They weren't amazing prices, but you can never snub your nose at two winners.
Northern Olympian did go out to a slightly bigger price throughout the day, as the Bowen and Murphy horse was well-supported, but Harry Skelton kept it simple, and the front-running tactics were why the horse won. His jumping was patchy at times, but he's clearly got an engine, and I think Skelton is best when he goes from the front.
Tell The Tale shouldn't have won, and if this race was in a month time when the others horses in the race had the same level of fitness, he would have struggled to have been top two. His jumping wasn't great, and O'Farrell had to work hard to get him the win. He came back on the bridle before jumping three from home, but the runner-up is the one to take out of this race.
Bill Joyce 13/2 – Cheltenham 1.45
I wasn't convinced by anything in this race, and that was due to the form of each horse not being that strong, and the trip for others didn't look like it would suit. In the end, I thought that Bill Joyce was a risky one to tip/back, but when you look at his price and his hurdles form when he was at his best, it's surely worth the risk.
I think Bill Joyce has the best form in this race by quite a considerable amount. He was third in a Challow Hurdle (Grade 1), which was won by The New Lion, and Wendigo was the horse in second place. Both of those horses have franked that form multiple times, and it's not to mention that Billy Joyce was a Grade 2 winner over hurdles. For whatever reason, he hasn't quite kicked on since his novice hurdling days, as I think he's had a few injury problems, but his ability has always been there.
Do I know if he'll stay this trip? No, I don't, but he was a PTP winner over three miles and was sent off as a favourite for a race over 3m 2f in which he bombed. There's a strong possibility that he won't turn up in his best form, but I think this is a real opportunity for him to land a Listed race.
Walk In The Valley 11/8 – Sedgefield 12.45
Despite this being a three-runner race, it is still a competitive one, where any of the three lining up could win.
I am being boring and siding with the favourite, but I like his unexposed profile as a chaser, and I believe there is still a lot more to come.
He won on his second start over fences at Market Rasen 19 days ago, and though he's up against better-quality horses today, he did it easily last time out. At the time, it might not have looked like he beat much, but the runner-up won yesterday at Market Rasen and did it with ease, which bodes well for Walk In The Valley.
He has gone up in the handicap by a few pounds, but it doesn't look enough to halt his progress.
GambleAware