Horse racing betting tips: Movie Legend looks ready to whip up a storm
THERE is nothing anyone can do about the weather, but the continued lack of rain is proving to be a huge headache for most trainers.
Just as the heavens open and the ground starts to soften, a prolonged period of dry weather follows and we’re back to good ground with only a couple of weeks left in November.
There are plenty of small fields this afternoon at Cheltenham, but that doesn’t necessarily make the winners easier to find.
Lucy Wadham has only entered the Prestbury Park winners’ enclosure three times during her career, but I’m hoping she can make if four with MOVIE LEGEND in the two mile handicap chase (1.50pm).
The eight-year-old was very well supported when registering his first win over hurdles at Fakenham last month following a wind operation.
He’s been much more successful over fences, finishing in the first two in six of his 12 starts over the larger obstacles.
This time last year he picked up two wins at Fakenham and Wetherby before his form started to drop off in the spring.
The wind op certainly seemed to do the trick last time and with Wadham’s horses in rude health, this son of Midnight Legend is fancied to go very close at 6/1 with Coral.
Last year’s winner Doitforthevillage is respected, although he hasn’t had a prep run, while Bun Doran ran very well on his reappearance last season and is a big threat.
The 2m4f novices’ chase (2.25pm) features a small yet select field of seven runners.
Nicky Henderson is double-handed and I prefer the claims of MR WHIPPED over stablemate Jenkins.
A Grade Two winner over hurdles last season, this Irish point-to-point winner has always given the impression that fences will be the making of him.
He was disappointing when last seen in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, but that is a very tough race and Henderson has some strong novice chasers to go to war with this campaign.
The yard won this contest two years ago with O O Seven, so let’s hope Mr Whipped can get the job done at 11/4 with Coral.
It’s a very competitive contest, though, which is reflected in the market with five of the other six runners all priced around the 11/2 mark.
Colin Tizzard has been in flying form this week and perhaps the biggest danger could be his White Moon, who won his first two starts for the yard last term and has had a wind op this summer.
The 2m½f novices’ handicap hurdle (1.15pm) is the only race of the day with a big field, with 20 runners set to go to post.
Like with any big Cheltenham handicap, this is a complex puzzle to solve, but if there is one horse that could be thrown in at the weights it’s Philip Hobbs’ DOSTAL PHIL.
Making just his second start in this country at Uttoxeter last month, having won a conditions race at Deauville on debut in October 2016, he was hugely eye catching having pulled hard early on.
That was his first run after having his wind done and Hobbs now reaches for a hood which will help him to settle, as will the big field.
This race looks to be the plan and I’d be very surprised if a mark of 120 is the ceiling of his ability. Take the 5/2.
POINTERS
Dostal Phil 1.15pm Cheltenham
Movie Legend 1.50pm Cheltenham
Mr Whipped 2.25pm Cheltenham