2.00pm Cheltenham Tips & Betting Preview 28/10/2017

2.00pm Cheltenham tips for Saturday’s Class 2 race. A deep field for this staying chase, with any number of these well capable of making a return trip to this track in March. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: DOING FINE shaped really well in a recent hurdling return at Fontwell, He began last year over hurdles to blow away the cobwebs as well. He is capable of taking higher order this season with conditions in his favour. Singlefarmpayment ran some huge races here last season, including when runner-up in the Ultima. He is another for whom there will be big plans this season. On Fiddlers Green has conditions in his favour, he can run best of those at bigger prices.

1 PERFECT CANDIDATE – Boasts a pair of wins in similar contests on the New Course, the last of them eighteen months ago. All ground comes alike to him and sure to put up his usual bold showing, this could be tough from such an inflated perch however.

2 VICONTE DU NOYER – Struggled from marks in the 150’s after winning at this track on his seasonal return last year. That at least shows the track is fine and he goes well fresh, but the percentage call is to oppose when this high.

3 HENRYVILLE – A mercurial talent, he is a tough horse to predict. Bounced back to form when winning twice in the spring, he has disappointed since. This looks a stiff enough test of stamina for him, best watched.

4 SINGLEFARMPAYMENT – A winner here last December, he only went under by a short head in the Ultima at the Festival. Loves his racing at this track and still unexposed over fences. Looks a big player with underfoot conditions ideal.

5 SOUTHFIELD VIC – Much improved on good ground, a pair of wide margin wins in the spring pushing him back up the handicap. Has struggled when this high in the past with three previous runs at this track in hurdles and a bumper are not among his best.

6 ROBINSFIRTH – Off the track since January but has won fresh twice in the past. This mark looks well within his grasp sooner rather than later given his unexposed profile, but he unseated before he proved his stamina for three miles when last seen.

7 COOLOGUE – Won this contest last season from the same mark on his seasonal return. Well seen off in the Ultima at the Festival when pulled up, but given his performance in this in 2016, he needs to be considered.

8 ON FIDDLERS GREEN – Just missed the cut for the Galway Plate when well fancied, the soft ground at the end of that meeting was no help to him. This better surface will be much more to his liking, he holds a strong each way chance.

9 MINELLACELEBRATION – Flag-bearer for Katy Price, he has done nothing but progress over this trip on decent ground. This is a deeper contest than he is usually seen in, but he is far from completely discounted.

10 DOING FINE – Prepped in the same way as last season, a run over hurdles before back over fences. He won over further here in April with decent ground important to him. Still progressing, he can take higher order this season, starting with a win here.

11 SONNEOFPRESENTING – Enjoyed an excellent summer, clocking up three wins on decent ground, The surface will suit once more here but he needs further improvement to be considered a potential winner in this.

12 TANIT RIVER – Grand looker, he is a much improved horse over fences. This looks a little too competitive for him however with the best of his form coming on softer ground than he is going to encounter.

13 BELLS ‘N’ BANJOS – Did well initially in novice events over both hurdles and fences but has failed to go on from there. Yet to conclusively prove his stamina for this trip so easy enough to pass over.

14 COGRY – Form figures early last season looked like a bad scrabble hand, including a fall at the first in this race. Showed better form over further including when runner-up in the Scottish National so would appeal more with a little extra distance to cover.

15 WEST WIZARD – Inconsistent type, ran well in a lesser contest at Bangor in August. Failed to beat a rival home behind Sonneofpresenting since so plenty to find to make an impression here.

16 LAMB OR COD – Two wins from his last eleven starts but he has pulled up five times in that span as well. Tough to know what to expect with a feast or famine look to his form, trip and ground will suit but others readily preferred.