This year for the Cheltenham Festival we are bringing a different dynamic to the website and on each day we will be putting up our best Each-Way selection(s) on a different thread.
Like all big racing festivals, looking outside the box is a must and trying to find a slightly different angle to get value can be very profitable, especially with the enhanced placed terms on offer, so don't be afraid to try something different!
Cheltenham 4.40 – Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
My each-way selection of Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival falls in the Juvenile handicap hurdle, previously known as the Fred Winter.
This race is a total minefield and has produced some big winners over the years, none other than Jeff Kidder winning at 80/1 just a couple of years ago. The Irish have dominated this race since 2018 and Joseph O'Brien has had two winners during that time, with Gordon Elliott racking up three winners, so both of the top trainers I've just stated have to be very respected with their runners. I did like the look of Joseph O'Brien's Beyond Your Dreams, but not seeing Mark Walsh on board was enough to put me off, as surely he'd know which horse is best handicapped, and given I didn't really like the chances of the horse he is riding I've gone for a different angle.
I ended up falling on Hot Fuss for the better-known flat trainer, Tom Dascombe. This horse was/is a very useful horse on the flat, but he has transitioned nicely over hurdles, with a win and a runner-up finish to his name from his three runs to date over obstacles. His debut over hurdles was a very good effort, and it was a tad unfortunate that he bumped into a horse called Easy India Dock, who has since won a Grade 2 by 10L and is now officially rated 146, and has a live chance in the Triumph Hurdle. Hot Fuss wasn't beaten out of site at Wincanton back in October, he was only 4L behind, but not only has the winner boosted the form, but the third is now rated 122 and has won a Class 3 at Newbury in easy style.
Since that defeat at Wincanton Hot Fuss went and won at Sandown a Class 2, and the runner-up for that race managed to win next time out. Despite him running badly when upped in grade at Chepstow over the Christmas period in a Grade 2 I think you can give him the benefit of the doubt as the ground was very soft that day and he didn't seem 100%.
I think connections knew that they had a well-handicapped horse and have kept him tucked up at home for a run in this race as he has not been over hurdles since, but did return to the flat just over two weeks ago in a Class 3 at Southwell which saw him win in emphatic style. That run would've ensured he was primed for today's outing, but also it preserved his handicap rating over hurdles.
Selection: Hot Fuss 10/1 Each Way (6 places)
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