Normally swerve Irish horses in these handicaps as they are generally murdered by the English handicapper but for tomorrow I make an exception.
The last race at Cheltenham tomorrow is a competitive handicap chase yet lurking there is a horse I called this years Alderwood some time back,Ned Buntline.
Here we have a real JP job horse,he has only been busy when the money was down. I don't like his sire Refuse To Bend but his form is easy enough to read,he famously split Jezki and Silver Concorde on his racecourse debut,three monster punts on him interspersed with some dopey enough races,looks a long term plot to me,certainly a tame run behind Mallowney last time when he was notoriously weak in the market.
Another Irish horse I have highlighted here is Arctic Fire,he has hated the soft ground here and will love the drying ground,his Fairyhouse run behind The Tullow Tank is top form,when you consider he was patently hating the ground that day makes him a 150 rated horse to me.I accept you need luck in running in the County but this lad has plenty in hand.
I am breaking one of my golden rules here but feel at the prices it is worth it.
I'm going to take an each way punt on Arctic Fire's stablemate Diakali at 40S on here. The form of his Hatton Grace run just behind Jezki is just too good to ignore.
I'm going to take an each way punt on Arctic Fire's stablemate Diakali at 40S on here. The form of his Hatton Grace run just behind Jezki is just too good to ignore.
Ned Buntline has a decent racing weight and if his jumping holds up I can see him going to the last on the bridle. I have felt he either doesnt stay 2 miles or is a soft horse but given the decent ground I will be a backer today.
Ned Buntline has a decent racing weight and if his jumping holds up I can see him going to the last on the bridle. I have felt he either doesnt stay 2 miles or is a soft horse but given the decent ground I will be a backer today.