We thought it couldn’t get much better after Paddy went Non Runner Money Back for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival on Friday – but then we realised we had Cheltenham Trails Day the day after. Huzzah!
And with ITV Racing covering five top-class contests that should have a major impact on the Festival in March, we’d thought we’d dust down the Cheat Sheet and give it a spin.
So with Matt Chapman, Mick Fitzgerald, Rory Delargy and the clock watchers at Timeform in your corner – things are about to get real pretty quickly.
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Will former Paddy Power Gold Cup winner The Real Whacker put fencing newbie Stay Away Fay in his place in Paddy’s Cotswold Chase? Will last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner Lossiemouth pick up where she left off in the International Hurdle? And can Matt Chapman really tip up half the field each-way in every race? Everything’s possible.
So for the final time before the Cheltenham Festival 2024 looms into view, grab the best seat in the house with Paddy’s famed Cheat Sheet as your guide.
Rory Delargy
Mick Fitzgerald
Matt Chapman
Timeform
PP Trader
Rory Delargy
STRAW FAN JACK is capable and a repeat of chasing home Pic d’Orhy in the 1965 Chase at Ascot on his return could see him going close.
Mick Fitzgerald
HITMAN has run in some big races, including when a very good close up third in the Ryanair Chase behind Envoi Allen and Shishkin. He has had a wind op and with 5lb claimer Freddie Gingell on board, he has to enter calculations.
Matt Chapman
VICTTORINO has looked like a right horse at Ascot the last twice and he’s the value for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.
PP trader
VICTTORINO has won two chases this season already, beating Yeah Man and Flegmatik last time out and that’s good form especially with Flegamtik winning since.
Rory Delargy
THE REAL WHACKER could be compromised by going head-to-head with last year’s winner Ahoy Senor, but if he can avoid a destructive duel then he looks the value call having shaped well under rather negative tactics in the King George.
Mick Fitzgerald
STAY AWAY FAY should love the conditions and despite looking as if he was beaten twice this season in his novice chase year, has rallied to finish strongly. That may well be enough to win this.
Matt Chapman
There should be a good gallop on which really is what ROYALE PAGAILLE needs and while it won’t be easy giving weight away I’ll stick with the Betfair Chase winner.
Timeform
Claims can be made for all six but DATSALRIGHTGINO surely has more to offer over this sort of trip having raised his game significantly to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.
PP Trader
At the current price, I’d take a chance on THE REAL WHACKER returning to the sort of form that saw him land the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase from Gerri Colombe last season.
Rory Delargy
The defection of El Fabiolo has left the Clarence House at the mercy of JONBON, and it’s hard to see him been beaten.
Mick Fitzgerald
We can keep this short and sweet as with no El Fabiolo in the field, JONBON is just too good for the rest of them.
Matt Chapman
This should be a gimme for JONBON under his new rider James Bowen for Nicky Henderson. The Tingle Creek winner is just better than this lot and I can’t see a defeat bar a fall.
Timeform
A fourth Clarence House staged here in the past 11 years following an abandonment at Ascot the previous week and with El Fabiolo staying at home, this looks a gilt-edged opportunity for JONBON to register an eighth success over fences.
PP Trader
Hard to look elsewhere bar JONBON who is the class angle.
Rory Delargy
I’m not at all bothered by LOSSIEMOUTH‘S lack of a recent run and she should be hard to beat in an International Hurdle lacking an established star.
Mick Fitzgerald
LOSSIEMOUTH looked so good when winning the Triumph Hurdle last season and then went to Punchestown and beat the boys in a Grade 1 contest. She gets the nod to continue her winning ways.
Matt Chapman
I’m happy to stick with established LOVE ENVOI who chased home Honeysuckle here in March in the Mares’ Hurdle.
Timeform
LOSSIEMOUTH is the class act in this field and, while she’s been off the track longer than connections would have liked, she should be straight enough to make a successful reappearance. Love Envoi is an obvious danger.
PP Trader
She’s short in the market and that won’t be for everyone but LOSSIEMOUTH can deliver on her seasonal debut.
Rory Delargy
The principals are closely matched on form so I’m inclined to play FLIGHT DECK each-way and hope he can hit the frame or better.
Mick Fitzgerald
The now 11-year-old DASHEL DRASHER has been his usual consistent self this season and ran a great race in this last year when beaten by French raider Gold Tweet. He is a model of consistency so he’s top of my list.
Matt Chapman
You would be gagging to take on PAISLEY PARK but the simple truth is he has the best form of these this season and I’d love him to score for Tom Bellamy and Emma Lavelle.
Timeform
PAISLEY PARK has yet to get his head in front this season but has gone with all his old verve in two narrow reverses so this remarkable stayer is fancied to bag a fourth Cleeve Hurdle victory.
PP Trader
Emmet Mullins’ stable isn’t firing at the moment but given NOBLE YEATS profile and the fact the staying hurdlers division is wide open, I’m willing to chance him at the prices.
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