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Remind me next time

Although all eyes will be on the first day of the Open meeting at Cheltenham, I have to say I only like the look of one race at the Prestbury Park track. All my other bets come from the ‘away’ cards at Lingfield (a/w flat), Newcastle and the floodlit meeting at Wolverhampton – PJ.

Lingfield Tips –

2.40 – Lingfield – Welease Bwian has claims off this mark on some early season performances and there are some in form sand horses here as well with Varsovian and Pour Le Victoire the pick of that brigade.

However, this represents a real chance for SUMMERINTHECITY to come good after running in some red hot handicaps through the 2013 turf season off marks in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

He was subsequently off the track for six months before running behind Aetna and company in May off 90, but the fact he went off as low as 16/1 in that 20 runner field suggests to me that connections feel he retains most of his ability.

Set to run off just 73 here, the seven-year-old has only run at the track the once when he won a class three handicap off 85 under Ryan Moore, but that was some time ago. Richard Fahey continues to turn over the winners and I am taking a chance that the selection is ready to do himself justice at the main expense of the three-year-old MOIETY (worth a saver) and course and distance winner and well handicapped Temple Road.

BET NOW – SUMMERINTHECITY

BET NOW – MOIETY

Cheltenham Tips –

1.15 – Cheltenham – As I said I think this first day of the Open meeting looks tough for punters, but in this opening amateur riders event last year’s hero HANDY ANDY looks sure to go close if the rains stay away.

The eight-year-old is 6lbs higher this season, but comes here off the back of a fair pipe-opener at Chepstow when four lengths off Victors Serenade over the three mile trip there. The big factor in his favour is that the Colin Tizzard charge has a cracking record at the track and that is a huge advantage.

Ballyoliver has a superb strike rate having won six from 24 over fences in his career to date and the 10-year-old was very fluent when beating Global Power by a full seven lengths last time out.

He has to contend with a career high mark of 134, but is still preferred to the likes of Benbens and the disappointing Broadway Buffalo.

BET NOW – HANDY ANDY (e/w)

Wolverhampton Tips –

5.30 – Wolverhampton – I am going to go for one of the most frustrating low grade sprinters on the sand in the form of YOUR GIFTED who needs everything to go his way, but is quite capable of winning this 13-runner affair off a mark of just 52 less Alistair Rawlinson’s five pound claim. He merely needs a run through the pack in the closing stages to play a major part in this event and it is hard to see the seven-year-old being out of the frame.

Still, he doesn’t win as often as he should and that means there are several major players against him in a field of non-winners. There will certainly be no hanging around with the likes of Incomparable and Spic ‘n Span lining up and that will suit the selection and probably Minty Jones. The last named has run two sound races on the turf at Catterick and Nottingham and none will be finding their feet late on as strongly as this entire.

BET NOW – YOUR GIFTED (e/w)

7.00 – Wolverhampton – It could be that my heart is ruling my head somewhat here, but I think that MIA’S BOY has finally been dropped to a  winning mark of 80, the evidence coming in his fast finishing fourth behind Toga Tiger last month.

Again the set-up of this race looks very much in his favour and the 10-year-old is taken to outstay his rivals, chief amongst them being Art Scholar and Sbrasse. The last named was unlucky not to double up last time out when he wasn’t suited by the run of the race when just finishing ahead of the selection and he could be worth including in a forecast with the old boy.

BET NOW – MIA’S BOY