Friday Tote Placepot Tips for Cheltenham from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Beat The Bat, Dysart Enos

The opener is likely to prove informative. BEAT THE BAT was useful in bumpers, and after pushing Masaccio close on his hurdle debut, he went one place better at Ascot. He’s a major player, while DYSART ENOS is unbeaten in four starts and could be something special.

She won all three bumper starts, including a listed win, prior to winning by nine lengths in a Grade 2 race at Aintree. She has since made a successful return/hurdles debut at Huntingdon, where she scored by seven lengths, and could be extremely hard to beat in this grade.

Leg 2 Selections: Grey Dawning, Ginny’s Destiny

GREY DAWNING has won six of his nine starts and was really impressive in scoring by nearly 10 lengths at Haydock last time, where he beat a pair of Grade 1 winners. This will be the six-year-old’s first visit to this course, but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t act well here, and he’s the one to beat.

GINNY’S DESTINY is another to include. Even though he was left in the clear when he won here last time, he was still impressive and must be respected. 

Leg 3 Selections: Go Dante, Williethebuilder, Doddiethegreat

The Olly Murphy-trained GO DANTE travelled with a lot of panache when he finished a respectable sixth of 14 in the Greatwood Hurdle over C&D last time out and is essentially a pound lower in this easier contest. He has always been held in high esteem by his trainer and must have an excellent chance. 

WILLIETHEBUILDER won impressively on his hurdles debut, and despite only finishing fourth in a Grade 2 race over C&D last time, he will find this easier and is feared. DODDIETHEGREAT overcame a long absence to retain his unbeaten record by winning at Ascot. Nicky Henderson’s charge is now four-from-four and is shortlisted.

Leg 4 Selections: Walk In Clover, Game On For Glory

WALK IN CLOVER is only a pound higher than when she finished an excellent close-up third over C&D last time in a stronger race, and she looks well treated with a mark of 122 based on her Grade 2 victory in April when beating the 134-rated Effernock Fizz. With a patient ride likely to be on the cards, she can creep into contention and pounce late.

GAME ON FOR GLORY ran really well in her only previous start at this course when runner-up in a bumper race and only found one too good on her chase debut last month. She has been left on the same mark for this race and is open to improvement over fences, so she could make a serious impact. 

Leg 5 Selections: Sam Brown, Top Ville Ben

SAM BROWN ran no sort of race when pulled up in the Badger Beer at Wincanton, but he’s a lot better than that and could be suited to the drop-in trip if he’s ridden forward this time. The top-weight must be respected at this level off a mark that’s within his capabilities.

The other one I like is TOP VILLE BEN, who is back down to the same mark as when third of 23 in the Bulmers Leopardstown Handicap Chase, which is one of the hottest handicap chases at Leopardstown. His previous three runs here have either come at the Cheltenham Festival in the Ultima or in Grade 1 and Grade 2 races. Harry Cobden is a very notable jockey booking for this stable as well.

Leg 6 Selections: Gesskille, Vital Island, Minella Indo

This is undoubtedly one of the most wide-open cross-country events in recent years. GESSKILLE should be suited to these fences, given that he’s jumped the Grand National fences well and has won his last couple of starts. If he stays, he must be a serious player.

VITAL ISLAND certainly won’t lack stamina, though, who is a winner over 4m2f, having won the La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase and warmed up for this with a good second in the Risk Of Thunder Chase last month. He is a really consistent horse in cross-country races and could acquit himself very well at a course that should play to his strengths.

MINELLA INDO rolled back the years to make a winning reappearance in a Grade 3 race on his return, and although he was well beaten last time, he’s worth a crack at this new scenario over this longer distance. This former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has a good record here, and if he takes to this discipline while proving he stays, he could outclass these.