Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Cheltenham

Leg 1 Selections: Weveallbeencaught, Firestep

WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT is likely to go off a short-priced favourite for the opener and it is hard to see him out of the frame with distinct improvement to come here. He stuck to the task very well when third in a Grade Two on his hurdles debut here in November and whilst his future almost certainly lies over three-miles, over fences, he is the one to beat and can confirm that initial promise with success. 

FIRESTEP could emerge as the bigger danger to the favourite and is worth an inclusion for placepot purposes though. He won both his starts in bumpers and although Nicky Henderson’s charge missed the whole of last season, he could prove to be a useful prospect in this sphere this term. I think he could run a big race at a nice price on his hurdles debut here. 

Leg 2 Selections: Spiritofthegames

I am solely relying on course specialist SPIRITOFTHEGAMES, which is risky, but he should again make the frame at the very least back at his favourite venue. Dan Skelton’s charge ran a really good race when second over a trip that probably stretched his stamina last-time-out and he is back over his optimum distance today. His form figures here over 2m4f reads 33P2262033 and the blinkers could help too. Dropped in grade, off an attractive mark, he should pose a serious threat again here in leg two. 

Leg 3 Selections: Monmiral, Beauport

MONMIRAL couldn’t lay a glove on the top-class Jonbon on his chase debut at Warwick but ran a very good race to finish a clear second and this Grade 1 winning hurdler should have a bright future in this sphere. The conditions should be fine and he is entitled to strip a lot fitter for that latest reappearance and experience, so he should take a bit of beating here. 

BEAUPORT isn’t favoured by the weights but he was a smart hurdler last term, who didn’t jump as well as he could last time, but beat a Grade 1 winner on his chase debut at Carlisle. That sort of form entitles him to the utmost respect here with any rain welcome. Given his talent and consistency, he might be the one to give the favourite most to think about. 

Leg 4 Selections: War Lord, Sebastopol

WAR LORD brings Grade 1 form to the table courtesy of his fourth in the Arkle and second in the Manifesto at Aintree last term and promises to be suited by the step up in distance. He will appreciate any arrival of rain, looks quite well-treated at the weights and will be fitter from his return run last time. He makes plenty of each-way appeal for placepot purposes at least here. 

SEBASTOPOL took the scalp of the highly-regarded Stage Star when last spotted in a Grade Two and looks a big price in his follow-up bid here. He has yet to win over this distance but he should be suited by this big-field with lots of pace on offer and is a very smart horse on his day. With a good round of jumping, he is an outsider to consider in this red-hot race. 

Leg 5 Selections: First Street, Dashel Drasher

FIRST STREET was an excellent second behind State Man in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and that form has worked out strongly given the winner has won two Grade 1 events since. He put in a good weight-carrying performance on his reappearance and, with the prospect of more to come, Nicky Henderson’s charge has a big chance in this Grade Two event. 

There is a possibility DASHEL DRASHER will set this up for the closers but the eight-year-old is tough as old boots and doesn’t know when to quit when he gets into a battle. His form figures over hurdles reads 334111111 and whilst he’s vulnerable to the potential improvers, he could easily run another honest race and make the frame. 

Leg 6 Selections: Hector Javilex, Thomas Darby

HECTOR JAVILEX ran a very good race when fourth here in November and he should be even more effective over this longer distance. The ground should be fine plus he’s open to further improvement on just his sixth start. With Lilly taking off five, he gets into this off a low-weight and should go very well in leg six. 

THOMAS DARBY is mostly seen in stronger events than this and although he hasn’t been at his best in two starts this term, he has a fairly good chance now dropped in grade here. He has lots of course form, has won in graded company, and has come down to a very handy mark back in a handicap. If Olly Murphy’s charge can run to something near his best, he’s a player.