14:10 - The Real Whacker 11/2 1pt ew
- Thyme Hill 10/1 0.5pt ew
Despite the obvious claims of the favourite Gerri Colombe in this race, I am happy to take him on at the prices, and not with second favourite Sir Gerhard, who has stamina doubts for me.
My main choice is THE REAL WHACKER who has transformed over fences and looks a very smart horse with further scope for improvement. He has won twice at Cheltenham this season, formerly over today’s trip and then next time in the Dipper over a shorter trip. Both times he has jumped his rivals into submission and I think he coild be capable of doing the same today, ground should be no worry and he should give Sam Twiston-Davies a very good spin.
The other choice is THYME HILL who surely shouldn’t be a double figure price. This horse has serious back class having ran in all the top staying hurdles for a few seasons and he did look good at Kempton on his most recent run over fences, clearly benefiting from the application of cheekpieces. If he can get into a rhythm then I think he will be hard to knock out of the frame.
14:50 - Run For Oscar 9/1 2pt ew
Charles Byrnes went close with Byker on the first day of the festival and I think he holds an excellent chance of going one better today with RUN FOR OSCAR who has surely been aimed at this since his last run. The cheekpieces also go on today which is a positive based off of the trainers stats with this type of headgear.
This horse won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October, absolutely cruising into contention there to go away nicely. He has then ran two nice races over hurdles since, especially at Haydock when I’m not convinced he got the 3 miles. The fast pace of a Coral Cup should suit him perfectly and I think he could still have a few pounds in hand off a mark of 147 and Phillip Byrnes taking 5 more off today can only be a positive. Firms are paying extra places all over the place and he looks a solid each way bet.
15:30 - Edwardstone 6/4 2pt win
The 2022 Arkle winner has really kicked on again this season in open company and he holds the best piece of form this season in the 2 mile division via his win in the Tingle Creek. He obliterated the field that day and I think he should have won the Clarence House last time too, but he was probably too far back in the end. The way he powered home was mighty impressive and the time analysts sectionals suggest he was an unlucky loser there too. I expect him to hold form with Energuneme and reverse with Editeur De Gite and that should make him the one to beat today.
16:50 - Dinoblue 6/1 1pt win
If there is one horse who is going to well ahead of her mark then that in my opinion that will be DINOBLUE. She has been racing against the top mares in training this season, including my fancy for the Mares Chase in Impervious. Defeats of 3 lengths to both her and Magic Daze make an opening handicap mark of 140 look very tempting for Willie Mullins’ mare.
The only negative I can see is how she bombed out at the festival as a short price favourite last year, but I am willing to excuse that as it was only her second ever start under rules. Conditions at Cheltenham today should suit her down to the ground and off a feather weight I think she has all the right attributes to go close today.
17:30 - Fact To File 5/1 1pt win
Willie Mullins holds a incredibly strong hand in the Champion Bumper this year, holding 10 of the runners for this edition and I am siding with FACT TO FILE who should relish the test of Prestbury Park. This horse has looked like stamina is his main asset in both of his starts under rules and the testing conditions today, matched with a likely strong pace should hold hold him in good stead to charge up the Cheltenham hill. He was beaten last time by A Dream To Share but a race ran in a different manner could see the tables turned and he looks worth siding with to win the final race on the second day.
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