Evening all, would be interested in people's thoughts on the big handicap at Cheltenham tomorrow. In current betting order from Oddschecker (Bet365 prices): Walkon - ran a cracker on seasonal reappearance when chasing home Al Ferof in the Paddy Power. Was weighted to run well there and is raised 5lbs for that run, which was 4 weeks ago. If he is over his exertions then he must go very close here. Unioniste - runs from just outside the handicap and Harry Denham can claim 5. Looks a big ask for a 4YO to take this. Cristal Bonus - looked very impressive in winning at Down Royal but I just have a sneaking suspicion he may be better going right-handed. He also has plenty of weight in this and isn't my idea of the winner - maybe a gallant 5th. Notus de la Tour - interesting to see him so prominent in the betting. Clearly goes well fresh and his novice form with Walkon would give him a major chance here, if he were back to his best. Stable in good nick and sure to be ready for this, but can he pull it all together? Astracad & Nadiya de la Vega would both appreciate better ground and don't look value to me here. Wishfull Thinking - will appreciate course and going and, despite top weight, should go well. May just find one or two too good. Of the bigger priced winner Michael Flips, Tartak and De Boitron could go well. Please don't anyone say that Divers looks on an attractive mark Really struggling to get to grips with this race, at the moment I am tending toward Walkon and Notus de la Tour but would love to hear other views.
Tartak for me, he ran a solid race on reappearance and looked in need of the race, he will be better for that and if he returns to anywhere near his best form he would be thrown in at those weights. He also has touchy on top, which is a positive and I can see him running a massive race. I worry about Walkon and possibly bouncing, and NDLV would be interesting off the same mark she ran well off in the PPGC. The joker in the pack could be NDLT, he could be very well weighted and will be interesting to watch the market vibes
Must of spent an hour trying to unravel this race. The main problem with many of the runners is the heavy ground & for that reason i'll be siding with CRYSTAL BONUS
As long as Walkon is over his exertions of his comeback run i think he wins this. Disappointed that Wishfull Thinking is a NR as he would have had a big chance even carrying top weight as he was the class horse in the race
I have a very simplistic view on this race and admit I have not even bothered to study the form of all the runners. If Dynaste was in the race carrying 10 stone or Fingal Bay with 10.5 I would expect them to win easily. So, despite the age I can't see beyond Unioniste.
