Sam worth a spin in Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham

Sam Spinner looks worth an each-way wager at double figure odds in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham (3.55).​

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Trained in the north by Jedd O’Keeffe, this six-year-old has won five of his 11 starts over the obstacles and has a Grade 1 victory to his name.​

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That came in the 2017 running of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot over the 3m trip of this where he made all and stayed omn gamely to beat L’ami Serge by 2 3/4 lengths. ​

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Sam Spinner was sent off the 9/4 favourite for the Stayers Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival here on the back of that and although far from disgraced in finishing a 6 1/4 length fifth of 15 to Penhill was arguably not seen to best effect as he was not ridden as forceeably as usual.​

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he then  again failed to justify favouritism when weakening late on to finish a 15 length third of 10 to Idenity Thief in a Grade 1 at Aintree’s Grand National meeting but looked a tired horse and way below his best and it looked a case of the race coming too soon after the Stayers.​

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The fact  that he has unseated his rider in both starts this season has to be a concern, but his rating of 162 if the highest in the line-up and puts him 4lb and upwards clear of his rivals​

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He is a class act at his best and a tough nut to pass when on song, so if putting in a clear round he looks a big player in this on the pick of his form.​

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