The Wine Tipster: “Count Meribel is primed to run a big race”

WE are racing at Cheltenham! I was at Prestbury on Friday when Simon Claisse gave the go ahead for today’s eight race card. A great job by the team at Cheltenham. There is a cracking eight-race competitive Saturday card, with a seven-race card to look forward to on Sunday, including the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle.

 

1.15 Cheltenham Novice Chase 3m½f

Poker Play for David Pipe has plenty on at the weights (and penalty) but impressed with his jumping when winning at Ffos Las and might get an easyish lead here. Loves the mud and if getting in a rhythm, might be hard to peg back. 

Unibet win 7/2

 

2.25 Cheltenham Gold Cup Handicap Chase 2m 4f

In a very competitive Gold Cup Handicap Chase Count Meribel can follow up on a strong seasonal debut at Carlisle when second behind the very smart Lostintranslation.

This seven-year-old finished midfield in the RSA Chase at a big price, having shown his liking for the course when winning here last year. It is easy to see him stepping up here.

Unibet each way 8/1

 

Guitar Pete has to be worth an each way punt, as this very talented performer has a good Cheltenham record, including when third in this contest last year. He really impressed at Wetherby when beating Happy Diva on seasonal debut after a 321-day break. If there is no bounce factor here, he will be right in the mix.

Unibet each way 14/1

 

3.00 Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle 3m

Tobefair is one of my favourite horses in training and it was great to see him win here at the October meeting in heavy going. Debra Hamer’s yard is flying too with 2-2 at Hereford on Monday. With so many of these coming back off long absences and having a lot to prove on the ground Tobefair has a good chance here, even with an extra 5lb on his back.

Unibet win 4/1

 

Sunday

1.15 Cheltenham Cross-Country Chase 3m 6f

Urgent De Gregaine ridden by Emmanuel Clayeux has run four times over the cross- country course, being placed on all occasions and winning in 2017. Therefore, he is hard to knock here, given he’s been there done that and got the t-shirt, proven over C&D and in the ground and he is the one to beat.

Unibet win 4/1

 

3.00 Cheltenham Unibet Greatwood Hurdle 2m½f

This is a contest that four and five-year-olds have dominated and this four-year-old Quel Destin (nap) for the Paul Nichols team certainly has more than a bit of quality about him, handled the heavy ground very well when winning here at the last meeting, race fit and probably more to come. The faster they go the better so he can challenge late.

Unibet each way 17/2