I think the 20-1 about this novice chaser looks a mad price for Cheltenham Festival success

6 months ago 34

CHELTENHAM got the jumps action off to a fine start the weekend before last and one horse who caught the eye was promising Encanto Bruno.

I’m sure shrewd Gavin Cromwell already has the Coral Cup as his big target here in March.

Stop it @donoghue_keith

Encanto Bruno gives the rider & trainer @gavincromwell1 a quickfire double as he routs his rivals in this £20,000 event @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/akqfYxDllK

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 27, 2023

Cromwell has worked wonders at Prestbury Park with dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter one horse who immediately jumps to mind.

The trainer showed his versatility by saddling him to a debut novice chase success over the same track too.

He’s very clever with his placings so always make sure you have a Cromwell horse or two in your tracker.

FESTIVAL PUNT
I’M not convinced about favourite Gaelic Warrior and I prefer the chances of STAY AWAY FAY in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Paul Nicholls’ star is a staying machine and proved himself on this track when winning the Albert Bartlett at the Festival last year.

I know 10-1 is not big but I rate him highly — so let’s have £30 of Betfair’s dosh on him to win.

I also want to cover him with another Festival hero IROKO who is totally unexposed as a stayer. A tenner each-way at 20-1 please.

NEWS

DO you know the most annoying thing that happened recently?

I’m not talking about the attention-seeking Nigel Farage either (does anyone care if he’s going in the jungle — although it would be good if he stayed there…) The Old Roan Chase at Aintree was basically run as a Flat race — Shambles!

The field jumped eight fences instead of 14 with the last three in the home straight omitted.

Tracks need the option of moving feature races to avoid unsatisfactory contests.

CHELTENHAM CLUE

HORSES who have run at the previous Festival do best in the Brown Advisory.