Cheltenham Festival: Irish Cavalier and Townend a potent combination

0
827
© 2012 Daily Sport Limited

Irish Cavalier has progressed with each run over fences and makes plenty of appeal in the CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham today (5.15)  now fitted with the cheekpieces for the first time and partnered by Paul Townend.

Rebecca Curtis’s gelding shaped with plenty of promise on chasing debut when third to Puffin Billy at Ascot when looking in need of the outing after a 231 day break.

The the six-year-old duly built on that and ran well on handicap debut when a staying 2 length runner-up to Black River over 2m 3f at Taunton off an opening mark of 135.

Irish Cavalier shaped as if needing a step up in trip, and put in his best effort so far last time out over 2m 5f at this track when a close-up third of 12 to Generous Ransom .

He travelled nicely on the heels of the leaders and after making a mistake at the fifth stuck to the task well to be beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

Although now 2lb higher in the weights, he now meets the winner on 6lb better terms and gets fitted with the cheekpieces for the first time.

They could well bring about further improvement, and anotehr plus is that Irish Cavalier gets the servicse of Townend in the saddle who has a has a 30% strike rate when teaming up with the yard in the past 12 months.

Irish Cavalier also looks to have been primed for this contest, and to me there is no way he should be as big as 14/1 when Generous Ransom is trading around the 8/1 mark judge.

Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Irish Cavalier (14/1 generally available)
*Price flagged up on twitter yesterday lunchtime and still available

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here