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Starting to look at this race in more depth and there are a few that are interesting.
I'm looking for a horse that races prominently, best RPR over 3m+, has Cheltenham experience (with festival experience a bonus) and has ran well at least once this season.
The one's on my shortlist at the moment are Kiltealy Briggs (33s Bet365 4 places), Definite Plan (25s Bet365 4 places), Full Back (25s Unibet 4 places), Annsam (33s Bet365 4 places) and another that isn't yet listed that I'll wait for entries and NRNB before mentioning.
Annsam has been mentioned already by others so I won't go into detail on him. I can also see the merits in Cloth Cap and his falling handicap mark.
The one I'm most interested in of the above at the moment is Kiltealy Briggs.
Owned by the McNeils (who sponsor the race) and when asked if Escaria Ten will come here, he mentioned KB would most likely be his horse for this.
LTO he came 3rd in the Kauto Star behind Bravemansgame and Ahoy Senor, beaten 17 and a half lengths. He got an RPR of 146 for that run, yet is rated 137 by the handicapper. He wasn't given a hard time in the race and I'd expect a more positive ride at Cheltenham like he has had in his other races.
His best runs have tended to be left handed (record is 2131P9421) yet put up a career best last time right handed. His jumping is also pretty spotless this season.
Over fences he has been running over shorter distances, finishing 9th in the Paddy Power Plate in the 2021 festival off a rating of 139 so he has gone down 2 pounds despite winning a C2 novice chase at Haydock over 2m5.5f in heavy ground this season and running well in a grade 1.
His Haydock run was good - made all, great leap at the last and kept finding more to repel Mint Condition who won next time out.
The form of his Uttoxeter 4th place first time up is also good. Heskin lost his whip toward the end which didn't help in the finish. The first has finished 2nd and then won off a 6 pound higher mark since, the 2nd place has won since off a 2 pound higher mark and the 5th also won next time out.
As a novice hurdler he was seen as a stayer - 2nd in a grade 2 over 3m at Cheltenham, won over 2m6.5 at Kelso and ran in the Albert Bartlett.
I'd like to see a him race again before Cheltenham so he isn't off the track for 3 months and ideally get an entry in the next couple of weeks.
Wore a tongue strap last time so ticks the headgear stat.
8 years old - 7 of last 9 no older than 9.
Second season novice - 10 of last 13 were novices or second season chasers.
33s I feel is a big price for a horse of his profile but I can't see any reason why his odds would reduce over the next couple of weeks so we may get NRNB with PP after the DRF and the 5 places before he is next out and hopefully he will still be 20s to 25s with them.
Definite Plan is interesting as an Elliott horse who won at Cheltenham over course and distance this season but I don't know what the plan is for the horse. One for NRNB as the Irish handicaps are more valuable and could also go to the Kim Muir. He does tick a fair few trends despite being Irish though.
Full Back - I'll wait to see how hard the handicapper hits him tomorrow as he's split 2 150 rated horses at the weekend.
I'm looking for a horse that races prominently, best RPR over 3m+, has Cheltenham experience (with festival experience a bonus) and has ran well at least once this season.
The one's on my shortlist at the moment are Kiltealy Briggs (33s Bet365 4 places), Definite Plan (25s Bet365 4 places), Full Back (25s Unibet 4 places), Annsam (33s Bet365 4 places) and another that isn't yet listed that I'll wait for entries and NRNB before mentioning.
Annsam has been mentioned already by others so I won't go into detail on him. I can also see the merits in Cloth Cap and his falling handicap mark.
The one I'm most interested in of the above at the moment is Kiltealy Briggs.
Owned by the McNeils (who sponsor the race) and when asked if Escaria Ten will come here, he mentioned KB would most likely be his horse for this.
LTO he came 3rd in the Kauto Star behind Bravemansgame and Ahoy Senor, beaten 17 and a half lengths. He got an RPR of 146 for that run, yet is rated 137 by the handicapper. He wasn't given a hard time in the race and I'd expect a more positive ride at Cheltenham like he has had in his other races.
His best runs have tended to be left handed (record is 2131P9421) yet put up a career best last time right handed. His jumping is also pretty spotless this season.
Over fences he has been running over shorter distances, finishing 9th in the Paddy Power Plate in the 2021 festival off a rating of 139 so he has gone down 2 pounds despite winning a C2 novice chase at Haydock over 2m5.5f in heavy ground this season and running well in a grade 1.
His Haydock run was good - made all, great leap at the last and kept finding more to repel Mint Condition who won next time out.
The form of his Uttoxeter 4th place first time up is also good. Heskin lost his whip toward the end which didn't help in the finish. The first has finished 2nd and then won off a 6 pound higher mark since, the 2nd place has won since off a 2 pound higher mark and the 5th also won next time out.
As a novice hurdler he was seen as a stayer - 2nd in a grade 2 over 3m at Cheltenham, won over 2m6.5 at Kelso and ran in the Albert Bartlett.
I'd like to see a him race again before Cheltenham so he isn't off the track for 3 months and ideally get an entry in the next couple of weeks.
Wore a tongue strap last time so ticks the headgear stat.
8 years old - 7 of last 9 no older than 9.
Second season novice - 10 of last 13 were novices or second season chasers.
33s I feel is a big price for a horse of his profile but I can't see any reason why his odds would reduce over the next couple of weeks so we may get NRNB with PP after the DRF and the 5 places before he is next out and hopefully he will still be 20s to 25s with them.
Definite Plan is interesting as an Elliott horse who won at Cheltenham over course and distance this season but I don't know what the plan is for the horse. One for NRNB as the Irish handicaps are more valuable and could also go to the Kim Muir. He does tick a fair few trends despite being Irish though.
Full Back - I'll wait to see how hard the handicapper hits him tomorrow as he's split 2 150 rated horses at the weekend.
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