Friday 10th December 2021

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

A warm welcome to my preview for the first day of the International Meeting at Cheltenham which kicks off this Friday. The meeting is held over two days and we see some seriously competitive handicaps as well as some hot graded races taking centre-stage.

I’ll be sharing with you my opinions in the races which I’ll be having a bet in over the two days. So as ever, enjoy!

– Jordan

The first race I’ll be taking a look at is the 12:40 which is a Class 3 Handicap Chase that’s contested over three miles and half of a furlong, and the one I’m taking a chance on here is Undersupervision for the Twiston-Davies team who’s currently trading at around the 10/3 mark. He’s had no luck so far this season in both of his runs at this track, having nearly ran out when challenging here in October, then falling at the November Meeting. I think he was about to ask some serious questions of the smart Does He Know in that Novices’ Chase here a couple of months ago before hitting the rail, and that would suggest he’s got a decent level of ability as that rival is a solid yardstick and a personal favourite of mine. He’ll need to brush up on his jumping within handicap company here, but he could well prove that he’s got a bit more class than some of these.

The next race I’ll be focusing on is the 1:15 which is a Class 3 Handicap Hurdle over two miles and a furlong. The one I like in this particular contest is the Nicky Henderson trained Broomfield Burg who’s the mount of Nico de Boinville. He’s currently installed as the 15/8 market leader, despite being turned over at short-odds when he was last seen at Newbury last month. That was his first outing of the season however, and before that he looked an exciting prospect over hurdles at the back-end of last season when he bolted up in two novice events. I think he remains a potentially smart horse moving forward and he should progress from that first run of the season and put on a bold showing here.

Next up for me is the 2:25 which is a Grade 3 Handicap Chase over three miles and two furlongs. It’s the Paul Nicholls trained Enrilo for me here who’s the mount of Harry Cobden. He’s can be found in the betting at around the 5/2 mark currently and for me looks the stand-out horse in the race. When last seen at Newbury last month he fell in the Ladbrokes Trophy, but was well fancied in that contest which is one of the hottest handicaps of the season. He was first past the post in the Grade 3 Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown back in April, and I think there could still be more to come from him. It would be disappointing should he not play a serious role in this particular assignment.

Concluding my preview is the 3.00 which is the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase. Just rolls off the tongue doesn’t it? In this spectacle of an event, I like the chances of Plan Of Attack for Henry De Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe who’s currently a 9/2 chance. He finished fourth here last month in one of these events, and arguably should’ve been closer to the winner. I believe that he’s still well handicapped though and if getting a clear round should be on the premises once again at the business end of things.