Kings Palace looks cracking value at 4/1 to beat the highly-touted Briar Hill in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham today (2.40).
David Pipe has enjoyed a superb meeting with three winners, and Kings Palace was considered the best of the team heading into the four days.
The six-year-old has won all of his three races this season, with the last two coming in runaway style at this track.
In the first of those he slammed subsequent Grade 2 winner Creepy easing down by 18 lengths over 3m 2f after a sensational round of hurdling.
The gelding then put in an ultra impressive performance last time out over course and in a Grade 2 contest, when jumping fluently from the front under Tom Scudamore and sauntering clear to win by 14 lengths.
His jumping in those two contests was as good as I have seen by a novice, and he looks to be improving at a rate of knots and have plenty more to offer.
He looks sure to attack from the front again, and given he has proven stamina over further the pace is sure to be strong.
I can see him gradually winding up the pace and being away and gone from the field as they approach the home turn, and can’t see Briar Hill getting going until all too late.
Willie Mullins’ charge is unbeaten in five starts under rules, and ran out the impressive winner of last year’s Champion Bumper at this meeting.
He has shown a good level of form in notching three wins over hurdles this season, but is a lazy type who takes time to get going and is yet to convince me that he is the real deal.
His jumping is also far from fluent at times, and any mistakes are likely to prove extremely costly in this contest.
Given his run style, I can see him having a mountain to climb when he does eventually hit top gear and think he will have too much ground to make up on Kings Place.
I really cant see why he is a top priced 7/4 to win this, and at that price he has to be taken on.
The 4/1 available for Kings Palace looks huge, and with Tom Scudamore – who is riding better than ever – in the saddle he is going to be extremely hard to beat.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Kings Palace (4/1 Ladbrokes – BOG)
