Champagne West looks nicely treated on handicap debut and makes plenty of appeal ay 9/1 in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham today (1.50).
Philip Hobbs’ gelding was a smart hurdler who won two of his four starts over the larger obstacles last season in the style of a very smart prospect.
In the first of those over over course and distance, the seven-year-old jumped well and showed a good turn of foot to readily draw clear of Color Squadron and score by 3 1/4 lengths.
Champagne West followed up over 2m 5f at this venue with a workmanlike by 1 1/2 length success over Un Ace having when not jumping fluently in a slowly run contest, before posting a solid effort to chase home Ptit Zig at the track.
Although beatebn 6lengths in the latter, the winner is a very useful sort now rated 162 and the pair pulled miles clear of the rest.
That form reads well in the context of this context and makes Chanpagne West looks nicely trated off an opening handicap mark of 150 at a track where he has yet to finish out of the first four in four starts and has won twice.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Champagne West (9/1 bet365 – BOG, enhanced place terms 1/4 odds 1,2,3,4)
