Cheltenham Tips: Architect’s Best Bets for the 2023 Showcase Meeting

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The Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle looks highly-competitive with 18 runners set to go to post but, at an each-way price, Irish raider BUKHILL (best price 25/1) could transcend a positive display off a light weight by exceeding market expectations.

Trainer Peter Fahey likes to target one at a handicap and this progressive five-year-old, a winner of two of his five starts in this sphere, will carry the bare-minimum weight against these with jockey Evan Sullivan claiming a valuable seven pounds.

He scored with much more in hand than the half-a-length margin indicated at Downpatrick last-time-out and, with every indication that he has more to come, he is worth the punt with various bookmakers generously paying five places in an open race.

I am quite strong on the claims of Irish raider TAG MAN (best price 7/2) who cruised to success at Listowel last-time-out and represents a great trainer and jockey who are fond of Prestbury Park. With all form taken into account, I think his odds are good value from a win perspective.

The seven-year-old already has bags of hurdles experience and his second to Good Land at Leopardstown last year reads quality form. He proved no match for the winner but had 137 and 140 rated horses in behind and, with this track sure to suit, he is a major player with Rachael Blackmore having her only ride on the card for Henry De Bromhead.

The unbeaten El Elefante was impressive last-time-out but will need to improve to beat hurdles debutant KATATE DORI (best price 10/1) if the latter naturally takes to this sphere for the in-form Sam Thomas and Charlie Deutsch combination.

Highly tried when sent off 11/4 favourite on his bumper debut here last November, in a Listed race, he ran very well to take fourth and was then only beaten a neck by the promising Bowenspark, who advertised the form by finishing an unlucky fourth in the Grade 2 bumper at the Aintree Grand National Festival.

He then made no mistake in justifying short odds at Market Rasen and has clearly been saved for this race since. An easier opportunity could have been found elsewhere so the fact he is pitched into this sort of race at this course on hurdles now tells us how highly he is through of by his handler.

In the 2023 Thoroughbred Census Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, chase debutant HURRICANE BAY (best price 9/1) looks a reasonable win-bet, whose eloquent and free-flowing jumping technique should carry him a long way in this contest given he is the best navigator of an obstacle in the field.

This highly-consistent seven-year-old was beaten just a neck on his reappearance last year and has only been out of the frame once since, which came in a Grade 1 Aintree, so that effort can be excused. In addition, both career wins have also come under the services of Bryony Frost.

He was last seen finishing second to an above-average type in a Listed race at Perth whilst his third in the Grade 2 in the River Don at Doncaster reads well. In that race he made a bold bid from the front and wasn’t far behind Stay Away Fay at the line, who went on to win a Grade 1 at the Cheltenham Festival.

That is the best piece of form in the field and an opening mark of 133 ahead of his handicap debut is essentially lenient on balance. Down in distance, he will ensure this race is run at a good tempo and I’ll be disappointed if he cannot figure very prominently here because he has the class to beat these.

I also want an each-way bet on the thriving Syd Hosie-trained WAY OUT (best price 11/1) who has been on a roll since positive tactics have been deployed and is now chasing a four-timer on his chase debut.

He has won his last three starts by a combined 30 lengths and although he was down the field in his only previous visit here, he was tasked with a Grade 2 assignment, and this is an easier race back at Prestbury Park.

Unlike most of his opposition, his fitness is guaranteed and I doubt the handicapper has caught up with him yet either. It will be tougher for him to dictate matters in this field but he should give it a good go and can be played accordingly at the odds.

The feature race on the card is the Grade 2 Skybet Novices' Hurdle, which has produced some nice types in recent years, and the Dan Skelton-trained WILLIETHEBUILDER (best price 7/2) gets the first vote.

He looked a really good prospect when making a winning debut over hurdles at Uttoxeter last month in which he travelled well and jumped fast and accurate before easily moving clear of his rivals to record a facile 12-length winner.

The form is nothing special but he is destined for better things and his connections clearly hold him in the highest regard based on the intention of running him in this hot contest on just his second start in this sphere.

As a second option in this race, I’ll also play a win-cover bet on Olly Murphy’s ACT OF AUTHORITY (best price 15/2) who also created a deep impression on his hurdles debut, winning by 14 lengths, and appeals as the type to equally be above-average like the former.

His handler is prone to having smart novice hurdlers and his second on debut in a bumper to Florida Dreams has been positively advertised since with the winner going on to score in a Grade 2 at the Aintree Grand National Festival last season.

This five-year-old has plenty of speed, will be suited to this track and should have plenty more to come. Carrying the same colours as Thomas Darby, who placed in the Supreme at the Festival for Olly, he could be another for the stable to end up down that route if he comes out on top.

I cannot comprehend the price of Christian Williams’ course specialist STRICTLYADANCER (best price 6/1) who will strip a lot fitter from his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow and will aim to make it three wins from three starts over course-and-distance.

The last time he competed in this grade he was winning for the second time over track and trip and is a pound lower than when he completed his hat-trick of wins at Haydock in a stronger event when beating the 145-rated Empire Of Steel, who would outclass these.

There’s always the risk of him suffering the bounce-factor but a big run is surely forthcoming with Gina Andrews booked to ride. Proven at a higher level, with his winning-course form to draw upon, he must have a great chance of being competitive at least.

Despite his advancing years and finishing last on his reappearance at Newton Abbot, the well-handicapped INNISFREE LAD (best price 22/1) is an outsider to consider, who is five pounds below his last winning mark, and ran very well in his only previous start at this course.

The 11-year-old has a patchy profile nowadays but the return to better ground will definitely suit and his fifth of 20 over three-miles-four-furlongs here in April when carrying top-weight was decent and he is six pounds lower for this contest, which makes him down as a seriously well-handicapped horse.

His best efforts have come when ridden prominently and I expect his rider to do just that in this contest and his very neat jumping will serve him well. He stays further than this and if you delve into his form a bit deeper, his form figures over this trip over fences on good to soft ground or better at this level or lower reads 11111.

With five places generally available and being one of just a couple who are well-handicapped, I can envisage him outrunning his odds.

I also really like the chances of the Tim Vaughan-trained BELLA BLISS (best price 10/1) who is largely consistent and is very well-handicapped on the pick of last year’s form which includes placing in three consecutive races over fences off higher marks, twice at this level.

The eight-year-old defied a four pounds higher mark at Chepstow in a better race than this over hurdles and was second in that same race last season off a seven pounds higher mark whilst also placing over the same course-and-distance earlier this year off a 10 pounds higher mark.

He was down the field in his only previous visit here earlier this year but again, that was over hurdles off a much higher mark and maybe connections were using that run to get some experience into him before having a tilt at this race after he reappeared at Chepstow again when last spotted.

A solid all-round jumper, who is proven at a higher level whilst being open to improvement in this sphere after just a handful of outings, he is thrown in here off 116 and that is without the inclusion of Edward Vaughan claiming a further seven pounds. With most firms paying five places, he is a really appealing each-way bet at double-figure odds.

Plenty to consider in the concluding Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Handicap Hurdle. However, it could turn out to be a red-letter day for trainer Christian Williams who has a leading chance with STRINGTOYOURBOW (best price 12/1).

He could have been found an easier race elsewhere back in Wales but the long trip to the Cotswolds is an interesting move plus he was last seen winning by eight lengths at Ayr without breaking sweat, confirming himself as a horse who is no doubt ahead of the assessor.

Since going handicapping, his form has taken off, and he is unfortunate to not be two-from-two in handicaps as he was beaten just a neck by Shearer at Newbury last March in which he would have won without being hampered three out, as well as hanging left in the closing stages.

Still, the way he moved menacingly through the race and made the favourite fight was noteworthy and the winner is now rated in the high 130s. He then proved that effort to be no fluke when going one better next time where he not only duplicated that previous performance, but advanced it.

Despite being hit with a 12 pound hike for that emphatic success, he remains well treated off 113 based on his Newbury second. Jack Tudor also has his only ride on the card for the boss and will do a low weight of 10-3. I think he is a great each-way bet with five places on offer.

I want to wager the nine-year-old MILKWOOD (best price 16/1) who will take a major drop in grade from races he normally contests and ran a solid race to finish sixth in the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle last time.

He probably isn’t the force he was a couple of seasons back in which he landed that previously-mentioned race but he is effective around this course and his standout efforts include a second in the Galway Hurdle off 147, as well as a fourth in the County Hurdle off 140.

Now he can operate from a mark of 134 in a race below class 2 for the first time in three years. He was second in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his return last season off 148 and this will be the easiest race he has contested in a very long time. He makes plenty of each-way appeal with five places available.

Cheltenham Saturday Tips

BEFORE MIDNIGHT (best price 7/1) travelled very well on his return at Chepstow over hurdles, where he looked the most likeliest winner at one stage before the petrol gauge flickered and he will be a lot fitter now with that run under his belt.

Trainer Fergal O’Brien was clearly using that race as a preparatory run and he can return to fences off a really workable mark. For the last couple of seasons, he has been running in high-quality handicaps and has winning form over course-and-distance off a pound higher mark.

Ben Sutton can offset a further seven pounds and the fact he placed four times last season off marks in the 140s does make him well-handicapped off this lower mark now that the handicapper has relinquished the grip, especially being eight pounds below his last win.

In addition, he is a very nimble jumper, who is proven in tougher company and is on a really low weight with his jockey’s claim taken into account. With firms offering four places generally, he is one of the more appealing runners in the field and is worthy of a bet.

Blueking D’oroux is a short-priced favourite having backed up his win at Ascot with a second at Aintree but he is up 11 pounds and doesn’t represent much value. Instead, I want to take a chance on Dan Skelton’s PUNTA DEL ESTE (best price 10/1), whose last two performances haven’t vindicated his capabilities and is worth another chance to showcase his true colours.

This four-year-old shaped with plenty of promise when third on stable debut at Haydock behind Bo Zenith and although he could only finish about midfield in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival, he did run a lot better than the finishing position implied and that was evidently a much harder race than the one he will contest back in the Cotswolds here.

He was behind the favourite when only seventh at Ascot last time but raced far too keenly and either way, it is interesting to see him back at Cheltenham for his reappearance. Despite being worse off at the weights with Paul Nicholls’ charge, he is better than he has shown the last twice and should still have more to offer.

In the Epic Jumps Season At William Hill Handicap Chase, I am intrigued by the claims of last year’s winner LORD ACCORD (best price 6/1) who is only a pound higher in his repeat bid and has no doubt been primed to try and defend his crown.

This very smart chaser on his day would have gone close to beating Frodon in the Listed Badger Beer last year but for a shuddering mistake at the last fence. That performance came off a five pounds higher mark as well.

He hasn’t been in the same form since but his reduced mark will help plus he didn’t shape at all too badly when fourth on his seasonal debut at Warwick. With fitness guaranteed and having won this impressively 12 months ago, he must be backed with four places widely available.

I have a strong inclination that top-weight ESPOIR DE ROMAY (best price 18/1), trained by Kim Bailey, and ridden by David Bass, is to be targeted at the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival in March and given his good record fresh, he is likely to be well prepared for his reappearance here.

Despite being lightly raced in recent seasons, he was last seen running well to finish third at Uttoxeter off top-weight and has undergone wind surgery since then ahead of his return. His team is in great form and he would have also placed in a Grade 1 a few seasons ago behind Chantry House without falling two out and that is a serious piece of form.

He is a chase winner off a two pounds higher mark and his record first-time-out reads an impressive 311135 which bodes well ahead of this weekend. From a form point of view, he is the most talented horse in the field and makes plenty of appeal to at least fill the frame with up to five places widely available.