Timeform UK SmartPlays / Dan Barber / 15 March 2011 /

There's been more than enough talking about Cheltenham, including from me, and there's more to racing life on Tuesday than the Festival, so let's just get on with the likely winners wherever thay may lie.

There've been many sharper minds than mine discussing the circumstances surrounding Binocular's eleventh-hour withdrawal from the Champion Hurdle, and his absence arguably lessens the race from a betting perspective as well as from an interest point of view, given his claims weren't so compelling this time around.

Still, with Menorah himself taking more out of the market than his form warrants (he's solid but hardly spectacular based on this season's two wins), there's still mileage in the market. Hurricane Fly (15:20) could be the one, though an honourable mention must go to Oscar Whisky, who provides a possible win-and-place angle at longer odds. Both horses have had excuses for their one defeat on British or Irish soil, and either side have looked potentially out of the top drawer, Hurricane Fly reaping the benefit of repeated racing this season and breezing to three wins in his homeland already, beating last season's long-time Champion Hurdle favourite Solwhit by a length further (and with more comfort) each time. Those who've expressed doubts over the suitablility of the course for Hurricane Fly are surely nitpicking, and he really ought to be ahead of Menorah in the market, as arguably should Oscar Whisky.

The day's closer, namely the newly-formed Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase (17:15), provides a couple of potential angles as well, chiefly with a win-and-place play on the solid Tullamore Dew . Tullamore Dew was primed at the Festival last season, finishing second to Spirit River in the Coral Cup from exactly the same mark, and the fact he's jumped so soundly in winning two of his four starts over fences (runner-up to Mamlook conceding 10 lb last time) very much implies he's got it in him to prove a better chaser than hurdler and, therefore, defy a rating in the high 130s in this sphere. A win-only saver on Definity wouldn't be the worst idea, bearing in mind he looked a lot better than a 136 horse in his brief time over timber and bumped into a smart one facing its optimum conditions (Bakbenscher) when a gallant second at Exeter last time.

There's always something comforting about Sedgefield's traditional Cheltenham Tuesday card. To call it workaday would probably be generous, but the seventeen-furlong handicap hurdle at 14:55 has a good punting shape with so many possible front runners in opposition and the likely strong pace should help useful chaser Agglestone Rock confirm himself well ahead of his much lower hurdles mark. A winner without a penalty would be stretching it, but Agglestone Rock certainly shaped as if he'd have been involved in the finish at Newcastle last time but for finding himself poorly placed, while his yard's recent revival also looks a boon to his chances of landing what appears a weaker handicap than he normally contests.

Recommendations

Back Agglestone Rock @ [5.0] Sedgefield 14:55
Back Hurricane Fly @ [4.8] Cheltenham 15:20
Back Tullamore Dew @ [10.0] Cheltenham 17:15

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