Newsboy is backing Glengouly to win the Betfair Exhange Chase at Cheltenham and he expects Kabral Du Mathan to deliver in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle on ITV
GLENGOULY is fancied to follow up a red-letter day over course and distance last month by beating eight rivals for the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (2.00) at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. The Faye Bramley-saddled 10-year-old pulled off a 33-1 shock under champion jockey Sean Bowen in the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup Handicap Chase 19 days ago.
But there was no fluke about his length-and-a-half beating of Vincenzo and a 3lb higher mark – Glengouly competed from 7lb out of the handicap last time – should not stop another good account. It’s hard to see past hot favourite KABRAL DU MATHAN in the Grade 2 Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (2.35). The ex-Paul Nicholls trainee marked his first start for Dan Skelton with a 12-length supremacy in handicap company at Haydock’s Betfair Chase undercard fully merits the step up in class. Emma Lavelle’s MA SHANTOU didn’t shine that afternoon but had come home in style at Cheltenham in October and is the choice to show his true colours in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (3.10). Also on something of a retrieval mission is JASMIN DE GRUGY, who can consign a return-to-action disappointment at Newcastle in November to history by capturing the Betfair Handicap Chase (1.25).
At Musselburgh, INSURRECTION, an impressive winner over course and distance last February, gets the Nap vote for the Virgin Bet Auld Reekie Handicap Chase (2.15). The preceding Virgin Bet A Good Bet Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (1.40) represents a good opportunity for MOONBOW to rack up a fourth success of the campaign.
At Windsor, go with GUARD DUTY to take the Fitzdares New Year’s Day Handicap Hurdle (2.50).
THURSDAY’S SELECTIONS CHELTENHAM 12.15 JUST GOLDEN 12.50 REGENT’S STROLL 1.25 JASMIN DE GRUGY 2.00 GLENGOULY 2.35 KABRAL DU MATHAN 3.10 MA SHANTOU 3.40 SALLY’S GOLD WINDSOR 11.49 FLAGON DRY 12.24 POTTERSVILLE 12.59 I SPY A DIVA 1.34 NORN IRON 2.09 KALIF D’AIRY 2.50 GUARD DUTY 3.22 FORTUNE DANCER MUSSELBURGH 12.30 SCARLET MOON 1.05 MARTY MCFLY 1.40 MOONBOW (NB) 2.15 INSURRECTION (NAP) 2.51 SNOWROCCO 3.25 CUEROS SOUTHWELL 1.20 SHEBARA 1.55 GALILEO ISLAND 2.30 CABURN 3.05 TAFAH 3.44 MAGNIFICENT MEL 4.15 HUMBLE SPARK 4.50 BLUE RC 5.20 PRINCE OF PILLO NEWCASTLE 1.49 LITTLE MI MI 2.24 POLKA 2.59 ANTRIM 3.34 HOVER ON THE WIND 4.05 THE GREEN MAN 4.35 CORAMENTO 5.05 SPARTAN FIGHTER 5.35 FIRCOMBE HALL EXETER 12.35 BORN AT MIDNIGHT 1.10 CLONDAW PARK 1.45 SOBER GLORY 2.20 OUR DYLAN 2.55 STORMING NELSON 3.30 BONUS BOY 4.00 LE COLD GREY CATTERICK BRIDGE 12.20 IN THE AGE 12.55 IMPERIAL RULE 1.30 NOT FOR PASSIN 2.05 SUPREME GEORGE 2.40 KNIGHTSBRIDGE 3.20 JOHN BETJEMAN DOUBLE: INSURRECTION and MOONBOW
