Steve Ryder is back with three tips for the Cheltenham Festival.
14:50 Cheltenham
Stumptown would still be my strongest selection in the race (tipped antepost on 28th February) but I would also like to keep WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT (best priced at 11/1) on side.
With a rating of 134, the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained seven-year-old had looked unlikely to get into the race at the confirmation stage but has snuck in at the bottom of the weights.
He was well regarded early on in his career where he finished 3rd in a Grade 2 novice hurdle behind Hermes Allen on his hurdling debut before finishing down the field in Grade 1s behind Good Land, Stay Away Fay and Apple Away.
Weveallbeencaught finished 3rd behind Flooring Porter and Broadway Boy on his chasing debut over this course and distance before finishing 2nd behind his stablemate again in a listed race on his next start. He disappointed on his handicap debut in December but has had a break since and now returns with a tongue tie fitted.
If he runs back to the form of his chasing debut then he should prove well handicapped off a mark of 134 and he should run well with six (and seven with one bookmaker) widely available.
16:10 Cheltenham
Lossiemouth will no doubt prove hard to beat if she stays the 2m4f trip on her first attempt but the one I think is overpriced is TELMESOMETHINGGIRL (best priced at 16/1) who was unlucky not to win this race two years ago.
The Henry De Bromhead trained nine-year-old is the choice of Rachael Blackmore and she was an impressive 5 ½ length winner of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle here in 2021. She was still travelling well when brought down at the second last hurdle in this race two years ago before being sent chasing.
Connections have brought her back hurdling this season and she stepped forward from her reappearance to finish 2nd behind Zarak The Brave at Naas.
That rival is running in the Champion Hurdle so it looks a strong piece of form and she should run well back at this track.
17:30 Cheltenham
Many bookmakers are still offering three places on the National Hunt Chase despite there only being seven runners and with that extra place it is recommended to back SALVADOR ZIGGY (best priced at 6/1).
The Gordon Elliott trained eight-year-old finished 2nd in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle last season behind Good Time Jonny before winning three novice chases at Punchestown, Tramore and Killarney between June and August.
The run that makes Salvador Ziggy look a leading contender for this race is his 2nd in the Kerry National off a mark of 150 where he was only beaten 3 ¾ lengths as a novice.
You can forgive his run in the American Grand National last time and he has been given a break since. He has a very similar profile to Galvin in 2021 and he looks sure to be involved in the finish
