Who To Follow At Cheltenham On Saturday - 22/10/22

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

Cheltenham - October 21 2022
Cheltenham 13:40
2
Jack Kennedy

Pied Piper

J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 11-8
OR: 145
Days: 198

One of the big races of the afternoon is the Masterson Holdings Hurdle for 4 year olds and we are siding with the Gordon Elliott trained Pied Piper to reverse the form with Knight Salute.

Having been a fair horse on the flat for John Gosden, really coming across as a mud loving animal producing his best work in tricky conditions, he also did the same on stable/hurdles debut at Punchestown for Gordon Elliott.

Taking on the smart type Vauban for Willie Mullins, he handled the heavy ground well to see him off by a length and that horse has turned into a Grade One winning superstar.

Facing a different test at Cheltenham in January when running in a Grade Two event on good ground, he went on to shock many by bolting up by nine lengths, hard held under a great ride by Davy Russell.

Seen next back at Cheltenham for the festival he finished a narrow third behind stablemate Fil Dor and winner Vauban who reversed the form.

His last run of last term came at Aintree's Grand National meeting when losing the Grade One 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle in the Stewards Room to Knight Salute.

Given a spin on the flat at Royal Ascot when running a good race over 2m4f in the Ascot Stakes to finish sixth behind the talented Coltrane, he should be fit and ready for this.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
17/03/23CHL17Sft11-132
05/02/23LEO16Y11-124
29/12/22LEO16Sft11-125
04/11/22DRO17Y/Sft11-101
22/10/22CHL16.5Gd11-81

Trainer To Follow - Fergal O'Brien

Fergal O'Brien is sending a strong team to Cheltenham across both days, but possibly his best comes on Saturday with some strong chances.

His first runner of the afternoon comes in the opener with No No Maestro looking to make it back to back wins having landed a race in July at Worcester.

Captain Cattistock is a thorough stayer that will love the 3m1f distance and having won his last two events, last time out at Prestbury Park.

O'Brien sends a few runners into the Pertemps qualifier with Ted's Friend, Silver Sheen and Ask Dillon all holding each way chances.

Other runners for the yard that could go well is Art Approval in the Novices' Chase and Dreaming Diamond, Mamoon Star and School Days Are over in the bumper.

The handler goes into the Cheltenham meeting sporting a 21% strike rate for the last two weeks, managing to land six winners from his last 28 rides.

Jockey To Follow - Adrian Heskin

Leading rider Adrian Heskin has a handful of nice rides at Prestbury Park on Saturday starting in the opening event of the afternoon with Shearer for Paul Nicholls looking to make it back to back wins.

In the 3m1f Handicap Chase he rides The Wolf who is a horse that holds big potential but is yet to fully show it and hopefully the latest wind operation sparks him into life.

In the final event of the day Heskin rides Strong Leader for Olly Murphy who was exceptional on debut and should build on that run in this better field.

Heskin heads into the meeting in fine form currently running at a strike rate of 50% for the last two weeks with two wins from four rides.