Evening one and all. I hope this finds you well. Cheltenham is upon us this weekend and it is with the advent of the Open meeting at Prestbury Park, that the jumps season can be considered well and truly under way. At last!!

It’s a great time of year, the young novices are beginning to emerge, the flat converts are beginning their hurdling careers and of course the big names are reappearing after their summer breaks.

If you’ll excuse the brevity of my introduction, I’m just going to get straight down to it.

13:15 Opus Energy Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase – An interesting renewal if you delve into the form. Last year’s winner Handy Andy is back to defend his title, but of a slightly higher mark this time. Whilst he is a course and distance winner, others are preferred. Leading Irish P2P rider Jamie Codd rides the favourite for David Pipe, but 4/1 is a bit tight for me in this competitive race. Benbens runs in the same colours as The New One and this 9 year old son of Beneficial has relatively few miles on the clock. He’s taken to chasing quite well and 13/2 appeals. Simon Clements is well able too.

13:50 Paddy Power Handicap Chase – Hmmm. A tricky race. Plenty of talk for Festive Affair and you would do well by pricking your ears and taking heed when there’s whispers on the wind for one of JP’s. I’ve looked elsewhere and decided to ignore my own advice. I quite like two in the race. The first is slightly mainstream and predictable in Astrcad who could go well for the Twiston-Davies team. The big alternative hipster inside has gone the progressive Robin’s Command. Hasn’t been out of the first two in his last 9 runs. Granted, this is a significant step up in class, but he deserves his shot at this level and gets plenty of weight from the big dogs. Both interesting each way players for me.

14:25 Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase – Colour Squadron has been Novice Chasing since December 2012… how does that even make sense. He has form with some decent sorts but has never actually gotten his head in front in a contest over the larger obstacles. 9/4 is too short for me to hope that today is THE day. Dell’Arca  Comes into the race well fancied but lacking a run, and more importantly a run over fences. No doubt he’s been schooled up to his gills but there’s a big step up to be made to competitive jumping, especially in a race such as this. Splash of Ginge appeals at the price. He won the Betfair hurdle at Newbury, and it takes a proper horse to win that. He disappointed in the Supreme and then ran a good second to Lac Fontana at Aintree in the Grade 1 Mersey Hurdle. He scored over fences last time and hopefully there is more to come. He gives 8 pounds to the fav as a penalty for winning a similar affair but at the price he definitely stands out and, being by Oscar, could turn out to be a decent chaser in time.

15:00 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle – This could be a festival pointer. Blaklion  looks classy and only won a grade 2 contest at Chepstow three weeks ago. If he runs to form, surely he’ll be bang there, but the worry is he has to give 7 pounds to the Ruby Walsh ridden improver Champagne Present.

15:35 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase – Balthazar King is the boss over this course and distance. Nap.

16:05 Michael Scudamore Intermediate Handicap Hurdle – 6/1 bar the even money JP owned favourite. Cup Final is surely well handicapped, but unbackable for me at that price. I’ve said it a number of times on here that I am a stout Cassels Rock fan and he has a chance here again. I’m going to go each way on the front running Buster Dan Dan who looks thrown in at the weights and is in a very safe pair of hands belonging to Mikey O’Connor.

So that’s it for now folks. Here’s hoping!

Slán tamaillín,

T