Cheltenham Festival: The Irish Challenge, Wednesday 17th March

Tipping / Timeform / 17 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Rite of Passage is the Irish banker on St Patrick's Day

Timeform's Irish expert, Billy Nash, gives you the lowdown on the Irish challenge at Cheltenham on Wednesday...

"Weapon’s Amnesty won the Albert Bartlett here last year but he has looked anything but a natural over fences this term and is worth laying for a place in an above-average renewal of the RSA Chase"

Cheltenham 2.05 - Win Back - Rite of Passage

Rite of Passage should give the Irish plenty to smile about at Cheltenham on Wednesday. Dermot Weld's charge hasn't really been tested over hurdles, barely needing to come off the bridle on either of his starts, but he was deeply impressive when running away with the November Handicap on the Flat at Leopardstown and remains open to considerable improvement over jumps. He shouldn't have any trouble with this trip having won a bumper over 2m 3f at Naas last year and it is worth pointing out that he finished in front of Quel Esprit in the bumper here last year.

Cheltenham 2.40 - Place Lay - Weapon's Amnesty

Weapon's Amnesty won the Albert Bartlett here last year but he has looked anything but a natural over fences this term and is worth laying for a place in an above-average renewal of the RSA Chase. Charles Byrnes's gelding has his own way of getting from one side of a fence to the other (tends to go left) and he won't get away with making his usual quota of minor mistakes in this company.

Cheltenham 5.15 - Win and Place Back - Frawley

It isn't easy to weigh up the Irish contingent in the bumper but one that could go well at a bit of a price is Frawley. John Kiely's gelding took a bit longer than expected to get off the mark, winning at Leopardstown last month on his fourth start, but his form is working out well. Frawley seems to have inherited a bit of speed from his sire Catcher In The Rye and the drier ground should suit. His experience should stand to him in what is often quite a rough race and the booking of Barry Geraghty is another big plus.

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