Timeform Treble: Three Cheltenham Open Meeting Bets

/ Timeform / 13 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

Timeform believe that Paul Nicholls will be in a powerful position on Saturday as he attempts to land the one that, so far, has got away at the Cheltenham Open meeting...

The Cheltenham Open meeting is considered the unofficial start to the National Hunt season by many and the second day of the meeting features the Paddy Power Gold Cup, one of the few trophies to elude Paul Nicholls, both as a jockey and trainer, over the years.

It's a race that doesn't hold fond memories for Nicholls, particularly more recently as he's trained the beaten favourite in the last two runnings, the first of which was the promising Granit Jack who fell fatally two out when looking the likely victor. There are plenty of reasons for thinking this could be the year Nicholls breaks his duck, though, not least as he's responsible for three of the top-quality field in Chapoturgeon, Poquelin and Tatenen. Here at Timeform we like the look of the last-named in that trio.

Long since regarded as the yard's chief hope for the race, Tatenen has kept good company throughout his career and is very unexposed around two-and-a-half miles as he makes his handicap debut. His trainer feels he has a preference for soft going, but even if the forecast rain doesn't materialise he has some decent form in the bag under less testing conditions also.

Vying for favouritism at present is Irish raider Tranquil Sea and its well worth pointing out the awful record of horses from the Emerald Isle in this race. Bright Highway was the last to win what was then known as the Mackeson Gold Cup way back in 1980.

With that in mind one who might be worth a saver at big odds is Three Mirrors. Yes, you read that right; Three Mirrors, the horse with breathing problems who has been beaten a total of 77 lengths in his two outings this term. But, before the men in the white coats can be called you must consider Three Mirrors' current handicap mark - 9 lb lower then when fifth at 50/1 in the race last year and the gamble on him for the competitive Festival Plate at the Cheltenham Festival, for all he could only finish fourth, was significant. He wouldn't be the first horse from Ferdy Murphy's yard to suddenly bounce back to form out of the blue and the trainer knows how to win the race having done so with L'Antartique in 2007.

Nicholls also has a strong hand in one of Sunday's feature races, the opener, a Grade 2 Novice Chase over two miles. The champion trainer has no less than half the field, although that's only two contenders in a limp renewal. Tataniano is preferred to Five Dream of the Ditcheat-trained pair, as, admittedly at 1/5, he made a mightily impressive chasing bow at Exeter, jumping superbly and readily coming clear. He should take plenty of beating, for all Irish raider Fosters Cross's form was franked on Friday by Loosen my Load.

If Tataniano is likely to be a tad short to justify a win-only bet, then Master Minded definitely will be. He's Nicholls' stand out chance of the weekend at likely prices, although he does have to concede 10lb to the top-class Well Chief. This race was specifically framed with Master Minded in mind (the sponsors fulfil a similar role at Nicholls' yard) and he's faced with his ideal variables. Well Chief should at least keep things interesting if he returns as good as ever at the age of 10.