With two days completed at the Cheltenham Festival, Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan turn their attention to Thursday’s card on the latest episode of Unbridled.
The duo spent time scrutinising the field assembled for the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase, which features last year’s winner Fact To File after connections declined the opportunity to supplement him for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Banbridge, Heart Wood and Impaire Et Passe are also towards the head of the market, alongside the uber-consistent Jonbon.
Paddy Brennan…
“Fact To File is the biggest certainty of the week, I think. He’s in a different league. Fact To File is rock solid here and Mark Walsh is on the board for the week.
“I can’t answer the reasons why [he has ran some bad races] but you’ve seen him in the Ryanair last year, when you have that class in a race like this, I know Banbridge is there but…”
Matt Chapman…
“I think Banbridge is a good each-way bet. He placed in the King George, he’s won at the track before – a Grade 2 novice back in the day. He was second in the Ryanair and I don’t know… I just think he’s a great each-way bet.”
Afterwards, the pair moved on to the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, with Matt Chapman naming a strong fancy for this premier handicap over three miles.
Matt Chapman…
“I think I’ve found another Johnnywho. My selection is 10 years old, however he’s been trained by Laura Morgan recently and he’s been absolutely awful. He’s now back with Nicky Henderson, as he was before – the horse is called Bold Endeavour. He finished third the other day on his first run back and whilst of course age is not on his side, he’s rated 130 now.
“He was fourth to Monmiral in this race two years ago off 144 – 14lbs higher. He was fifth to Langer Dan in the Coral Cup when rated 140, he has a racing weight of 10st6 and his Cheltenham form reads 5-2-2-4 so in big handicaps at Cheltenham, he’s bang in the mix. I think he’s got an incredible each-way chance.”
Paddy Brennan…
“Harry [Skelton] was very sweet on Madara but with Supremely West – he was just so confident on him. When James Davies rode him in work around Warwick, he just couldn’t pull him up. I think he’s going to be really hard to beat in this.”
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