Upping The Ante – Episode 15

The fifteenth and final Upping The Ante is finally here, and with five selections and a full review of Tuesday’s racing, David Jennings and Gavin Lynch are signing off in style.

Starting with the Supreme, Lynch cannot see anything other than success for Ireland here, with Klassical Dream, who has been correctly re-routed to this race in light of the soft ground conditions, his bet of the day. Walsh’s mount, along with the four-year-0ld Fakir D’oudairies are rock solid for the Irish contingent.

Contrary to that, Jennings remains keen on the chances of Mister Fisher, despite the defection of De Boinville to stablemate Angels Breath, stating that the form of his Boxing Day win is stand-out, even in this line-up.

Whilst the Irish have a strong hand in the opener, Lycnh is less than keen on their chances in the Racing Post Arkle, in which he reckons Glen Forsa has a great chance. The conqueror of Kalashnikov in the Kingmaker, Jennings has a suspicion that the softer ground and return to a left-handed track will suit the latter better, and the form could be overturned.

One of two highly competitive handicaps on day one of the Festival, Lynch fancies Coo Star Sivola to scoop the Ultima for the second year in a row, just as Un Temps Pour Tout did in 2016 & 2017. Also blessed with some solid festival form, Jennings reckons that Calipto could prove to be very well-handicapped, and is his selection for this.

The banker of the week for many, Benie Des Dieux was very well-received by the presenting duo, with Jennings believing that the shade of odds-on available for her looks a generous price. Waiting all season for the soft ground that she’ll likely get tomorrow, she should take a lot of stopping.

In the Close Brothers’ Novices’ Handicap Chase, the pair both fancy unexposed Irish raiders, Lynch siding with A Plus Tard and Jennings opting for Riders Onthe Storm. The main concern with the latter is his ability to stay, something that Lynch is slightly concerned about with Ok Corral, although there is no doubting that he is the class act in the National Hunt Chase field.

As well as providing all this, the pair also answer the viewers’ questions, including discussions on the Fred Winter, the RSA and Lynch’s best handicap bets for the week, including Uradel in the Martin Pipe and Sire Du Berlais in the Pertemps.

Additional to the usual enhancements, sponsors redzone.bet also provide five free doubles for its customers placing a £10 double on Cheltenham, with Lynch backing Min without Altior in the Champion Chase and Benie Des Dieux in the Mares’ Hurdle and Jennings choosing Defi Du Seuil in the JLT and Topofthegame in the RSA.

• Defi Du Seuil – 11/4 JLT Novices’ Chase – For Jennings, he is far better than his main rival Lostintranslation, having beaten that one in the Scilly Isles last-time, a far more comfortable winner than the narrow margin of victory suggests. A facile winner of the Triumph in 2017, he looks primed to get his second Festival win here.
• Bellshill – 11/1 Gold Cup – A great each-way price for this one who, for Jennings, stands the best chance of breaking Mullins’ Gold Cup hoodoo. Hypothesising that this one will be a far shorter price when Walsh declares this one his ride, Jennings has been keen on this one ever since he won at the Dublin Racing Festival.
• Coeur Sublime – 22/1 JCB Triumph Hurdle – It seems unlikely that this one will beat Sir Erec if he is on a going day, although if the short-priced favourite isn’t over his stone bruise, Gordon Elliott’s juvenile will be more than able to mop up for Jennings. Reportedly working very well back at home, the soft ground will play to his strengths.
• Klassical Dream – 9/2 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Lynch’s best bet of the day, the soft-ground means that going to this race rather than the Ballymore will be ideal. He has form over further, and will be very well-suited by the strong pace guaranteed here.
• Sinoria – 11/2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Rated the same as stablemate Honeysuckle, whom Lynch fancied for this before injury ruled her out, she has done nothing but progress for De Bromhead, and her thirteen-length victory over two-miles-four puts history on her side, with the three previous winners of this having scored over further prior to winning this.