Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Fugitif to lay down the law At Cheltenham
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Friday’s action from the December Meeting at Cheltenham.
IBERICO LORD is an admittedly rather chancy selection in the TV opener at Cheltenham today (1.15). He’s not set the world alight for a while, but ran perfectly nicely in the Greatwood, when he was never really in the meat of the race. The handicapper had afforded him another drop in class, and – under conditions that suit and with a run under his belt – it will be pretty disappointing if he can’t make some sort of impact.
KING TURGEON is taken to back up last years win in the feature chase (1.50). He looked quite promising that day, hasn’t really built on it, but looked like he was coming back a fair bit at Aintree last time, suggesting the breathing operation had worked. He receives a chunk of weight from L’Homme Presse – maybe just enough to make it count.
FUGITIF gets the vote in the Veterans’ race (2.25). He’s on a nice mark now, generally prefers the New Course, and looked to need the run quite badly on his comeback run. He can reverse form with Eldorado Allen with the handicapper showing a fair bit of mercy.
LATENIGHTPASS looks a massive price in the Cross Country (3.00). He still adores it round here, and showed plenty of zest before fitness told over conventional fences here last time. He’s come down a pound or two since his excellent run over these fences at the Festival.
EVERYONESGAME is surely worth a small each way interest at a massive price in the last (3.35). This is a good bit tougher than the race he won at Kempton, but that was no fluke, as he quickened up smartly off a muddling pace, and there’s every chance his new stable has sweetened him up. If that’s the case, there could be more to come, as he’s nearly a stone lower than his highest winning mark.
