Daily Racing Tips: Three Friday 13th Cheltenham bets

Carl Harris’ Daily Racing Tips / Carl Harris / 13 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

"In a competitve looking field with a few unexposed types that could potentially step-up, I am sticking with the form and siding with the Twiston-Davies five year-old, Cootehill."

Carl Harris selects a trio of bets for day one of the Open Meeting...

There will be some punters looking at the dates and not getting involved. I am not superstitious, which is just as well as I am having a test in hospital to determine if I have a heart problem!

The Open Meeting kicks off at Cheltenham, three days of excellent jumps racing with the Gold Cup on Saturday and the seasonal debut of dual Champion Chaser Master Minded on Sunday.

Last year the meeting kicked off with some controvesy with Hoopy winning after the jockey borrowed someone's whip! It should be another excellent event. No matter where I am I will be watching.

Here a few bets for the Cheltenham card on Friday.

CooteHill (13:50) won a listed hurdle last time out last time at Kempton to make it three wins in four starts. This is a competitve looking field with a few unexposed types that could potentially step-up but I am sticking with the form and siding with the Twiston-Davies five year-old.

A couple of weeks ago I said that French Opera (14:25) was a proper chasing type, which he proved with a clear round of jumping to win easily first time out over fences. This is a decent race wit Song Of Songs potentially a decent horse, but French Opera for me will develop in to a high class chaser which if correct should see him win this.

I have made the fatal mistake on under-estimating Knockara Beau (16:05) on the last two occasions when he won in style. I will not make the same error again as he gives weight all round in the final race on the card. Ashkazar is interesting, boasting a high rating over hurdles and made a decent start to fencing last time, but Knockara Beau looks a genuine top class horse who if trained by a big southern yard would be a much shorter price.

Carl Harris' Best for Bets for Friday 13th October

• 13:50 Cheltenham- Cootehill @ [9.4], Win
• 14:25 Cheltenham- French Opera [3.95], Win
• 16:05 Cheltenham- Knockara Beau [4.1], Win