There are just six days left until ‘Cheltmas 2021’ and MansionBet are getting in the mood for the Cheltenham Festival with a day of sponsored races at Fontwell Park on Wednesday.
Join us for all the action with a seven-race card from 12.30pm-3.32pm and remember you can watch every UK and Irish race via live streaming when logged into MansionBet.
Our tipster has analysis and selections for Wednesday’s Fontwell card.
12.30 – MansionBet Faller Insurance Novices’ Hurdle (2m5½f)
The Fontwell opener pits together once-raced impressive hurdles winner Little Awkward and the more experienced but now ‘nearly-horse’ VALLERES. Oliver Sherwood’s bumper winner could not have been more impressive in scoring the Plumpton in December, though the form is not the strongest. Valleres, second to smart sorts Threeunderthrufive, Star Gate and Gladiateur Allen since a winning start of his own at Wetherby in October, should appreciate this drying ground and can score for an in-form Alan King yard (27 per-cent strike-rate lately).
Selection: Valleres – 4/7
1.00 – MansionBet 6 Days ‘Til Cheltmas Handicap Chase (2m1½f)
Episode continues to knock on the door and should be on the premises again for Gary and Jamie Moore with this drop in trip favourable, while Hab Sab was perhaps guilty of doing too much too soon when last over jumps at Plumpton. They are both considered, but HOLD ME TIGHT has toiled with the notion of winning a race over fences and Polly Gundry’s maiden ought to be suited by the forecast decent ground. His turn may be looming.
Selection: Hold Me Tight – 5/1
1.30 – MansionBet All I Want For Cheltmas Handicap Hurdle (2m3f)
Mount Windsor is a threat to all, despite being 8lb higher than when he completed his hat-trick at Taunton in December. He made the running there and is capable of going well off a short break. This new mark does though demand more. Nordic Combined is sliding down the ratings and worth a look but the same is true of ZAFAR. He didn’t match market expectations in a jumpers’ bumper last time but the best of his hurdles form certainly gives him claims and former champion jockey Richard Johnson has proved very profitable around here in the last five years, with a £24.63 return to level stakes.
Selection: Zafar – 5/1
2.00 – MansionBet Bet 10 Get 20 Handicap Chase (2m3½f)
Both Definite Dilemma and Finnegan’s Garden come into this off the back of excellent efforts and they are shortlisted, but a chance is afforded to NEIL THE LEGEND on his second start back with Katharine Davis. He won at Uttoxeter in December (2m6½f, soft) in one of three starts for Nicky Henderson and remains a lightly-raced seven-year-old. He didn’t quite get home over 3m on heavy ground at Bangor on his last start for Seven Barrows in January, but has enjoyed a spin in a jumpers’ bumper since and could still have more to offer in this sphere with his rider taking a handy 7lb off.
Selection: Neil The Legend – 12/1
2.32 – MansionBet MerryCheltmas Maiden Hurdle (2m1½f)
Truckers Pass sets the standard on his Ffos Las second from the autumn but he was a beaten short-price favourite at Doncaster in December. Scarpia ran well in an all-weather bumper last month but will need to improve on his previous hurdles efforts to land this and so preference is for SANDY BROOK. He landed a Hereford bumper three weeks ago and may well have been found a nice opening for his jumping introduction by trainer Chris Gordon.
Selection: Sandy Brook – 5/2
3.02 – MansionBet At Fontwell Park Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase (3m2f)
Kapga De Lily saw her winning sequence over fences halted at four when a jumping error robbed her momentum at Leicester (2m4f, heavy) last month. She’s back up in trip here and can bounce back no doubt but ROSE OF AGHABOE might have her measure. Nick Gifford’s mare still has some work to do with her own fencing, but she has won 2-3 starts thus far in this sphere and was never stronger than at the winning line over 3m (soft) at Warwick last time. Her stamina may win the day.
Selection: Rose Of Aghaboe – 11/8
3.32 – MansionBet Cheltmas Countdown Handicap Hurdle (2m3f)
A tough finale. Spirit Of Rom should find this easier than the Taunton race she contested last time and can go well, while Ermyn’s Emerald could have a squeak based on his second at Huntingdon in November. He wasn’t as good next start but the market is perhaps overlooking him back from a mid-winter break. Darkest Day is on the shortlist but at the early prices maybe JUST HENNY is the one. It’s been a colourful season for her to this point but she has C&D form and was still going along nicely when he came down here last month. If avoiding accidents, she can go close.
Selection: Just Henny – 17/2
*All odds correct at time of writing.
