Paul Ferguson Paul Ferguson has two selections from Cheltenham for us on Saturday; Un Temps Pour Tout in the 1.15 and Shanpallas at 2.25 and two from Uttoxeter; Captain Chaos at 12:30 and Call to Order at 4.00. Compare odds and bet.
Sixth in the race 12 months ago Shanpallas (2:25) isn’t the most consistent, but looks potentially over-priced in this afternoon’s feature, the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
An eye-catcher in the race last year, Charles Byrnes’ seven-year-old is 1lb lower this time around and, provided that the ground doesn’t deteriorate too much, he looks capable of outrunning his odds of 25-1 (with most firms offering ¼ odds to 5 places).
The Golan gelding has run just three times since last year’s race, completing just the once when fifth in the Galway Plate, when sent off a well-backed 6-1 shot.
Of those towards the head of the betting Kings Palace is the one that could tear this field apart, while hold-up performers Irish Cavalier and Johns Spirit are another pair capable of going well. But, at the odds, Barry Geraghty’s mount is worth a speculative each-way punt.
Geraghty rides the exciting Which One Is Which in the concluding mares’ bumper and she is very much one I’m looking forward to this season, but this looks a highly competitive affair and maybe best watched with the future in mind.
Earlier on the card Un Temps Pour Tout (1:15) can make a winning debut over fences for David Pipe and Tom Scudamore.
The six-year-old was last seen winning the French Champion Hurdle and he has plenty more bits of high-class hurdles form to his name. At his best on soft ground or worse, Pipe certainly won’t mind any rain and, though he lacks chasing experience, he receives weight from horses that were inferior hurdlers and a clear round should suffice.
Uttoxeter also stages a decent card, with several nice young prospects on show, starting in the opener where Captain Chaos (12:30) should be tough to beat on his debut for Dan and Harry Skelton.
A wide-margin bumper winner at Newcastle for Tim Fitzgerald, the son of Golan is expected to need soft ground so should find conditions right up his street on his debut over timber.
Later on the card Call To Order (4:00) can land the concluding bumper for Jonjo O’Neill and Noel Fehily.
The well-bred Presenting gelding ran a race full of promise when finishing runner-up at Warwick in May, where he caught the eye travelling really well in behind. Eventually beaten by a horse that could turn out to be pretty smart indeed, the five-year-old sets a decent standard.
Saturday’s selections:
12:30 Uttoxeter: Captain Chaos; 8/11 Ladbrokes
1:15 Cheltenham: Un Temps Pour Tout; 6/4 betfred
2:25 Cheltenham: Shanpallas (each-way); 25/1 bet365
4:00 Uttoxeter: Call To Order; 4/6 Ladbrokes
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