It is going to be a very busy week for all the National Hunt trainers, Nigel included, but he could not disguise the excitement in his voice as we approach another Cheltenham Festival which he is clearly looking forward to. Each day we will ask Nigel for his horses’ chances and we will, as always, get an honest opinion – so after wishing him and everyone at the yard good luck, it’s down to business, and after a 20/1 winning Charity Bet last Saturday I certainly want to know his thoughts….
Nigel’s Charity Bet
As always, we’ve given Nigel a £25 charity bet to place on a horse of his choice – and this week it will be on……
Ballyhill Each Way 5.30pm Cheltenham Tuesday
“Any winner (or even a place) is a result at the Festival and this is not an easy race to win by any stretch of the imagination, but he does look my best chance of the day now the going has changed to heavy on most of the track. He won here over slightly further on heavy ground in January and can be forgiven his last run after a bad mistake three out but if he can put in a clear round, he could surprise them all. Jameson runs in the same race and would have been a big hope for the stable had the rains stayed away, I just cannot be confident he will be at his best under these conditions.”
If Ballyhill wins or places, we’ll donate the winnings to the Injured Jockeys Fund!
Tuesday Runners:
Robinshill 2.10pm Cheltenham Tuesday
“You just don’t see five horse races at the Cheltenham Festival very often so he takes his place in this line up as a rank outsider, but with £4,690 for finishing last even if that is the case. Mistakes can be made by his rivals, and he isn’t a bad horse at all, not a betting proposition perhaps but he won’t disgrace himself either.”
Cogry 2.50pm Cheltenham Tuesday
“He is a course winner on soft going and although I won’t claim he is well handicapped, it could have been worse and he should still run a decent race. There are less exposed horses lining up against him and I am wary that something has sneaked in who is better than his rating but I’d happily settle for a place in this field!”
Nigel Twiston-Davies will be back tomorrow for his views on day two at Cheltenham! To see what our tipsters are backing in all the weekend’s races, check out our free daily horse racing tips!