‘He fascinates me’ – Build the bank for Cheltenham Festival with my three top tips

OH, what to do?

It’s Cheltenham next week, and that’s all that matters right? Punting heaven.

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Wreckless Eric has strong claims at Sandown on Saturday[/caption]

If you have any doubts just relish the pullouts in this paper every day. The team have been preparing an awesome read for months so don’t be fooled by the rest, stick with the biggest and the best!

The Festival, though, leaves me with a dilemma. Because I have three horses who I fancy big time on Saturday afternoon live on ITV.

Do I stick and wait? Or do I twist and go with it?

I think we all know the answer.

Yes, of course it’s the calm before the Cheltenham storm, but Sandown and Wolverhampton offer some blinding action today and I can’t wait to get to the Esher venue.

I’ll be hosting the Opening Show at 9.30am and, with so much to talk about, I can promise you it’s going to be a good ‘un.

For many the big betting race of the day is Sandown’s Imperial Cup, a handicap hurdle over two miles.

There is a £100,000 bonus up for grabs for a horse who takes this event and goes on to win any race at Cheltenham.

It’s not an easy double to do.

And few in today’s line-up are capable of achieving the feat.

But it has happened before.

I’m thinking Olympian (went on to win the Coral Cup), Blowing Wind (County Hurdle) and Gaspara (Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle).

The key to their success, however, was the genius Martin Pipe — and he, sadly, doesn’t train anymore.

However there is one horse who fascinates me this time — the Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained WRECKLESS ERIC (2.25 Sandown).

The son of Arc-third Masterstroke has already had a good season, winning in a big field at Cheltenham before chasing home the enterprisingly ridden Mirabad at the same track in December.

The re-opposing Bo Zenith was an eyecatcher in third in that and meets his old rival on the same terms.

Since then, five-year-old Wreckless Eric has been to Windsor, with a fair sixth to Secret Squirrel.

My selection has been dropped 1lb for that but, more importantly, it came on a soft surface and his two fine Cheltenham performances were on good and good to soft.

The Sandown ground will be right up his alley and he also needs a strong gallop in a big field.

I think he has a belting each-way chance — and it would be a decent way for Kielan Woods to end the week smiling.

Poor Kielan was on a 1-16 shot for the owners at Catterick on Wednesday when in command and falling at the last so he gets a chance to make amends.

The other horse who really interests me is the topweight THE KEMBLE BREWERY (1.50 Sandown) in the EBF Novices’ Hurdle Final.

The Kemble Brewery was the horse I put up as one to follow this jumps season and I have no doubt he’s a better horse than a mark of 129 suggests.

A step up in trip should suit the Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls runner and he looked really promising in wins at Worcester and Ffos Las.

The good run came to an end last time at Ludlow, however, when he was turned over at 4-11 by the reopposing Meetmebythesea.

That all said, the latter has since won off a mark of 126 so the form is decent and I’m not sure Ludlow would be his track either so you can mark that up.

Favourite columnist Ben Pauling is very sweet on this JP McManus-owned fella but I am sticking with The Kemble Brewery under the excellent Tom Bellamy.

Even with 12st on his back I am convinced he will take all the beating.

Over at Wolverhampton the Flat steps up a gear on the all-weather with the Lincoln Trial Handicap.

This sometimes throws up a decent horse and Keystroke went on to Group 3 Abernant success three years after taking the event in 2016.

LOCAL HERO (2.45 Wolverhampton) is the one who catches my eye this afternoon.

He got going too late at Kempton last time but goes well here and should have every chance of at least reaching the frame for Richard Hannon and Joe Leavy, who takes off 3lb.

A good winner again at Kempton in December, my selection in 4lb higher now but that success was under Sean Levey so now with a rider taking off 3lb he’s only up 1lb. Big chance each-way.

So there you have it. Rolling the dice with these three fancies before four days of heaven at Cheltenham.

This column smashed it last year, thanks, in the main, to latching on to Chianti Classico and the Dan Skelton stable.

The latter’s Unexpected Party and Protektorat could both play big parts again.

Find out my best selections in my daily column. I’m ready. Bring it on. Yeeehaaa!

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