Mick Fitzgerald’s Saturday Tips
Cheltenham 13:20 – EDWARDSTONE
Cheltenham 13:50 – PHOENIX WAY [EACH-WAY]
Doncaster 14.05 – EPATANTE
Cheltenham 14:25 – PROTEKTORAT
Doncaster 14.40 – STAY AWAY FAR
Cheltenham 15:00 – PAISLEY PARK
Doncaster 15.15 – GA LAW
Cheltenham 15:35 – HENRI THE SECOND
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Cheltenham 13.20 – Edwardstone
I watched a re-run of last year’s Champion Chase and Energumene was electric, but I have a feeling that this race will be set up Edwardstone to pounce late. Energumene’s jockey Paul Townend is not going to let Editeur du Gite get a freebie making the running up front and may end up being set alight too early. Tom Cannon is under no pressure as he’s the underdog – for once – in this contest. He can gamble and play his hand late.
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Cheltenham 13.50 – Phoenix Way [Each-Way]
Harry Fry’s runner won a handicap over 2m 5f at Ascot at this time last year off a 2lbs lower mark. It was a very good run at Chepstow behind another opponent Fugitiv last time and he is now 12lbs better off for a 12 length beating that day.
Course specialist Coole Cody is another who could run well at a big price. The likely ground conditions will be hard work for many as the track was frozen for most of the week and has had the covers on it.
Doncaster 14.05 – EPATANTE
It’s hard to look past the former Champion Hurdle winner. She finished behind Constitution Hill in her last two starts and there’s no disgrace in that. She is rated a stone (14lbs) superior to any of her rivals and should account for them all.
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Cheltenham 14.25 – PROTEKTORAT
Dan Skelton’s runner was third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season and won the Betfair Chase easily at the end of last year. The Aintree Grand National winner Noble Yeats is the obvious danger as he is proven on very soft too and was impressive when winning at Aintree in December also.
Stamina is not an issue for him but it’s Protektorat for me to bag another big Saturday prize for Team Skelton.
Doncaster 14.40 – Stay Away Far
Won a point-to-point in Ireland and then cost Paul Nicholls £305k at the sales. On his debut at Newbury it looked like he may struggle for a moment but then really kicked into gear and won well.
He handled the good ground well then and Nicholls will be hoping he has another good novice hurdler on his hands.
Maximilian is interesting having had a wind operations. I was at Bangor when he won and he looked a nice prospect. He faces a different ground conditions now but his third behind Henri the Second (entered in the 3.35pm at Cheltenham) in a Grade 2 contest at Sandown means he has to be respected.
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Cheltenham 15.00 – PAISLEY PARK
The former Stayers Hurdler hero Paisley Park whipped around at the start here last year and gave the field a 15 length lead but still managed to win! It was an amazing performance and he looked like he retains all of his ability after a good win at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Doncaster 15.15 – GA LAW
The biggest problem with this son of Sinndar is his jumping . I’m not worried about the ground. I’m not worried about the trip but his ability to clout the odd fence concerns me a fraction. Despite winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup, if he had jumped more fluently at Cheltenham, he would have won quite easily.
Cap Du Nord is bound to have plenty of supporters. He was strongly fancied for this race last year when finishing third. I get the feeling he needs a few runs to get him revved up. Kempton maybe the time to catch him next time.
Cloth Cap is another who is dropping down to a dangerous handicap mark. He has to be respected as does Mr Coffey who has run some good races in defeat They will go a good gallop, which will suit him. I’ll take Ga Law though.
Cheltenham 15:35 – Henri the Second
Paul Nicholls’ Henri the Second looks a real stayer in the making and the form of his Chepstow second was boosted by the winner scoring twice again. At Sandown he travelled strongly in that contest before giving his supporters a little fright when taking a while to get going at the business end over 2m 4f. However, he careered away then and the further he went the better he was.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Saturday Tips
Cheltenham 13:20 – EDWARDSTONE
Cheltenham 13:50 – PHOENIX WAY [EACH-WAY]
Doncaster 14.05 – EPATANTE
Cheltenham 14:25 – PROTEKTORAT
Doncaster 14.40 – STAY AWAY FAR
Cheltenham 15:00 – PAISLEY PARK
Doncaster 15.15 – GA LAW
Cheltenham 15:35 – HENRI THE SECOND
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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