HARRY SKELTON EXCLUSIVE

AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

HARRY SKELTON: Cheltenham Festival – Day Three

We were thrilled with The New Lion’s performance in the Turners to get us off the mark this week, writes HARRY SKELTON.

We’ve been honest all season about how great we think he is and he was so deserving to do it on the biggest stage in racing. Unexpected Party also ran a great race in the Grand Annual, but just couldn’t quite get his head in front at the finish.

We’ve got three running on Wednesday, with two of them winning at the Festival last year. Protektorat is having a go at defending his crown in the Ryanair, with Langer Dan taking his chance in the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle. He’s had a mediocre season so far, but we’re hoping the crowds liven him up a little bit!

Latest Cheltenham ⭐ starsports.bet ⭐ prices!

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 1.20pm

I’ll be siding with Sixandahalf trained by Gavin Cromwell. She’s only had one run over hurdles but absolutely bolted in. She has plenty of experience on the Flat and I think she travelled well last time out and won very easily on her first start over hurdles, she’s the one for me.

Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase 2.00pm

Nurburgring catches my eye in this one, he looks to have been set up for this race quite nicely. He was a winner of the Galway Hurdle and comes here off a mark of 140 with cheekpieces on for the first time. I think he’s been laid out for this race and think he could be well-in off his mark. I give Asian Master a good chance off his mark, too, but I think Nurburgring will get his head in front of the rest.

Pertemps Handicap Hurdle 2.40pm

We run CATCH HIM DERRY who did nothing wrong last time out staying on strongly at Exeter. It was nice to see him getting him back out on track but he comes here nine-pounds higher and will need to step up again. I don’t know how much he’s got left in this mark but if the ground is slow for him on the day on the New Course, he’s got an each-way chance.

Ryanair Chase 3.20pm

We’re very excited to run PROTEKTORAT who’s looked very good at home. He’s back here to have a good go at defending his crown. There’ll be a good pace in the race and hopefully that’ll set things up nicely for me. The track and trip bring out the best in him and we’re hopeful of a good run.

Stayers’ Hurdle 4.00pm

We run LANGER DAN who’s been out of sorts so far this season. This year we’re going into Grade 1 company as opposed to a handicap, but we’re hoping the atmosphere at Cheltenham will just bring him alive again. I don’t think we’re as confident as we were with him last year, we’re more hopeful. He’s got to put a few bad runs behind him and hopefully he can run well in a competitive race.

Plate 4.40pm

I think Jagwar can run a good race here. He’s a bit more unexposed than some of the older horses and looks to be getting the hang of things now. He’s off a nice mark and seems to be going in the right direction.

Kim Muir 5.20pm

I’ll go for Walking On Air who was going to win at Doncaster last time out before just overjumping the last and knuckling over. He looks like he’s in front of the handicapper and off a good mark. If you go back to his hurdling form, he was a very classy horse, and he’s getting the hang of things now over fences, so I think he can go well.

STAR PROMOTIONS

 

SS_DTA_Social_Banner
SS_WeBelieveInBookmaking
previous arrow
next arrow
SHARE VIA

    Most Read