Road To Cheltenham looks ahead to Prestbury Park this weekend for the first jumps meeting at Cheltenham this season.
The eyes of the racing world will be on Prestbury Park this weekend for the first jumps meeting at Cheltenham this season, and the stage is set for an exciting double header at the home of National Hunt racing.
A grand total of 273 entries have been made over the two days and, with the rain falling over the past few days, the meeting should be well supported – from trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Without further ado, here are my five horses to follow at the Showcase meeting. I had a profitable Chepstow with my selections (two winners and an 11/1 place from four runners) so hopefully I can pick a few winners this weekend as well.
COUNTRY MILE – 1.50pm, Friday
Popular in the betting since the market opened, Country Mile could be much better than his current BHA mark of 137 but will Friday be the day for him? He is 1-1 at Cheltenham, recording a facile victory over the talented Wingmen last December.
While that success came on the New Course, Friday’s race will take place on the Old Course but that shouldn’t make a huge difference. He’s not short of tactical pace and a truly ran two miles should be right up his street.
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King Of Kingsfield is an obvious danger but I’m not convinced he will turn up while the selection receives a 5lbs swing in the weights with the re-opposing Alnilam. Skelton is a master at plotting one for the spring but hopefully he’ll be there to win on Friday.
JAZZY MATTY – 2.25pm, Friday
Now rated 142 over fences, Jazzy Matty is 17lbs lower over hurdles and it is interesting that trainer Cian Collins opts to send him back over the smaller obstacles. He is 2-3 around Cheltenham, with the one blemish on his record a head defeat to Path d’Oroux.
Collins has entered the two-time Festival winner in two races on Friday – the 2m4f handicap hurdle at 1.15pm and the 2m conditional jockeys handicap hurdle an hour or so later. And, at this stage, he looks set to go for the shorter race.
He should have a fitness edge on many of his rivals, having been kept in training for the Galway Festival this summer. It’ll be interesting to see how he fares, especially with several lucrative handicap hurdle options fast approaching.
INISHCORKER – 1.45pm, Saturday
Rebecca Curtis has made no attempt to hide just how highly she rates this horse and I’ve been waiting to see him make his debut. Winner of a point-to-point at the second time of asking, Inishcorker can hopefully make hay over hurdles this season.
A potential Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle contender down the line, he lacks experience but I’m expecting a big run on Saturday afternoon. A half-brother to five-time winner Bhaloo, this son of Jukebox Jury ticks plenty of boxes on the page.
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I’m viewing Inishcorker as an each way prospect this weekend – but hopefully he will mature into a Graded novice hurdler down the line. Bred to be a proper staying chaser in time, this gallant grey can run a big race on Saturday.
WATCHFUL PROTECTOR – 2.55pm, Saturday
Paul Byrne is a shrewd operator and Watchful Protector could be one to keep onside in the Pertemps qualifier this weekend. Yet to go beyond 2m4f in six career starts, there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree and 3m should be no bother at all.
Cynics would argue that I’m buying into the whole Byrne ‘plot job’ theory a tad too much but I genuinely can see the angle with going right out in trip. By Mount Nelson and out of a Flemensfirth mare, Watchful Protector can thrive at extreme distances.
Interestingly, Watchful Protector has been added to the Goffs Horses-in-Training sale in early November. I’d guess connections will want to get him qualified for the Pertemps Final and that may tempt a potential buyer to get involved.
LORIKO – 3.30pm, Saturday
Loriko finished third on his stable debut in what looked like a strong maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter earlier this month and I can see him running into the places here. While the Gary & Josh Moore horse is clear on ratings, Loriko can outrun his odds.
The Cokoriko gelding was expected to improve significantly for the run and fitness will not be an excuse this time. He was keen enough but he was still very much in the mix at the business end of the race and I’m expecting a big effort on Saturday.
It’ll be interesting to see if Loriko can put Give It To Me OJ under pressure. The favourite is heading here off the back of two flat wins and he’ll be primed for this race – especially as the conditions suit – but I’m happy to chance the Skelton runner.
