Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Multiple: Bad and Minella can lead the charge for 59/1 double

Alan Dudman
14 March 2023
3:00 min read

Alan Dudman has selections for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday

Join

View market

Twitter

Facebook

Alan Dudman fired in a 14/1 double yesterday to maintain his fine run of form with nine single winners recently, and he takes on Cheltenham Festival's opening day with a huge 59/1 double...

14/1 double landed yesterday for Alan
Bad and Blackmore for the Boodles today
Alan Dudman is seeking his 10th and 11th single winners in nine days for Tuesday at Cheltenham

Blackmore on Bad to set up a day one double

Back Bad @ 13/2 in the 16:50 - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

The good run of form for the column continued yesterday with both selections winning to land a 14/1 double. Goodwin Racing displayed a fine attitude to score for in-form Chris Gordon, and the second leg routed a field by 10L thanks to the well-backed Inferno Sacree.

Ahead of Cheltenham, it's now nine single winners in the last eight days with a profit in that time to BSP of 25.9.

I'd rather have a confidence uplift in terms of form for attacking today's cards and Bad in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap can get Ben Pauling hopefully on the scoresheet. He's had a superb season and a better quality horse this term, and Pauling can now test himself against the best, as 10 of the first 15 in the betting are all trained in Ireland.

Bad's handicap mark here of 126 is is most interesting judged on an emphatic 5L success in France at Bordeaux last time out.

I've watched the replay a couple of times, and I was impressed with his jumping. He was slick and quick, and that will stand him in good stead for the hurly burly of a big field today.

Pauling would have had the option of the Triumph, but connections might just feel the mark for his UK debut is an exploitable one, although by no means a gimme taking on the Irish.

All of Bad's form in France from his three runs have been in soft and heavy, so he at least ticks a box with the likely conditions today.

Rachael Blackmore is booked, and it will be a first ride for Blackmore with the Pauling team and Betfair have Superboosted Rachael for one or more wins on day one at Cheltenham from 5/4 to 5/2 - which I think is an outstanding price.

Back Bad in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham

13/2

Crooner appeals for the marathon test

Back Minella Crooner @ 7/1 in the 17:30 - National Hunt Novices' Chase

Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins must have about 50 horses alone for the first day, and it's no surprise the two Irish behemoths have prominent runners in the betting for the finale 17:30 - National Hunt Novices' Chase - the old four miler in old money.

Gaillard Du Mesnil offers no value at all for Mullins at 10/11, and the second favourite Mahler Mission might not be a Cheltenham horse - and he hasn't been so far as he's been beaten out of sight in his two runs at Prestbury Park.

Therefore Minella Crooner at 7/1 is sound each-way pick material for those playing on the Sportsbook, and I can see him enjoying every yard of this thorough test as he looks an out-and-out stayer.

He won over an inadequate 2m6f at Fairyhouse earlier in the season on his second start over fences. He jumped well, and Elliott marked him down as a National Hunt Chase horse back then.

Back Minella Crooner in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham

7/1

The chaser was well beaten at Punchestown this year in Graded company, but I wouldn't read too much into that as the 2m4f was far too sharp - akin to putting Steve Cram against Alan Wells over 100m.

At 7/1, he looks a much better bet than Mahler Mission. Minella Crooner's jumping overall has been a little hesitant, but it should improve with a slower tempo today over a more suitable test.

ALAN DUDMAN'S P & L

Multiples 2021 to present: +15.53pts

2023 Daily Racing Multiple Column singles to 1pt stake (0.5pt EW) settled at BSP: +12.09pts

2022 Daily Racing Multiple Column singles to 1pt stake (0.5pt EW) settled at BSP: +170.13pts

Bets Of Day 2016 to 2021: +25.10pts

Irish Racing Tips 2020 to 2021: +21.63pts

The Betfair Sportsbook is offering you the chance to claim a free £10 bet on racing multiples on Saturday 1 April. Bet £10 on a racing multiple with odds great than 2.0 to qualify. T&Cs apply.