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At the time of writing, the Longshots blog has produced again with The Wrekin placing at 22/1 in the opener, and Bun Doran placing at 16/1 in the 2 mile handicap chase. Let's hope we can bag a bit more value with Percys Word in the last, and with some selections below for the 2nd day at the Open Meeting.
1:05 Cheltenham - 3m1f (Old) Jewson Tool Hire Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase
A 3m1f amateur riders handicap chase to start things off, and this isn't my idea of fun however I have always thought FORZA MILAN will pick up a pot soon enough, and I'll chance this Irish raider here. He's only actually won 1 race over fences in 16 attempts, but is a model of consistency who usually runs his race and picks up some prize money every time he runs. He's normally seen running through the winter on bad ground, but he doesn't actually mind a little bit of better ground, and you might find some improvement against lesser rated animals in this race. A solid jumper, he has already had a pipe opener in a handicap hurdle at Galway in preparation, and is an out and out galloper who will want every yard of this trip. He is worth a couple of quid each way at a double figure price.
FORZA MILAN - 1pt e/w @ 14/1 (Skybet paying 5 places)
3:25 Cheltenham - 2m5f (Old) Paddy Power Feel Like A Favourite Handicap Hurdle
I'm confident that the step up in trip will suit SMALL BAD BOB who is currently being overlooked by bookmakers after throwing in a stinker last time out at the Showcase meeting at Cheltenham last month. That race over 2 miles at Cheltenham was a slow tempo and didn't suit this gelding at all, being outpaced before finishing well beaten. It's hope the step up in trip will help, and his win at Fontwell in October reads ok with 2 horses coming out and running decent races since. 25/1 is very fair given he's rated 121, and it's not like his form in Ireland when competing in novice hurdles was that *bad*. 25/1 with 4 places being paid is fair, and he's priced exactly as he's performed in his last race but he's a young horse who can improve off 121.
SMALL BAD BOB - 1pt e/w @ 33/1 (Betfair)
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