A HAPPY new year to you all. It’s a big day for ITV On Sunday as it begins its terrestrial coverage of our sport. Ed Chamberlin, Richard Hoiles, Matt Chapman et al will probably be tucked up in bed early tonight in readiness for what is an excellent card at Cheltenham tomorrow. It will be interesting to watch and I’m sure opinion will be divided, especially on the social channels, about both the personnel and the coverage. Channel 4 did a great job and if it had not been for them we may have lost racing to the satellite companies. I think sometimes people just become a bit bored with the same format and the same faces, so a change might be as good as a rest. Good luck to the ITV team.
As for the racing, it is red hot. More than 80 runners turn out on Cheltenham ground that may well turn soft with the rain that is forecast through tomorrow. Here are a few fancies.
12.15: POETIC RHYTHM has little chance on the form book of turning the tables with Pingshou but the longer trip and softer ground should suit and I think he is overpriced at 10/1.
12.50: Like Poetic Rhythm, TROIKA STEPPES is trained by Fergal O’Brien who is having a great time of it this season. This chaser loves Cheltenham and looks far too big at 25/1 as long as the National fences have not left their mark. Great each-way value.
2.00: THOMAS BROWN has a great record in January and was not disgraced last time. This is fiercely competitive but he is worth a bet at around 12/1 although he has two ways of running.
2,35: MEISTER ECKHART is a speculative each-way poke but I can’t resist him at 50/1. He has plummeted in the handicap and is 6lb lower than when he finished second in the Coral Cup in 2013. Now 11, he is lightly raced and worth a few shillings to nick a place after not being disgraced on his return last time
3.10: LIL ROCKERFELLER will be the most popular winner of the year in the Relkeel Hurdle and deserves this. I think he’ll win comfortably before staking a claim for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival.
3.40: DAPHNE DU CLOS arrives with a tall reputation and although it is impossible to weigh up the opposition don’t expect the 9/2 to last.
Elsewhere. THEO’S CHARM is a generous 11/4 at Exeter (3.00) and I’ll have that, while PREMIER BOND looks a penalty kick with a clear round at Catterick (1.35)
Be lucky!
Prices correct at the time of writing.
