Paul Ferguson has one selection for us on Monday; Burtons Well in the Cheltenham 14:00. Compare odds and bet.
Sadly, Waiting Patiently doesn’t take his chance in Monday’s feature handicap chase from Cheltenham, but his form is still on offer in the same race, courtesy of Burtons Well (2:00) who ought to relish the prevailing ground.
Venetia Williams’ string has hit top form in the past week or so – she saddled 3 winners from just 7 runners between 23rd and 30th December – and Burtons Well chased home the exciting Waiting Patiently on his chase debut at Sedgefield last November. He went on to win at Uttoxeter – beating subsequent winners Pistol Park and Alcala (won 6 times since) – before finishing fourth here on trials day. A faller in the novices’ handicap at the festival, he has to prove his ability to handle the track, although he ran well for a long way here in January. He was a shade keen on that occasion and didn’t finish off his race and he was again rather keen when runner-up to an in-form rival at Stratford on his reappearance in October. If Aidan Coleman can get him switched off here, a big run looks on the cards.
The danger appears to be Sametegal who remains on the same mark from which he chased home Guitar Pete at Wetherby in November. He has since endured a tough race on heavy ground at Aintree, so the fact he is slightly fresher sways things in favour of Burtons Well for me.
Earlier on the card just the five go to post for the Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase, in which the market will revolve around Willoughby Court and Yanworth, who once again do battle following their meeting in the Berkshire Novices’ Chase at Newbury.
The former is 5lbs worse off at the weights, but was the more fluent jumper of the pair on that occasion and might be difficult to peg back if getting into a similar rhythm. Both horses handle soft ground, so conditions shouldn’t be a problem, but they will be absolutely ideal for Ami Desbois who might well be capable of outrunning his odds. He is a strong stayer (softer the ground the better here) and a big run here could see him enter the equation as an outside player for the RSA Chase, back here in March.
Also keep an eye on his stable-mate Skipthecuddles in the 3m handicap hurdle, as he too will relish the testing ground and he remains on a mark from which he can land a race of this nature. He was 16 lengths off the impressive Red Rising last time, but is 13lbs better off at the weights and he appeared to find the track on the sharp side last time. The one reservation is that he looked to be hanging to his right around the bends at Southwell, so I half expected to see him racing the other way around on this next start.
Monday’s selection:
2:00 Cheltenham – Burtons Well; 4/1 BetVictor
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