Steve Ryder has three selections at Cheltenham on Saturday.
13:45 Cheltenham
Tip 1: 13:45 Cheltenham- Stencil 13/2 (0.5pt ew)
This looks a competitive renewal of this Grade 2 contest but I am keen to oppose July Flower at the top of the market. In receipt of weight from the rest of the field, STENCIL (best priced at 13/2) looks worth backing on his chasing debut. The Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm trained gelding finished 2nd behind East India Dock in the Grade 2 Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle in January before being sent off 11/4 favourite for the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 135.
Stencil towered over his rivals in that race and is built like a chaser and comes from France where they do plenty of schooling with their younger horses. He is closely matched with Be Aware on weight adjusted ratings and connections will have no doubt been targeting at this contest.
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14:20 Cheltenham
Tip 2: 14:20 Cheltenham- Hoe Joly Smoke 6/1 (0.5pt ew)
Despite Harry Skelton choosing to ride Panic Attack over HOE JOLY SMOKE (best priced at 6/1), the latter should be well suited by how this race will be run. The seven-year-old won on soft ground over 3 miles at Sandown in December before a victory over the same course and distance in March off a mark of 127.
Hoe Joly Smoke looked the most likely winner of the 3m1f handicap chase at the October meeting here off a mark of 129 before weakening late on into 3rd. He runs here off only a 2lb higher mark and he looks sure to run well with five places available back down in trip.
14:55 Cheltenham
Tip 3: 14:55 Cheltenham- Gowel Road 9/1 (0.5pt ew)
Supremely West could prove well handicapped off a mark of 138 but the solid option in the race is GOWEL ROAD (best priced at 10/1) who won the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle last season. The Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies trained nine-year-old finished 2nd in this race last season off a mark of 143 on good ground but will be better suited by this softer ground despite racing off a 3lb higher mark.
Gowel Road needs to put a disappointing effort at the October meeting behind him but he was weak in the market that day and will no doubt come on for that run. Bookmakers are offering four places and he looks sure to be involved in the finish.
