Cheltenham Gold Cup at Chepstow: A Race Day of Thrills and Surprises

The distaffers could hold the cards over males in this conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Chepstow with My Granny Lily given the vote. Having fallen in her first chase, the selection bounced back to score at Ludlow and finish third at Southwell. She relishes getting her feet into the ground, so this could be one of the last suitable opportunities for her this season.

Since unseated at the last with the race at his mercy at this course in late January, Crossbeau weakened after holding every chance at Ludlow. He’s another for whom easy conditions are a boon, and he can give odds-on Lady Balko something to think about.

Honeyball sets a poser by saddling World Of Dreams as well as Cape Vidal in this handicap hurdle, but the last-named horse moves into the division of the NH sphere on the back of a cost triumph at Fontwell, and even though that happened four months ago, he’s preferred.

Two horses that have proved frustrating to follow can dominate the finish of this two-mile handicap chase with One True King given the edge over Greenrock Abbey. The selection has given best to useful foes on his latest outings at this track and can end a protracted wait for success under a rider who knows him, having partnered him several times on the course as well as at home.

The best bet on the card in the hunters-chase is Beyond Midnight. Formerly a good handicap chaser with Sam Thomas, the veteran has been running in decent races ahead of this switch of code, while Sutton has ridden him on all four starts this season. If on song he’s in a different class to his opponents.

Carded to go off amongst the roughies for this apprentice handicap, Lexington Hero can earn on a first run for over 200 days. He faces multiple scorer Tortured Soul and a dark horse in front runner For Pleasure, but is expected to make his presence felt in exactas and trifectas with those foes.

Castle In The Sand troubled the judge in three of his starts on grass last year. He’s worked encouragingly on an all-weather surface at Park House, and from a plum draw can have a say although Invincible Aura is just preferred.

The Nap gave me the impression that he was very unlucky not to score in his juvenile season, and is now ready to make up for lost time. You have to go back a year to find the last time Anif was in the winner’s circle, but he’s operating at a lower level on the class band and hinted on his latest start that he’s getting ready to win.

His trainer tries him over a slightly longer trip in a race where he’s well drawn. Ryan is an eye-catching booked for Young Endless who makes his debut for a new trainer. The selection has progressed in his three 2024 starts, scoring at this track earlier in the month. It makes sense for him to operate from a dual-purpose yard, and Morgan tends to exact improvement from her new recruits.