Nick Luck
Cheltenham Tips: Gidleigh Park tipped to topple Jonbon in the Shloer
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck is on hand with his best bets on day one of the November Meeting at Cheltenham, featuring the Shloer Chase.
BILL JOYCE is the selection in the 1.45pm at Cheltenham with Derryhassen Paddy now out the race. He looks pretty overpriced judging by his promising comeback run in a better race than this at Worcester – and that was over a relatively inadequate distance.
This test of stamina should suit much better, and he’s clearly got quite a bit of his old ability left in him – if he’s able to build on that encouraging comeback run, he’ll be right in the mix here.
In the Shloer Chase (2.20pm) GIDLEIGH PARK looks a strong possibility to floor Jonbon’s hattrick bid. I bow to no one in my admiration for the favourite and it may well be that Harry Cobden gets an excellent tune out of him, but he fundamentally dislikes the Cheltenham track.
Meanwhile, Gidleigh Park is a horse that is blessed with an awful lot of speed, and I think riding him boldly over two miles is the way forward. I think it’s a possibility that at this point in Jonbon’s life, he could get caught on the backfoot by a horse who can go quite fast and keep up the gallop.
It is not impossible that TRIPLE TRADE can follow up on his Market Rasen win in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2.55pm). he’s not a horse that you’d expect to string two wins together, but the stable is in irresistible form and Triple Trade comes into this race in really good heart.
They’ll go an honest gallop here given the certainty of Glengouly, and I don’t think Mahons Glory will be too far away either. Those conditions ought to suit the selection, who’s record at this track is pretty good, particularly at this meeting.
FEROCIMO might be able to win the Novice Hurdle at 3.30pm. He looked a horse with a bit of pace, judged by the way he travelled at Fontwell when he drew well clear of a horse who’d shown reasonable form.
With a small step up from that, he is surely going to be involved here. One or two of these look-like genuine stayers for the future, particularly Woodstock Octo, who was very impressive last time out, but I think the selection is likely to have a bit too much speed for the rest.
