For anyone interested...............two lays, sorry D.O but one of them in your treble
Taking on 2 in the same race today so a couple of lays: 1345 Cheltenham Fugitif
Horse hasn’t won since December 2023 although its only had 8 runs since.
The win did come at this course, in a handicap Chase over 2m 5f on soft going.
However, its full record at today’s course is 1/11 so it’s not very successful here normally.
There has been 4 chase wins in its career and in November 2021 in a Novice Handicap Chase, it won carrying 11st 12lbs. But it hasn’t won since carrying more than 11st 3lbs and it’s running off 11st 9lbs today.
It’s had 3 runs this year all at Class 1 level and been well beaten.
It is a drop in grade today but comes into this in poor form.
Trainer at the Course the last 5 years is 1/26 and Chase wise it’s 1/23. But it’s a losing run of 13 and this horse accounts for 6 of them.
Jockey is very inexperienced at the Course with a record of 1/5. He’s only been over fences twice and never placed.
It’s a Veterans race and they can often roll back the clock, but this one isn’t for me today.
1345 Cheltenham Gunshot Ridge
Second selection in the race and for me this one is slightly easier.
Record at the Distance is 0/4 having never won beyond 2m over fences.
Highest winning chase mark is 142 and runs off 145 today.
Its form after breaks of 200+days reads: 3,1,F and F.
The race it won it made several mistakes with its jumping and so there is a question mark over fluency after a lengthy lay off.
Allocated Top weight of 12 stone today and whilst it won’t mind the rain, the combination of the weight and extra distance may prove too much.
Trainer at the Course the last 5 years with Chasers is 1/26. The win came in October 2025 and broke a losing run of 25 but it’s not a Course he does well at.
Does have Bowen onboard so there is always a risk there but I find it hard to see this one in the winners enclosure.
Opposable for me and looks a value head of the market take on.
