Friday 27th October 2023
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
Welcome aboard to my preview for the opening day of the season at Cheltenham where the Showcase Meeting takes centre-stage. I’ll have six selections to share with you all on Friday and I’ll also have several throughout Saturday’s card in this week’s Saturday Preview. Make sure to gamble responsibly if you are punting.
1.35: Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle: The opener comes up at 1.35 and it’s a conditional jockeys handicap hurdle which is contested over two miles. I’ve sided with Afadil here who represents Paul Nicholls and is the mount of Freddie Gingell, who takes off six pounds. He’s a horse that has always been highly regarded by connections and with Gingell taking off six pounds here I think he has a very solid chance, it’s likely he’ll be aimed at graded hurdles throughout the winter such as the Greatwood, so this looks like a nice starting point. Afadil – 7/2 (Win)
2.45: Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle: It’s the 2:45 where I turn my attention to next which is a novice hurdle that’s ridden over two miles and four furlongs. I’m going with Tag Man here who’s an Irish raider for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He arrives here having had some very solid form in defeat when placing behind the likes of Good Land, Found A Fifty and High Class Hero, and finally had his day when bolting up by fourteen lengths on his most recent outing which came at Listowel last month. I think he’s a progressive sort and could well have more to offer here. Tag Man – 4/1 (Win)
3.20: 2023 Thoroughbred Census Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase: My third selection of the afternoon comes in the 3:20 which is a handicap chase for novices over two miles and four furlongs. I’m siding with Hurricane Bay in this particular affair for the combination of Lucy Wadham and Bryony Frost. He was a progressive sort last term, bolting up in a novice hurdle at Doncaster before finding Grade 1 company at Aintree too hot to handle, but then returned to form when second in a listed event at Perth, albeit a long way behind the way. He’s back down in a distance here which he seems to appreciate and I think he can go well at a decent price. Hurricane Bay – 7/1 (Each-Way)
3.55: Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle: It’s Graded action at 3.55 with the Grade 2 Sky Bet Novices’ Hurde taking cente-stage over two miles. It’s another Irish horse I like here in the form of Toto Too for Peter Fahey and Keith Donoghue. He won a bumper at Killarney back in August before making a very smooth transition to hurdles on his most recent outing at Navan last month where he won by six lengths. He travelled very powerfully that day and put the race to bed with minimum fuss, this requires significant improvement, however, that’s the same for all of his rivals and he looks a potentially smart sort. Toto Too – 3/1 (Win)
4.30: Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase: The 4:30 is up next and we have a handicap chase for amateur jockeys over three miles and a furlong. I’m taking a chance on Bells Of Peterboro here who’s currently trading at a best price of 17/2 for Tim & Edward Vaughan. He looks very well handicapped here taking into consideration the rider’s seven-pound claim, and despite not winning for quite a while he posted a solid enough effort on his return to the track earlier this month at Chepstow when third of seven. If coming on that for that run here he could go well with race fitness on his side. Bells Of Peterboro – 7/1 (Each-Way)
5.05: Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Handicap Hurdle: The concluding race of the afternoon is the 5:05 which is a handicap hurdle that’s ridden over two miles and four furlongs. I like the chances of Soul Icon here who’s currently an 8/1 chance for Kieran Burke and Harry Kimber, who takes off three pounds. He’s won at the track before and comes into the race in good form having won on his seasonal reappearance at Fontwell earlier this month by over three lengths. The handicapper only gave him a four-pound rise for that success and that might not be enough to stop him from going close again here. Soul Icon – 8/1 (Each-Way)
