By Tony Kelshaw
Jeremy Scott’s smart mare Golden Ace gets a confident vote in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
Her novice form last season was superb, with four straight wins featuring a defeat of Brighterdaysahead at the Festival here.
The latter has moved up to a new level this term, so that form cannot be taken too literally, but Golden Ace is still a cracking type and travelled strongly in the Ascot Hurdle on her reappearance before just blowing up late on.
If now fully fit, she can take full advantage of meeting conqueror Lucky Place on 6lb better terms and will be hard to beat here.
Springwell Bay looks the type to benefit from running in a strongly-run race over fences when contesting the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase.
He has performed with credit since being put over the bigger obstacles, scoring at Chepstow before a couple of fair efforts at Prestbury Park, particularly when splitting Jango Baie and Caldwell Potter last time.
However, the feeling is that there is still plenty of untapped potential that could come to the fore in competitive handicaps, where a fast pace means he has more chance of settling better early on.
It was a similar story over hurdles, when Springwell Bay followed up a nice novice campaign that featured three victories by going well off big weights in some decent contests here and at Musselburgh.
Broadway Boy is sure to be popular with punters in the Betfair Handicap Chase and has the class to carry his welter burden to victory for the in-form Twiston-Davies team.
This really likeable sort just lost his way when pitched in at the deep end in the second half of his novice campaign but has looked back in good spirits so far this term.
A bad mistake four out just cost him crucial momentum in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury but he battled on bravely to finish second and deserves a return to the winner’s enclosure.
The Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle is more likely to go to one of those towards the lower end of the weights and preference is for the hat-trick seeking Strackan.
Henry Daly enjoyed a hot streak in the build-up to Christmas and this unexposed son of Blue Bresil created a big impression with comfortable wins at Uttoxeter and Bangor to prompt this step up in grade.
Paul Nicholls sends fancied runners all the way up to Musselburgh for the two feature races and is not expected to return to Somerset empty handed.
Liari found the pace too hot late on in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury but has a good course win in February on his card, as well as victories at Aintree and Wincanton, so the Livescore Bet Best Odds Daily Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle looks a suitable target.
Useful 5lb claimer Ben Bromley partners that Ditcheat entry and stablemate Beau Balko, who he already knows well, having won on him at Wincanton in November and finished second together at Newbury last time.
Like Liari, this gelding got the job done at Musselburgh in February and can repeat the trick in the Virgin Bet Auld Reekie Handicap Chase.
Wednesday's Racing Tips
CATTERICK: 12.45 It’s All About You, 1.20 Bebside Banter, 1.55 Pigeon House, 2.30 Flamelco, 3.05 Be The Difference, 3.39 Love True.
CHELTENHAM: 12.20 Kalif Du Berlais, 12.55 Diva Luna, 1.30 Broadway Boy, 2.05 Springwell Bay, 2.40 Strackan, 3.15 GOLDEN ACE (NAP), 3.50 Gnomon.
EXETER: 12.25 Simple Getaway, 1.00 Western General, 1.35 Mutley Crew, 2.10 Saint Cyr De Pail, 2.45 Crest Of Fortune, 3.20 Joe Cotton, 3.55 Talk To The Man.
FAIRYHOUSE: 12.10 Aurora Vega, 12.40 Sounds Victorius, 1.15 Born Bright, 1.50 Not My Problem, 2.25 Allegorie De Vassy, 3.00 Chigorin, 3.35 Drop A Threat.
FAKENHAM: 11.45 Star Legend, 12.15 Cluain Aodha, 12.50 Lindy Reilly, 1.25 Barra Blue, 2.00 Hardy Buck, 2.35 Royal Way, 3.10 Technology.
MUSSELBURGH: 12.35 Johnny Ringo, 1.10 Shadows In The Sky, 1.45 Liari, 2.20 Beau Balko, 2.55 Top Man Tom, 3.30 Slugger.
NEWCASTLE: 1.49 Tsarinas Song, 2.24 Midnight Lion, 2.59 Cello, 3.34 Malc, 4.10 Qazaq, 4.40 Too Much, 5.10 Stone Of Destiny, 5.40 Oriental Prince.
SOUTHWELL: 11.54 Cabhfuilfungi, 12.28 Ismael, 1.04 Stringtoyourbow, 1.39 Silver Thorn, 2.14 Molto Bene, 2.49 Balhambar, 3.24 Motazzen.
TRAMORE: 12.00 More Coko, 12.30 Dark Note, 1.05 Machismo, 1.40 Fire Force, 2.15 Monty’s Star, 2.50 Splashing Out, 3.25 Game And Glory.
DOUBLE: Springwell Bay and Golden Ace.