Friday Racing Tips: Back Maxi Chop to cut rivals to size

Tony Calvin
12 December 2013

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It's day one of the Cheltenham International Festival on Friday so we asked Tony Calvin to don his big price hunter cap to pick out the best value bets from the card, which is live on Channel 4...

Recommended Bets

Back Maxi Chop in the 13:40 at Cheltenham at 6.05/1 or better

Back Emperor's Choice in the 14:10 at Cheltenham at 11.010/1 or better

Back Red Not Blue in the 15:15 at Cheltenham at 20.019/1 or better

Cheltenham 13:40 - Maxi Chop

The Stewart Family are enjoying something of a golden spell of late - rather apt given its perma-tanned patriarch Andy is usually to be found in the sunnier climes of Barbados - and I have a feeling that the winning roll could continue courtesy of Maxi Chop.

It would also be especially pleasing as, besides being one of the nicest blokes in racing, he also puts plenty back into the sport, as witnessed by the fact that his multi-talented family sponsor the £100,000 handicap at Cheltenham on Saturday.

I think Andy's only 'reverse' in the past fortnight has been Rocky Creek's excellent second in the Hennessy, and his recent stay in the country has coincided with victories for the likes of his Tatenen, Celestial Halo, Saphir Du Rheu and There's No Panic.

Not bad going, and in Maxi Chop I think he has another well-handicapped horse.

Time is beginning to tell that he was attempting the impossible in a handicap here last month, as the form of his fourth there is working out ridiculously well.

The winner Quick Jack was obviously a real plot horse, the second and third have come out and won since, while Paul Nicholls' fifth-placed Vibrato Valtat may have bumped into a real good one when second at Sandown on Saturday.

I went back and had another look at that race and the thing that immediately struck me was how well Maxi Chop travelled throughout in such a competitive contest. I can see Daryl Jacob holding on to him for longer today, and unleashing him going to the last.

In truth, this Channel 4 card doesn't have me looking to unload with both barrels, punting-wise, so keep stakes low but Maxi Chop rates a fair bet at 6.05/1 or bigger.

Cheltenham 14:10 - Emperor's Choice

Theatre Guide has an obvious chance, after his excellent fourth in the Hennessy, but I am going to take a chance with Emperor's Choice.

There was more promise in his reappearance at Fontwell than the formbook may suggest. Even though he started favourite there, that run may have been needed anyway, as his trainer describes him as slow mentally as well as physically. And he certainly needed his first run last season.

He then progressed into a fair staying chaser, beating subsequent Midlands Grand National winner Big Occasion at Lingfield, form on which he is fairly handicapped.

The obvious negative here is the ground as he has a soft-ground action and all his recent form has been in testing conditions. But he has won on good to soft, Cheltenham have watered, and there is a bit of rain forecast in the area tonight and tomorrow morning.
He is worth chancing to a few quid at 11.010/1 or better.

Cheltenham 15:15 - Red Not Blue

Any Currency and Sire Collonges are my two against the field in the Cross Country race at 14:40, but those contests are not for me betting-wise, thanks.

I will have another small-stakes interest at big odds in the 15:15. I suspect that Paul Nicholls' Southfield Theatre will take plenty of beating in here but in Red Not Blue we have a well-handicapped horse running for us, and one who shaped well when staying on to finish third in a big field at Newbury last time.

He is a ten-year-old and has plenty of miles on the clock. But Red Not Blue has a lot in his favour today - if not youth - and I don't think that he should be the outsider of this field, as the early betting indicates. Back him at 20.019/1 or bigger to spring a surprise.