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Fry chaser looks dangerous off a very low weight
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Sandown run puts Skelton hurdler firmly in the picture
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Alan Dudman's latest double pays 29/130.00 on the Sportsbook
Sunday really appeals as a punting day with a couple of good handicaps at Cheltenham and Hymac has been found a good spot in the 14:55 over 3m4f with a low weight and a decent mark. Granted it's a very competitive field and this lightly-raced chaser already has proven his stamina at the track in April.
His jumping looked a major asset in that performance and he found a great rhythm and the spring ground certainly suited him with that performance.
Harry Fry said he'd not been the easiest to train but he did remark in an interview post-Cheltenham that he needs to go left-handed.
Fitness is on his side too with a winning performance over hurdles at Newton Abbot. I doubt the ground was ideal on that occasion (heavy) in novice company, but it was good prep in not only to win but to tee him up for a bigger prize and it certainly looks as though this was the target to protect his mark over fences.
He may 3lb out of the handicap but he jumped so well with his win at the track in April, I can see him travelling nicely today and he's getting nearly two stone from the top weight.
The Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at 15:30 will be the best punting race of the day and Be Aware for Dan Skelton is another for the trainer with a great profile for this. Unexposed, good ground form and a yard who do so well in this big handicaps - he really does tick all the boxes.
They grey made his handicap debut over hurdles last April in the Novices' Championship Final at Sandown and he coped well with the big field as Harry Skelton smuggled him into the race, although going into the straight it seemed that tactic might have backfired as he looked to have been given too much to do.
He finished second and only went down a small margin, but his effort to finish strongly might just suit him at Cheltenham with a stiffer finish and longer climb.
His novice form reads very well from Kempton as he finished second to Fergal O'Brien's Kamsinas - who won at Aintree subsequently from 130 and I can see another Skelton ride like Doyen Quest from yesterday in terms of switching him off out the back - a win by the same margin would be rather nice.
Plus he's owned by Andrew Cohen who also owned one of my favourite greys Suny Bay back in the 90s.
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