3 to follow from October 2023
Hi there,
We start a new series of monthly posts highlighting three horses from the previous month, whose performance merits keeping an eye on them. If you add them to your tracker (there are various free ones on the Sporting Life, Racing Post, Attheraces etc.), you should build up a nice portfolio of horses to follow, the trick for you is deciding when conditions are in their favour!
Best wishes
the team at Cleeve
Carlisle 16:30 Thursday 26 October 2023 - Daily Charged up Offers at Rhino Bet Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
Selections:
Race Analysis:
On the face of it, this does not look the strongest form but there are good reasons to think that Fenland Tiger can go on to better things. He is still fairly lightly raced for a 7-y-o having had just the 10 runs over 3 seasons.
Since being stepped up in trip he is 4 wins from 5 runs and as he doesn’t win by much the handicapper hasn’t unduly punished him, raising him from 89 to 103, and he can’t really put him up more than a couple of pounds for this.
Considering it was his first chase he jumped like an old hand, and was very economical at his fences. Held up, he travelled noticeably strongly (without pulling) and looked the most likely winner from a long was out. He obviously needs a fair amount of cut, but he hasn’t run on really heavy ground.
I am sure he is capable of better still and he is one to keep a close eye on… especially if connections don’t aim to high!
Chepstow 17:22 Saturday 14 October 2023 - Unibet Open National Hunt Flat (class 4)
Selections:
Race Analysis:
Kap Boy was well found in the betting here for his powerful connections, but he looked beaten several times in the straight and although he went off at a shades of odds on, he traded at a high of 7/1 in running!
Paul Nicholls tends to target this race with his better prospects, and this expensive buy out of Kap Garde is well-bred and related to several winners. In fact he nearly made into our jump ten to follow but was dropped at the final stage due to not having run.
He travelled strongly in the race and showed plenty of battling qualities when asked (quite vigorously for a debutant) by jockey Harry Cobden. The fact that he beat a more experienced rival, and they in turn pulled 20 lengths clear of the 3rd is not to be downplayed. Added to this he showed plenty of signs of greenness, so is sure to come on for the race, albeit he may be given a little break. He may well be raised in class and will be penalised for this, but could well handle it as there looks plenty more to come.
Cheltenham 17:05 Friday 27 October 2023 - Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Handicap Hurdle (class 3)
Selections:
Race Analysis:
Rambo T may not be missed by the handicapper for not winning this race, but he could be worth following in slightly less competitive company back on the west country circuit.
He travelled well through the majority of this race and jumped well. Jockey Sean Bowen seemed at pains to keep him to the rear and rode him quite wide, given the two that finished in front of him were ridden prominently, his finishing position can be marked up a bit. He was also bumped at the last two, the first bump caused him to skew a bit and he came straight off the bridle, at the last flight the gap he was going for closed and cost him a bit of ground and momentum. Although he was nearest at the finish he wasn’t going to catch the winner!
He seems to be held in some regard by Olly Murphy, but does look like he needs a break between his races, so this might have come a bit soon. Keep an eye on him though, in a smaller less competitive field, with a decent break on half decent ground, he could be very competitive.