Tag: Colour Squadron

Cheltenham Friday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Open meeting at Cheltenham kicks off on Friday with a typically competitive six-race card. The going is reported to be good to soft so I am hoping that the Cotswolds avoids the torrential rain that has been battering other parts of the UK this week.

I have never been a great fan of the Cross Country Chase but it seems to be surviving the test of time and a few old favourites are back in action tomorrow. The favourite is last year’s winner Balthazar King who has since gone on to finish a courageous second in the Grand National. He won in France in September so will presumably be fit enough to do himself justice and old rival Uncle Junior may now be past his prime at 13. He won’t be any great value but should win with the ground in his favour.

Colour Squadron was pulled out of the Paddy Power Gold Cup to run in the novice chase here and his greater experience could be decisive. There are some very exciting novices in opposition, notably Dell’Arca who won the Greatwood Hurdle last year and ran well in all of the top two-mile handicaps. I am convinced that Colour Squadron would have won last time had he been held up for longer and compensation awaits.

The Amateur Riders race which opens the card looks very tricky but I am just going to side with Dan Skelton’s Mister Grez. He probably needed his recent run to put him straight and Bridget Andrews is good value for her 5lbs claim.

The second race does not look any easier but I just have a sneaking suspicion that Anay Turge has been laid out for this event. The grey won it 12 months ago and was given a gentle introduction last month. Jamie Moore looks a significant booking and he could reward each-way support at a decent price.

It’s nice to see Ruby Walsh back in the UK and he replaces the injured AP McCoy on Jonjo O’Neill’s Champagne Present in the 3.00. The four-year-old looked sure to win at Aintree last time but was beaten in a photo with the front two quickening all the way to the line. Blaklion looks the one to beat after his gutsy win at Chepstow.

I was expecting to see Nicky Henderson’s Cup Final at a good price in the last but he has been installed as favourite. He came up against Irving last season but was slightly disappointing subsequently. He is held in high regard at home so should be tough to beat off a rating of 125. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he wins but Cassells Rock could be the better value. He was runner-up in a £75k race on the level in September and stayed on well over hurdles last time out. This uphill finish looks right up his street.

Mister Grez 1.15 @12-1 Bet Victor

Anay Turge 1.50 @15-1 William Hill

Colour Squadron 2.25 @5-2 Bet Victor

Champagne Present 3.00 @4-1 William Hill

Balthazar King 3.35 @5-4 Totesport

Cassells Rock 4.05 @7-1 Bet365

Paddy Power Gold Cup Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It’s the Open meeting at Cheltenham this weekend featuring two big betting races in The Paddy Power Gold Cup (Saturday) and The Greatwood Hurdle (Sunday).

The Paddy Power Gold Cup looks wide open with bookmakers going 7-1 the field. That brings in festival winner Present View who showed his well-being with a fine run in a hurdle race last month. A mistake at the last cost him victory that day but connections were more concerned with an injury picked up in the process. Fortunately it turned out to be no more than skin deep and he is reported back in great form ahead of Saturday’s race.

Last year’s first and second, John’s Spirit and Colour Squadron, return to do battle once again. There is no doubt that the runner-up was unlucky last year when finishing fast to be beaten only three-quarters of a length. He continued to run well in subsequent races but has not managed to get his head in front since 2011. That is hardly a great recommendation but I felt that he was very unlucky not to win at Newton Abbot last time out.

Tom O’Brien was a late replacement for Tony McCoy and decided to let Colour Squadron kick on a long way from home. He should have beaten Wonderful Charm at the weights but began to tie up in the closing stages and was pegged back on the run-in. I feel that he is good value at 12-1 for another big run in this race. He is 4lbs better off with last year’s winner Johns Spirit who recently won in good style. You have to respect Jonjo O’Neill’s horse but he is 17lbs higher than a year ago.

Oscar Whisky has won six times at Cheltenham in his career, all at or around this distance. He fell at the first fence at the festival and was beaten by Uxizandre at Aintree but is a classy horse and should go well. You just wonder whether he stayed over hurdles a little too long to fulfil his potential over fences and it would be a great effort to win this first time out.

Easter Meteor fell two out in this race last year but I’m not convinced that he was travelling well enough to trouble the first two.  He is now with David Pipe but has been put up 8lbs since so is not exactly a dark horse.  Buywise was let down by his jumping when fifth to Present View here in March but put in a clear round to slam Astracad by nine lengths next time. He defied a 6lbs rise at Ludlow but is up a further 6lbs on Saturday.

Colour Squadron @14-1 888Sport, Betway

¼ odds, 1,2,3,4