3.45 Cheltenham Tips & Betting Preview 1/1/2018

IN SUMMARY: Acey Milan and Volcano renew their rivalry here and should be in the thick of things, the latter can confirm form but this may go to ENA BAIE. She won a Grade 3 on her last outing in France and was sent to Harry Fry, she looks to have an excellent chance of making a winning British debut with Noel Fehily on board.

1 ACEY MILAN – Anthony Honeyball and Aidan Coleman are a combination to be feared in bumpers and this gelding brings a nice profile to the table. He wasn’t unbacked on debut when finishing a respectable second and took a big leap forward when hacking up on his second start, claims.

2 ARCH MY BOY – Martin Smith is a good trainer and the services of Tom Cannon will do his charge’s chances no harm here but this looks a very tough assignment on debut. He has no experience in point-to-points and may struggle here in what looks a hot enough contest.

3 COPPERHEAD – Colin Tizzard has been in a bit of a rut in the last couple of weeks and his record of 0-27 may not be improved here. His runner here was beaten forty-two lengths behind Acey Milan on debut and it would take some monumental improvement for him to win.

4 FEEL THE PINCH – Another without any experience but Fergal O’Brien, who won the Challow on Saturday, has been flying with bumper debutants this season. A listed race first time up will be a real test for his charge here but it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise in the world if he ran well.

5  GOLD FIELDS – Harry Skelton is an intriguing jockey booking for this racecourse debutant but even with such a talented jockey on board he looks to have it all to do. Laura Morgan isn’t best known for producing top class bumper performers and it will take a smart one to win this, especially on debut.

6 KINGOFTHECOTSWOLDS – Acey Milan was an impressive winner of the Wincanton bumper in which Nigel Twiston-Davies’ runner was an extremely well backed and disappointing fourth. He never really looked like winning that day but the market support was significant, remains interesting.

7 MALINAS JACK – Ran a nice race on his racecourse debut to finish a narrowly beaten third of nine in a Doncaster bumper. The form is nothing special but it was a promising start to his racing career and the experience will have done him the world of good, a lively enough outsider.

8 NORMAL NORMAN – Made a promising start to his career when beaten around three lengths into second on his debut and Huntingdon and built on that effort when a game winner by a head under Paddy Brennan at Market Rasen latest. The two renew their partnership and further progress would see him involved.

9 ROMEO BROWN – Nick Williams has been absolutely flying of late with half of his last eight runners ending up in the winner’s enclosure and anything he sends out at the moment should be feared. He has another chance here with this well-bred son of Yeats, lack of experience may be an issue however.

10 SKYLINE – Finished narrowly ahead of today’s rival Malinas Jack when denied by the narrowest of margins on debut at Doncaster. Hughie Morrison does well with his bumper runners and so with any further progress he should be considered, not guaranteed to uphold form with Malinas Jack though.

11 VOLCANO – Acey Milan improved to win on his second start but was well put in his place by Christian Williams’ charge on debut. He was sent off a well backed 13/8 favourite and delivered the goods in no uncertain terms, Barry Geraghty has been booked for the ride and he commands major respect.

12 ENA BAIE – Harry Fry and Noel Fehily are a dangerous combination to ignore in bumpers and look to have an excellent chance of picking up some black type with this French filly. She was runner up in a bumper on debut before scoring second time and moving to this powerful yard, market informative but very interesting.

13 FRIDAY FEELING – Was beaten a long way when tenth of eleven on her racecourse debut and this is a huge step up. It is very difficult to form any sort of case as to why she should be getting involved here and she is probably best watched in this grade.