Cheltenham 2.30 - SP2A | Speculate 2 Accumulate

Placespotter - Cheltenham 2.30 - Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle - Class 1 - 2 miles 5 furlongs - 26 run

This is a proper Cheltenham handicap, full of those with a mass of potential, a few no doubt hidden under a bushel yet a few who come here off impressive wins and already clobbered with double figure rises by the handicapper.

The question is are they still ahead of the handicapper or has an astute Trainer or two, thrown a few trojan horses out there and sneaked something else in under the radar, Mr Henderson and Mullins in particular may just have played that Card, will it work, we'll soon find out.

At the head of the market GRAND ROI has been well found, Elliott/Forster, on many form lines the one they all have to beat, no excuses about that form of the Going but the trip is a niggle and at the odds it's one you'd have to back "to win" or a very crafty "each way saver" and Sean will suggest that tactic to those who like that option.

With that one out of the way, we're not as keen on the next pair in the market Craigneich is one of those hammered for a nice win, to the tune of 12lbs and although clearly a nice horse you'd have to believe it's not as well handicapped as some. Koshari for Mullins was off for best part of two and a half years before winning on return off a mark of 135 and was then pulled up over 3 miles, it clearly retains ability but looks over-bet in the context of the potential in the race elsewhere.

Similarly another Mullins runner Blue Sari looks thrown in on best Chase form but has struggled since finishing runner-up to Envoi Allen in the 2019 Champion Bumper, a race that's thrown out far more "duds" than the few notable stars. Henderson has another up 12lbs in Monte Christo for an eye catching Class 3 Kempton win and that's another who clearly has a good future but is it really still that well handicapped?

There are gangers everywhere, none more than Thomas Darby off top weight, class of the field, Course winner, runner up at the Festival, but you'd just have to wonder about prowess at the trip in a true run race with that weight burden. Obvious enhanced place chance but would be a "worldie" if it was to win. Botox Has is a typical Gary Moore horse and as we saw yesterday his have 2 ways of running, here and everywhere, it's either going to make the handicapper look like a right charlie, or make us look like a right charlie, Ian isn't convinced and will leave off his list for the race. Dysart Diamond is one for Mullins who is a bit of a dark horse, the trip is a niggle and he just missed the final list in favour of a stablemate at bigger Odds who looks a bit more suited by conditions.

PALMERS HILL warranted a close examination, clearly fragile but a Course and Distance winner in 2018 on Good Going off a mark of 124, then runner up at Kempton off a mark of 133, didn;'t get home over longer trips next twice and may be worth a shrapnel bet off a mark of 135.

So where is the money going?

With only 2 races to attack today we'll expend a total of 5 points on the race..

BIRCHDALE seems a bit of a forgotten one in the market despite a very impressive profile, it's been Chasing, was 8th in this race last year, possibly expending too much energy on the New Course too soon, this track should suit better, De Boinville will have had a pick of options surely and it's 2lbs lower that last year and looks solid each way material.

JANIKA also for Henderson makes a hurdle debut in UK but looks "thrown in" on some Hurdles form and doesn't have the 12lbs penalty a couple of the more strongly fancied stablemates do.

BOREHAM BILL for Emma Lavelle is up 7lbs for a great win last time, but the style in which it won there and this Course and Good ground should suit it and it looks very over-priced on the visual evidence of that latest run.

TEA CLIPPER is quietly fancied at BIG Odds, a 3 mile P2P winner as a younger horse so has some proven stamina, quick enough though to win 3 times over 2 miles and has won over 2 miles and 3 furlongs on Good Going. He takes a clear step up in Class but just a nice dak horse for Tom Lacey and if getting a clear path could pass a lot of tiring horses up the hill and grab an enhanced place.

In addition to Palmers Hill, we'll also throw some shrapnel at SAYO unplaced in this in 2020 but got a nice sighter that day, better Going suits, very much the forgotten one of the Mullins team and could very well outrun those Odds with the experience of last year.

TRACKERS - Birchdale / Janika / Boreham Bill / Tea Clipper (all 1/2 point each way) + 1 point in total 1/4 point on Palmers Hill and Sayo to enhanced place Odds IF you wish or use as e/w saver on Grand Roi)