Herbie Could Make Hay For Gardner At Cheltenham

A couple of national hunt trainers look to have hit the ground running and the likes of Nigel Twiston Davies and especially Dan Skelton are two that have been amongst the winners. Skelton has three at Cheltenham today, and it is difficult to see him finishing without a winner. For me Fou Et Sage looks a very interesting runner at odds of 7/1. He is already a listed winner/grade 3 placed and is a fascinating contender for his in form yard.

However, my selection for the meeting goes in the 2m5f handicap at 5.05 and I reckon Here's Herbie could be set for a big run off a feather weight. Sue Gardner does exceptionally well with her small string, especially at her home track Exeter. Sea Saffron was a standing dish around there before his well earned retirement, winning numerous races for talented conditional jockey Matt Griffiths and running a number of crackers in defeat too.

Here's Herbie represents the same connections, and will be ridden by Lucy Gardner, who steered him to victory twice at Exeter (both 18f) back in Spring 2014. He found things difficult off his revised mark after the handicapper took action, raising him to 122. However, he ran a very encouraging race off his new mark at Cheltenham after his 2nd win. That effort came over 3m and he was beaten just over 8L, holding every chance at the last and fading only in the closing stages.

He made his reappearance last year over course and distance, again off 122, and ran another big race, finishing 5th. He again travelled well and looked to just run out of steam in the closing stages. This year he has had a prep run over an inadequate 2m at Warwick, and after a couple of disappointing efforts at the tail end of last season he has been dropped to what looks a very reasonable mark of 115, just 1lb higher than he was for the 2nd of his Exeter wins. He will be fit, his yard had one go close during the week, and at odds of 20/1 he looks well worthy of a little each way support.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 5.05 CHELTENHAM: HERE'S HERBIE 20/1 E/W