Well, what a week that was! Cheltenham is now done and
dusted, and it didn’t disappoint. I found things tough after Buvuer D’Air’s
thrilling win in the Champion, and Day 2 and Day 3 were a real struggle. I
expected as much to be honest, as they are the two most difficult days and it
didn’t help that the Mullins’ horses roared back to form.
However, despite a shaky start we finished strongly on Friday,
and we ended up with no less than 3 winners and a place at odds of 9/1, 20/1,
25/1 and 8/1 respectively. I can’t complain too much about Croco Bay and he did
us proud with a brave effort from the front, just missing out on the money in 5th.
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| The good doctor is a shrewd trainer. |
Tomorrow I like the look of one in the Silver Cup at
Kempton, and Duke Street could gain some compensation after just missing out on
getting a run in the Pertemps. He races off a mark of 135, and he looked in
fine fettle when winning his Cheltenham prep run on the all weather at Chelmsford.
He has also run well here before over timber, finishing a good second over
course and distance off 133 back in November.
His sole win over timber came at Newbury in a class 2
handicap on good ground (19f) last April off 125, and he showed he could be competitive
off his revised mark of 137 when a decent 6th behind Wolf Of Windlesham at
Sandown over an inadequate trip. He ran poorly on his seasonal reappearance at
Aintree, but he was much better on his last two hurdle starts in November.
He was a good second to a big improver here off 133 (21f
good) and he bumped into another good one in Oscar Rock on his next start at
Market Rasen, beaten just a length in second, again off 133. He was sent off on
a mid winter break and he returned with a narrow victory in a 16f flat handicap
at Chelmsford off 83. I think there is more to come from this 5yo son of Duke
Of Marmalade, and he is worth supporting each way at 14/1 with trip, track and
ground all sure to suit.
STEVOS’ SELECTION:
14.40 KEMPTON-DUKE STREET E/W @ 14/1 SKYBET
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