15th March 2017

Hi ,

Well it was a great start to the Cheltenham Festival with 3 winners on the opening day for Gordon Elliott but a blank for top Irish trainer and jockey combination Willie Mullins and Rubie Walsh but don’t worry I’m sure they will put that right before long.

It was great to see young 17 year old Jack Kennedy win the opener on Labaik as the flying grey flew up the hill to take the spoils at 25/1. I’m sure this is a lad that we will be hearing a lot more about in the future although over in Ireland he is already a household name.

In actual fact since Barry Geraghty had his injury he has been doing a weekly blog on the A.T.R. website and if you read yesterdays he put in a very good word for Labaik so you could have been on the right side of a big priced winner.

It’s another exciting days racing on day two of the meeting however a quick word of advice is there is life before, during and after Cheltenham as a winner at the big meeting doesn’t pay out anymore than a winner at one of the gaff tracks.

As for example Fold4Gold advised its clients by tipping up Crosse Fire at Southwell who obliged at a nice 10/1 rather than concentrating on Cheltenham and putting all your eggs in one basket. Mind you we did advise Buywise who was placed at a tasty 40/1.

Now my main bets today are at Southwell and Newcastle but for Howies Hottie I’m playing in Cheltenhams Coral Cup at 2.50 a handicap hurdle with a multitude of runners. The tip is Leoncavallo from Ben Pauling's yard who will be ridden by 7lb claimer Alex Ferguson who is no relation to the ex Man Utd manager but is the son of Sheik Mohammed's racing advisor John Ferguson.

The gelding hasn’t shown his best form on his last couple of runs but I have a feeling the step up in trip off a lenient mark could bring about improvement and at a massive each way price we will have some excitement and value.

HOT HANDICAPPERS

ARTIFICIAL SURFACES

Make Music trainer A.Balding - A fine winner at Lingfield this filly is still improving.

Icebuster trainer R.Millman - The gelding is knocking on the door and should soon hit the target.

Make or Madam trainer L.Eyre - Has dropped in the handicap to a competitive mark.

Top Notch Tonto trainer B.Elison - Ran down the field in the Lincoln trial but come the big day on rain softened ground could be a different proposition.

Emell trainer R,Hannon - Also ran in the Lincoln trial and could be one to look out for this turf season.

Back next Wednesday be lucky.

Howard Davis-Shaw.

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