We’ve finally made it, the Cheltenham Festival is here. The best four days of racing each calendar year, Tuesday is the real Christmas Day. Over the course of 28 races, we’ll be treated to spell-binding performances, tear-jerking storylines and heartbreak like no other.
The stage is set, and now it’s time to get the winners flowing! Day 1 of the meeting promises to be a cracker and I’ve found a pair of big-priced horses who look set to out-run their prohibitive odds to kick off the Festival. See the horses below, including the reasoning, and good luck!
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As every year, the Fred Winter promises to be a highly competitive, maximum field affair. One who looks heavily overpriced is Jane Williams’ Balko Saint, who got off the mark over hurdles at the fourth attempt with victory at Wincanton earlier this month.
Prior to that victory, he had run with credit in a Grade 2 over course and distance behind Duffle Coat, so connections clearly think plenty of him. The form of his victory looks rock-solid too, pulling 21 lengths clear with Robin’s Dream. That horse almost turned over Gallyhill at Newbury in January and fell when tanking into proceedings at Sandown subsequently.
This opening mark looks fairly generous from the handicapper and Chester Williams’ removes a crucial five pounds from his back. He’s in the sweet spot in terms of the weight he’s carrying (if the trends are to be believed) and with no concerns on the ground, he commands deep respect.
It’s been a disappointing season for Colin Tizzard, but hopefully a strong Cheltenham can end his esteemed career on a high. One horse of his that looks to be heavily overpriced is Ofalltheginjoints, who has shown a huge amount of ability over fences this term.
He looked in desperate need of a stiffer test when third on chasing debut at Aintree and he proved that assumption correct with a subsequent success at Exeter. He does arrive to the Festival under a cloud, however, after a disappointing defeat at Doncaster back in December.
It was a puzzling defeat, as he never looked comfortable and hung left when asked to extend. That was nothing like this best form, however, and we can surely expect better today given his prior promising performances over fences. He’s tongue-tied for the first time, which should help matters, and he looks he remains unexposed as a stayer for top connections.
He remains promising and if he’s able to return to the type of form that saw him quicken clear nicely at Exeter, he should be right on the premises at enormous odds.
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