Cheltenham 2018 Day 1: The Handicaps

So, the declarations for Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival are in and it was bad news for a couple of my selections. Neither Buywise or Brelade were declared so I had to go back to the drawing board. Luckily enough, both were non-runner no bet at the time I put them up so at least we get our stakes back. and I have picked out a couple of alternative selections for both races.

Minella Daddy won't mind the ground at Cheltenham.

Ultima Chase

If the weather forecast is to be believed then conditions are going to be extremely testing on Tuesday. An ability to handle heavy ground will be key, and one horse that should have no issues on the surface is the Peter Bowen trained Minella Daddy. He bumped into Regal Encore on a rare going day last time out at Ascot and off just 2lb higher he remains a well handicapped horse.

This lightly raced 8yo son of Flemensfirth has won two of his seven starts over fences and been runner up on another three of those starts. He has placed form on heavy in a Novice Hurdle behind Final Nudge and he has won on soft ground. He stayed on again in the closing stages after being headed last time and when you consider it was only his 2nd run back after a long break he could strip fitter now. He has placed form off 142 so he looks decently handicapped and at odds of 20/1 he could run a big race.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: MINELLA DADDY E/W 20/1

The form of Report To Base's 2nd at Cheltenham has been franked.

Close Brothers Novices’ Chase


I really fancied Brelade for this race but Gordon Elliott has other plans for him. After looking at the race again my eye was drawn to another Welsh horse, this time Report To Base for Evan Williams and The Ruckers. This stoutly bred son of Westerner will absolutely relish conditions and he is of interest on his excellent 2nd here in a Listed Hurdle behind Coo Star Sivola in January 2017, a horse he was conceding 6lb to. That horse is vying for favouritism in the Ultima off a mark of 142, yet Report To Base can be backed at 20/1 for this contest off 139.

Subsequent Grade 1 winners Poetic Rhythm and Pingshou were back in 3rd and 4th that day at Cheltenham, so it has turned out to be a really strong piece of form. Report To Base has hacked up on his last two starts in small fields at Hereford and Exeter, though he was disqualified at the latter track due to Adam Wedge missing a fence. Report To Base will love heavy ground, he looks potentially extremely well handicapped off 139 and at odds of 20/1 he should be backed each way.


STEVOS’ SELECTION: REPORT TO BASE E/W @ 20/1