Timeform’s Cheltenham Tips
Tuesday 12th March 14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase – Theatre Man
Wednesday 13th March 16:50 Grand Annual – Libberty Hunter
Thursday 14th March 14:10 Pertemps Final – Cleatus Poolaw
Thursday 14th March 16:10 Plate Handicap Chase – Theatre Man
*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.
Our good pals and Timeform experts put forward a handicap fancy for the Cheltenham Festival.
Theatre Man – Ultima Handicap Chase & Cheltenham Plate (both NRNB)
Some horses are just made for the Cheltenham ‘non-runner, no bet’ concession and THEATRE MAN, a likely big player in either the Ultima or Plate, looks the perfect vehicle for such.
He’d be interesting in either, as he’s no sluggard with a view to the Plate yet saw things out so strongly on Trials Day that another crack at three miles for the opening-day staying handicap would be little issue in all likelihood.
That power-packed finish came in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase that has proved such a rich pointer to future success in recent years and, with also-rans that day Prairie Wolf, Bowtogreatness and Blow Your Wad having already franked the form of this year’s renewal.
Theatre Man’s form claims in getting closest to Turners-bound Ginny’s Destiny are there for all to see. Back him for both.
Dan Barber, jumps editor
Libberty Hunter – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
Crebilly is a horse I’ve been keen on for a big handicap since his Exeter win over Tahmuras. His previous form against Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning still leaves him looking very well treated on a BHA mark of 140, but he’s already a favourite for his intended target, the Plate.
So, I’m deserting him for this piece whilst retaining a connection by opting for a horse who beat him in a novice hurdle at Chepstow 14 months ago.
His name is LIBBERTY HUNTER and he gets in the Grand Annual off 139 which looks lenient. He would be unbeaten over fences but for falling on his debut, and his latest win over Matata at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day was easily his best effort yet after travelling smoothly as usual.
He’s very low mileage for an eight-year-old and won’t have to improve much more to win again in a race where few of the Irish contingent make much appeal.
Graeme North, timing expert
Cleatus Poolaw – Pertemps Final
Progressive sorts promise to be thin on the ground in the Pertemps Final and, with that in mind, CLEATUS POOLAW looks a very interesting contender.
Leaving it until the last qualifier to book his spot at Cheltenham, he’s yet to race over three miles under Rules, though he does have a point victory at that trip under his belt and promises to be well suited by the demands of this race.
His record in Irish maidens includes a wide-margin success at Naas before chasing home the lightly weighted Noble Birth on his handicap debut there last weekend.
He’d previously finished closest to Ballyburn when the current favourite for both the Supreme and Baring Bingham opened his hurdling account at Leopardstown at Christmas.
He will head to the Festival with a similar profile to the same connections’ Delta Work in 2018, the first of three straight victories in the race for Gordon Elliott, whose hand numerically this year is restricted to just Cleatus Poolaw and Farouk d’Alene.
The latter will be conceding weight to all if declared and would likely be claimer-ridden, leaving Jack Kennedy open to renew his partnership with Cleatus Poolaw with his recent suspension completed.
Paul Goodenough, Irish hurdles handicapper
Timeform’s Cheltenham Tips
Tuesday 12th March 14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase – Theatre Man
Wednesday 13th March 16:50 Grand Annual – Libberty Hunter
Thursday 14th March 14:10 Pertemps Final – Cleatus Poolaw
Thursday 14th March 16:10 Plate Handicap Chase – Theatre Man
*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.
Read More on the Cheltenham Festival 2024
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
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- Cheltenham Festival schedule and race times
- Ruby Walsh’s Lucky 15 tips for the Cheltenham Festival
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