Cheltenham Day 1 - 11th March 2025

1:20: Kopek Des Bordes 1/1

2:00: Majborough 8/15

2:40: Frero Banbou 50/1 e/w

3:20: Jade De Grugy 11/2

4:00: Brighterdaysahead 2/1

4:40: Quantock Hills 18/1 e/w

5:20: Haiti Couleurs 4/1

Keeping it simple in the opening two races and hoping it will be a good start for favourite-backers. Kopek/Maj double will be my play here.

2:40: At 50/1 one is reaching for something, it goes without saying. However, FRERO BANBOU has often been there or thereabouts for big handicaps in his career. At ten, he has shown signs this season that he retains some ability, and while being more known as a two-miler, he won over 2m7f in November, beating The Changing Man in the process by 1 1/2 lengths. Now, this could be the equivalent of a students' union selection, but I am willing to take a stab each way at a crazy price!

3:20: Lossiemouth will be very hard to beat if on top form, but with not much value in her price and the slight question over her fall last time out, I am going to side with the WPM second string and potentially top-class JADE DE GRUGY in what should be an intriguing contest.

4:00: Again, at the current prices, I'm marignally siding with the contender, BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD, in what will be more of a race to watch for me than from a big betting race. And what a race it promises to be!

4:40: Wide open as always but in looking for something with a bit of juice in the price, QUANTOCK HILLS stood out at 18s. C&D dead heat winner in December, his form ties in with Total Look and by extention a few more horses here towards the top end of the maket. While there may be a suspicion that a few of these have a bit more in hand, I am willing to take the chance that this selection has palce claims at the very least.

5:20: Favourites have had a good record here in recent years. And while now a handicap, it has hard to knock HAITI COULEURS form coming into this, and I feel he is a strong favourite.

There go the accas… jumping killed him there