The eight-year-old fell on his reappearance at Ascot before trailing in a well-beaten eighth to Exotic Dancer in the boylesports.com Gold Cup over this very course and distance in December. It could be that the son of First Trump's confidence had been affected following his fall on his reappearance, as his jumping left much to be desired in the aforementioned race. But he is bound to have been well schooled subsequently and, if back to the form which saw him when the Jewson last year, again over course and distance, he'll win this alright. It is a risk because, as alluded to earlier in the case of market leader Opera Mundi, there will be little margin for error. But as I always say, if the odds are greater than being commensurate with the risk, then it's a risk well worth taking. And at 10/1 with VCBet Reveillez is a very tempting risk. The likes of Armaturk and Madison du Berlais look set to struggle under their big weights, while, for all his ability, the David Pipe-trained Vodka Bleu has been well beaten in three starts subsequent to his cracking reappearance effort and I just wonder whether he's the sort of horse that saves his best for when fresh. French raider Moncadou has the assistance of AP McCoy in the plate and with just 10st 3lb to burden, he has to enter the equation. However, the ground is drying out fast which may count against him whereas it will be ideal for Reveillez. Graphic Approach and Tikram both have each-way claims. particularly the latter as he's a former Festival winner and the Alan King stable is firing on all cylinders. Verdict: 0.50pts Reveillez @ 10/1 (Vcbet - free hundred pound bet)