A DATE WITH DESTINY
Gin can be tonic for punters
VIEW FROM THE COUCH
PAUL NICHOLLS has made no secret of the fact he thinks GINNY’S DESTINY (1.30) is his best chance of a winner this week when he rocks up in the Turners Novices’ Chase run over two and a half miles at Cheltenham.
This beast jumps like Dick Fosbury, as he has proven with a trio of victories over course and distance this campaign. With Harry Cobden riding like a man possessed, I expect him to ping out in the lead and ensure his superb fencing makes the difference between winning and losing.
Irish-trained raiders have captured the three-mile Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle seven times in the past eight years, so have a decent each-way wager around the 8-1 mark on GAOTH CHUIL (2.10) with a firm paying five places.
Ted Walsh’s mare boasts form figures of 2122 this winter, and her capable 5lb claimer has ridden her in all her four starts. She looks very well-treated racing off a ledge of 136.
FUGITIF (2.50) has a record of 314222 over fences at Prestbury Park and he looks overpriced at 20-1 to come late and fast and land the Ryanair Chase run over two miles and five furlongs.
Sean Bowen is back in the plate for the first time since they teamed up to finish second in the Plate at last season’s festival, and that can only aid his cause. Back him each-way.
No horse will be galloping up the stiff hill faster than Grand National hero NOBLE YEATS (3.30), so back him each-way around the 7-1 mark in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle run over three miles.
Emmet Mullins’ mudlark came with a late rattle to snare the Cleeve Hurdle over course and distance in January, and the application of cheekpieces for the first time will aid his cause. Richard Bandey’s THEATRE MAN
was an excellent second to
Ginny’s Destiny off a perch of 134 over course and distance in January and the form has been franked with the fourth and sixth subsequently winning.
Nudged up to a higher rating of 137, the novice remains a very well-treated beast. With Harry Cobden taking over in the saddle, get stuck in each-way around the 5-1 perch in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase run over two and a half miles.
Unbeaten in a bumper in France and a brace of victories over timber at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown, JADE DE GRUGY (4.50) can maintain her 100% record in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle run over two miles.
By Doctor Dino – the same sire as State Man – this lady must carry a 5lb penalty, but Willie Mullins sent out Limini in 2016 and Laurina in 2018 under the impost to oblige, which is an encouraging sign.
Having backed BOWTOGREATNESS (5.30) at Kempton last time out, it looked all over bar the shouting when the horse cruised to the front at the penultimate fence. Your correspondent was not a happy bunny when his run petered out after the last and he had to settle for third place.
Ben Pauling is convinced his animal blew-up as he is a very hard creature to get fit, and the eight-year-old will be spot-on for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase run over three and a quarter miles.
Racing off the same mark of 133 and ridden by the world’s tallest jockey, the experienced Jack Andrews, Bowtogreatness must be backed each-way around the 14-1 mark.