Orders set to boss it
JOSIES ORDERS can make it four wins out of four over the unique cross country fences at Cheltenham with a victory in today’s Glenfarclas Chase
Enda Bolger’s runner only maintained his unbeaten record thanks to the BHA after the original winner of the cross country chase at the Festival in 2016, Any Currency, was stripped of first prize five months later when judgment was passed on his dope test which revealed a prohibited substance.
Nonetheless, Josies Orders (3.05) had run a great race over the fences to be beaten just a length.
His preparation for the Festival in March appears to be going nicely as he was beaten by just a nose in a head-bobbing finish to a prestigious ‘banks’ race at Punchestown last month.
When Harry Fry’s likely favourite Wotzizname (2.30) was beaten at odds-on on his return at Exeter it was by a runner, Coastal Tiep, saddled by his former boss Paul Nicholls. It is Nicholls who provides the main danger this afternoon in Southfield Theatre but while the latter is probably on the slide, Wotzizname is very much on the up as his recent novices’ handicap chase victory over Another Venture suggests.
Cheltenham presents quite a tricky card and the best bets of the day may be found elsewhere, with triple bumper winner Waterlord (1.45, nb) tipped to do the business at Bangor, while Chelmsford fancy Urban Soul (6.15, nap) can gain his first win after running so well as a 40-1 no-hoper at Wolverhampton.