Mick Fitzgerald’s Cheltenham Tips
13:30 – Grey Dawning
14:10 – Icare Allen & Mill Green (each way)
14:50 – Banbridge / Envoi Allen
15:30 – Teahupoo
16:10 – Crebilly
16:50 – Brighterdaysahead
17:30 – Amirite (each way)
*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.
13:30 – Grey Dawning
Dan Skelton’s GREY DAWNING is a sound jumper who won very easily at Warwick over 3 miles. We race on the New Course for days three and four and the home team will look to revive their fortunes. The soft ground won’t be a problem. He made a bad mistake two out when finishing second over this course and distance in December, but he should have won. He was also giving weight to his conqueror Ginny’s Destiny that day. The former champion bumper winner Facile Vega tries this 2m 4f trip for the first time but has been a weak finisher in the past.
14:10 – Icare Allen & Mill Green (each way)
I am jumping on the Willie Mullins bandwagon with ICARE ALLEN who qualified for this contest back at Aintree in November. He has not run since, but I get the impression there is more to come.
MILL GREEN could run well at a big price each way too. The 3m Pertemps Handicap Hurdle is always one of the toughest puzzles to solve.
14:50 – Banbridge
I am very wary of the ground conditions for BANBRIDGE who has headed the market for the Ryanair Chase since a winning reappearance at Kempton in January. He was pulled out last year as the going was too soft. I feel connections will only run if the ground is suitable. If he is taken out on the day then Envoi Allen is probably the one to beat.
15:30 – Teahupoo
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle is the feature race of the day and TEAHUPOO is my fancy. He’s still only a seven-year-old and there is definitely more to come. They key to him performing at his best is that he runs well fresh. Trainer Gordon Elliott deliberately hasn’t run him since last December when he won the Grade 1 Hattons Grace hurdle. He was a close-up third in the race last year and this is not that much different a contest this time around. He can make amends under Jack Kennedy.
16:10 – Crebilly
I have followed CREBILLY all season over fences and have watched him progress with each run. I really fancied him to win at Cheltenham the first time up, but he blotted his copybook with a fall. His win at Exeter was eye-catching and this 2m 4f contest looks made for him.
16:50 – Brighterdaysahead
The mares’ novices’ hurdle sees BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD put her unbeaten record on the line. She is the apple of Gordon Elliott’s eye and is held in high regard by connections. She can edge this over Dysart Enos and Jade De Grugy and she looked so good at Navan last time when scooting home from Mel Monroe. The ground will be slow enough to allow her to shine on the biggest stage.
17:30 – Amirite (each way)
Henry de Bromhead’s AMIRITE has been strongly fancied for several contests and has yet to deliver the goods. He is fairly handicapped and Noel McParland is booked to ride. He is a worthy each-way bet in this stiff contest in a tricky amateur jockey’s handicap over 3m 2f to end the card.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Cheltenham Tips
13:30 – Grey Dawning
14:10 – Icare Allen & Mill Green (each way)
14:50 – Banbridge
15:30 – Teahupoo
16:10 – Crebilly
16:50 – Brighterdaysahead
17:30 – Amirite (each way)
*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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