1.50pm Cheltenham Tips & Betting Preview 14/11/2015

Race Time: 1.50pm Meeting: Cheltenham Day: Saturday 14th November
Distance: 3m 3f 71yds Full Race Name: Murphy Group Handicap Chase (Grade Three) Class One

An intriguing race to kick off the Channel Four coverage this Saturday and we start by noting that Rebecca Curtis has The Romford Pele (20/1) entered here having swerved a few other options in recent days, and we wonder if that is a hint in itself? Named after Arsenal footballer Ray Parlour, the eight year old son of Accordion won his last three races last season at Worcester, Uttoxeter, and here at Cheltenham, rising twenty two pounds in the handicap in the process, but looking as if he may have more to offer at a higher level.  After 51 weeks off the track he was entitled to need the run on his return at Chepstow as barely a bet was struck on the 12/1 shot who finished seventh of thirteen and will improve for the run. Put down two pounds for that effort he is certainly an interesting contender here with stamina very much his forte, and we await the jockey bookings with interest to see who they put in the saddle.

Wayne Hutchinson is an underrated jockey with plenty of talent and he will be hoping to conjure a winning run out of Sego Success (10/1) and we think he can go mighty close at a price. Trained by Alan King the seven year old son of top sire Beneficial won at Wetherby and Warwick last season before being put up in the weights and racking up three losses that have seen his mark drop to within two pounds of his last victory. A bit one paced over three miles or so at Chepstow on his reappearance when he looked as if he badly needed the run, and race fit today and upped in trip, his odds are just too tempting each way this afternoon.

Jonjo O’Neill looks likely to send Upswing (10/1) here, and he has a lot going for him on our view with a win last time out at Worcester in late October, and guaranteed race fitness. Still a novice, he doesn’t seem harshly handicapped off a rating of 136 after a thoroughly deserved eight pound rise, and with a liking for the expected good to soft going, and the possibility that he will get better the further he goes, we have him pretty high on our early short list though naturally, our final selection will also be price dependant.

If you speak to other trainers, many will grudgingly admit that Kim Bailey is a bit of a master with chasers given the right horses to go to war with, and he may well send Knockanrawley (14/1) here this afternoon for his first race of the new season. Still only a baby in chasing terms at the age of seven, he stays longer than man flu, and ran a blinder when fourth in the Eider Chase at Newcastle when last seen in action, giving lumps of weight away to the three who finished in front of him though weakening close home over the four mile trip. This trip should be far more suitable and as he is yet to finish outside of the first four home in all six races over fences and has been kindly dropped a pound for his last run, he has to be considered as an each way option and is very much on our early radar here.

An even younger chaser is our final selection for now as Nigel Twiston-Davies has entered Cogry (14/1) here as he looks to add to previous wins at Chepstow and Warwick. A decent enough hurdler, he blows a bit hot and cold over fences with two wins two falls and a second over fences from his six races, as well as a sixth to Cause Of Causes in the four mile National Hunt Chase here at the Festival last March, but of they can iron out his jumping errors (he has made a mistake or two in pretty much every race to date which hardly helps his cause), then he could be well handicapped though whether that will be today, only time will tell.