Cheltenham Saturday Preview - 27/10/2018

The opening race is the “Matchbook Betting Exchange” Handicap Chase. A huge field goes to post but it looks like current favourite SINGLEFARMPAYMENT is the horse to be on.

The eight-year-old gelding trained by Tom George like many of these is having his first run of the season. However, his last run at Cheltenham back in April in a similar race to this was solid form.

Under the hands of Richard Johnson he went down by a short-head and this race looks weaker. His mark looks fair and he can confirm favouritism here.

The exciting Redicean can win the Masterson Holdings Hurdle with something to spare.

The Alan King trained four-year-old finished last season in magnificent form, winning three strong races before just coming up short in JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham

The horse has proven to like most grounds and whilst he is unsurprisingly running off a career high mark the manner of his victories indicate he has plenty more to come. Could well be the first of many victories for the horse this season.

The Randox Health Handicap Chase is another open affair but PENNY JANE can prevail. Like most of the field the mare has already appeared this season.

Both of those runs over in Ireland were victories and Gordon Elliot has a horse in fine form. Those victories came after over a year off and there is every reason to think there is more to come from the horse.

If there is she is extremely well weighted and will be tough to beat.

David Pipe’s MOON RACER looks well priced in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle if good to go on his first run of the season.

The nine-year-old gelding was last seen winning a Class 2 at Ayr in April and previously to that had regularly been contesting Graded contests.

He in fact won a Grade 2 as a seven-year-old and would expect to be involved amongst this kind of company. Ground not an issue.

The Randox Health Novices Hurdle looks a good opportunity for Irish raider DINONS to complete a five timer.

The horse is top-weight but understandably so. The five-year-old has been in imperious form since August and his last two outings, both in Britain, have seen him win by a total of 46 lengths.

Is upped in class but this race looks in no way beyond him and he can continue his upward curve for Gordon Elliott and make it 5-6 over hurdles, the only blemish being when falling in July.

We fancy another top-weight in the Mover Over To Matchbook Novices Chase. The race over 2m3f see’s fourteen runners go to post and MONBEG LEGEND can be the first of them home.

The horse is extremely consistent and did not finish outside of the first two in his five runs over the summer and early Autumn.

His last outing was in a higher grade than this when he finished second in Listed Company just a fortnight ago and Nico De Boinville will sit confident aboard the Nicky Henderson trained eight-year-old.

The final race of the day is the Jockey Club Ownership Syndicate Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

It is difficult to ascertain the level of form of most of the entrants however MASTER DEBONAIR looked a horse of massive potential on debut. The horse out of Yeats won readily by six lengths on his at Sedgefield in May.

That was over todays trip and whilst he hasn’t had a run since neither have most of the field. Paul Nicholls Enrilo is likely chief threat.

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