Selections for Friday 15th of November 2024
1.10 Cheltenham
1/2 point each way Littlefoot (28/1 William Hill, 5 places or 25/1 Bet365, 5 places)
Littlefoot was a good Bumper horse and was unlucky not to have won at least one instead finishing second in three consecutive Bumpers, two on good to yielding ground. He won a maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe last August and backed that up by finishing third in a handicap Hurdle at the same track. He got outpaced in that before staying on again at the finish and jockey Liam McKenna rode him in both races. If he can keep him in touch until the bottom of the hill he should finish strongly especially if they go hard and in these Conditional jockey races this tends to be the case.
1/2 point each way Clonbury Bridge (28/1 Bet365 or 25/1 William Hill, 5 places)
Philip Dempsey is a shrewd trainer and I find it interesting that he has decided to bring Clonbury Bridge over for this with the talented Charlie O’ Dwyer onboard. He is not an overly big horse who will enjoy this ground and trip. He has a nice racing weight of 11-1. He was second on his last run at Clonmel over 2m 4f on good ground. He got outpaced before the last fence but stayed on again to finish second. He too should be suited by this stiff hill at Cheltenham and may be ridden to pick up the pieces and hopefully hit the frame.
2.55 Cheltenham
1 point each way Sweet David (8/1 Generally, 3 places)
Coflated is the class horse in the field and has the majority of this field running out of the handicap. The French raider Sweet David is 17 lbs out of the weights but he is a young horse who has a good attitude towards these fences where most in here have relatively little experience. His stand out performance in France was finishing seven lengths behind Roi Mage rated 145 off level weights in September. That was on very soft ground but he has won on good ground and this 3m 5 1/2 f should suit him well. At the prices I would prefer his experience than the potential of the other pretenders even if that does mean a career best will be needed.
4.00 Cheltenham
1 point each way Balhamber (4/1 Skybet/ Paddy power/ William Hill/ Boylesports, 5 places)
Balhamber could have very easily won three from three runs in handicap company last Spring. Unfortunately for connections he bumped into the well handicapped Pickanumber on his final start and had to settle for second. That horse went on to win his next race by 15 lengths and is now rated 21 lbs higher than on his run at Huntington when beating our selection by 1 ¾ lengths. He has had a nice prep on the flat finishing third of eleven at Newbury. The cheekpieces are refitted and he should give a good account of himself here.
1 point each way Clap Of Thunder (12/1 Bet365/ William Hill, 5 places or 11/1 Generally, 5 places)
Clap Of Thunder is another horse I want to keep onside for local trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. It looked like he needed his first run back after his summer break when fourth at Chepstow when sent off the 15/8 favourite. He took a significant step forward when winning next time out at Ascot . The handicapper has given him a mark of 120 and I feel there is still more to come from him. Sam Twiston-Davies is fond of this horse and he should progress throughout the season before going chasing. 12/1 looks very fair.
**Date & Time of next Selections Friday 15th of November at 9pm..