Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Destiny awaits Ginny’s again at Cheltenham

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews Saturday and Sunday’s action from Cheltenham and Navan.

Cheltenham, Saturday

My first selection on a bumper Saturday of jumps action comes in the Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (1.10 pm) at Cheltenham. I like Nigel Twiston-Davies’ The Newest One. The nine-year-old gained his second win over fences at this course last time at the showcase meeting in October under Toby Cain-Mitchell, he produced a great ride that day and retains the ride here. He’s only been put up five pounds in the handicap for that, which I think is very fair considering how he travelled through the race and how on top he was at the finish.

The Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (1.45 pm) is a fascinating two-mile contest,  and I’ve come down on Lookaway’s side here. L’eau du Sud is a possible pace angle in the race as well as the selection, but I see Lookaway as a more versatile type that can drop in or make the running here if needed, which I think will prove valuable in a race like this. He was a talented hurdler last season who always looked like he’d step up when jumping a fence, and he did so on chase debut. I liked him at Uttoxeter and, whilst he only beat one rival, you can only beat what is in front of you. I think he can step forward again and win the Arkle Trial.

The feature on Saturday’s Cheltenham card is the Paddy Power Handicap Chase (2.20 pm), and I think that it’s brilliant that Protektorat stays in the race. His rating of 167 stretches the handicap out, which keeps the weights nice and low for several nice types, including Paul Nicholls’ Ginny’s Destiny. He carries 11 stone and two pounds here which is a nice racing weight for a horse that is a three-time course and distance winner. He boasts Grade One form, finishing second in the Turners at last year’s Cheltenham Festival before finishing second behind Il Etait Temps at Aintree in April, I think Ginny’s Destiny will outclass them under Harry Cobden in the feature.

The two-miles-and-five-furlong handicap hurdle (3.30 pm) has attracted a fascinating field of unexposed horses, I cannot see past the Tony Martin trained Hamsiyann. He has some very interesting form lines on the flat this year, none more so than when he finished second to stablemate Alphonse Le Grande most recently at Chester, Alphonse Le Grande since came out and won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, the Chester run reads as very strong form now. He’s back over hurdles now and is still a maiden in the sphere, but he ran a very encouraging race at Ascot on handicap debut. To me, this looks a very well-handicapped horse under Daniel King. It’s Hamsiyann for me!

Navan, Saturday

The second race on the Navan card is a handicap hurdle (12.15 pm) over two-miles-and-four-furlongs, I’m keen on In For The Night for Mark Walsh, Desmond McDonogh and JP McManus. He got off the mark at the 12th time of asking last time out at Gowran Park, where he beat Penny Jar. On the face of it, that form doesn’t seem up too much, and he got an eight-pound rise in the handicap for his troubles, but I thought the manner of the victory that day was taking, and I think there is a lot more to come from this horse.

The Fortria Chase (2.33 pm) is one of two Grade Twos on Navan’s Saturday card, and it’s great to see such a strong field assembled for the two-mile contest. I like the reigning Punchestown Champion Chase winner Banbridge, he has gone well fresh in the past so the fact he hasn’t had a recent run isn’t much of a concern and the booking of Paul Townend in the saddle is very eye catching, it’s not often you’d see Townend and Joseph O’Brien team up! The forecast good ground will suit Banbridge, who has the class edge over this field, even though Found A Fifty has got a run in recently, I think Banbridge will take all the beating.

Cheltenham, Sunday

If connections thought Dysart Enos would beat the 150-rated Brighterdaysahead at the Cheltenham Festival in March, then she’s got to have a massive chance in the Greatwood Hurdle (3.30pm) off 131. She’s potentially one of the best handicapped horses in training and it sounds like Fergal O’Brien has her ready for the day. Her inexperience doesn’t concern me as it’s a smaller field than usual, so she’s the one for me.

Calico is only up four lbs for his win over this course-and-distance in October, and I think he’s ready to win again here (2.20pm). I think he has the measure of Matata and I expect to see the Skeltons take this prize with a horse who clearly loves the test in front of him at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Navan, Sunday

The big one at Navan on Sunday is the Troytown Handicap Chase (2.30pm) for which I like Chemical Energy for Gordon Elliott and Carl Millar. Now, Gordon saddles seven of the 20 runners, but I like this runner because he’ll love the drying conditions. He was placed in the Galway Plate and he put in a very good run in the Munster National last time out. I think Chemical Energy is the one to be on of Elliott’s battalion heading to Navan.