CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL FRIDAY - RACEBETS RATINGS & SELECTIONS

1:30 WALKON (MOURAD)
2:05 DAVE'S DREAM (FARRINGDON)
2:40 CAPE TRIBULATION (ALPHA RIDGE)
3:20 EXOTIC DANCER (MADISON DU BERLAIS)
4:00 LIMERICK BOY
4:40 BIG EARED FRAN (PENN DA BENN)
5:15 PASCO (FRENCH OPERA)

Friday and it looks a lot more straightforward with some of the stats qualifiers being ranked in the top-3 or 4 of the ratings. Strange to nominate a best bet in the County Hurdle but Dave's Dream was so impressive last time and the 5/1 means an each-way bet to nothing. He is rated over 100pts clear of the 2nd on the ratings which is always a good sign and he should take the beating. In the Gold Cup I have to admit I don't have a strong fancy on anything but a decent each-way on Exotic Dancer who is top-rated,  loves Cheltenham and probably looks the safest call with a smaller each-way on Madison Du Berlais just in case ;-) In the Triumph, Walkon can be backed each-way at 5/1 with Paddy Power which I think is worth getting stuck into as they pay 4 places.

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1:30 TRIUMPH HURDLE

Lethal Weapon was the top-stats runner but is rated lowly, despite the presence of McCoy.WALKON clearly looks the one to beat having been one of the other shortlisted on most of the stats and although his price is shorter than ideal, he looks clear of the 2nd on the ratings. He  can be backed with Paddy Power at 5/1 each-way and they payout on 4 places. This is a very low risk bet. The Irish have always struggled in this but I can't ignore the value 20/1 about 2nd-rated MOURAD who may be worth a small each-way, especially given the form of Mullins and Walsh at the festival so far. He does not have too much to find with Jumbo Rio or Ebadiyan who are half his price and he may reverse form on this slightly better ground/stiffer test.  Starluck is a big danger and was rated highly on the stats but is just rated a bit too far behind the favourite on the ratings.

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2:05 COUNTY HURDLE

DAVE'S DREAM actually became a stats-qualifier following his win in the Imperial Cup and such was the authority of his win there that he rates a bet at 5/1 although as with most things this week, I advise each-way caution again with Paddy Power who payout on 5 places. He is well clear on the ratings so must have a very strong chance. Aachen and Sunnyhillboy were also fairly strong on the stats but I prefer the 25/1 about the 2nd on the ratings FARRINGDON for the 2nd bet as that looks the value e/w call. He has been beaten narrowly on his last 2 starts and is ridden by Paddy Flood who won well on Ninetieth Minute and ran a good race on Schindlers Hunt today.

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2:40 ALBERT BARTLETT HURDLE

CAPE TRIBULATION is rated the bet here. He filled a few of the stats and looks a most promising hurdler.  The odds are pretty skinny but he should be able to hold off Pride Of Dulcote. ALPHA RIDGE was also a stats-qualifier and is not too far behind the front-2 on the ratings so may be worth a small e/w bet. On Raglan Road is rated last but that only tells half the story about him as some of his form looks fairly decent now and he could be worth a smaller each-way.

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3:20 GOLD CUP

Just looking at the positive stats and forgetting the negative ones, we had a shortlist of those rated 1st, 2nd and 3rd on the ratings. The key swinger though is that EXOTIC DANCER is not only top-rated but also the better each-way value of the top-3 at 10/1. I must say from a form point of view I would struggle to justify him finishing in front of either of the front-2 but it has to be remembered he suffered an interupted preparation last year and this year it's gone much smoother. He won well enough to suggest he may have held Neptune last time in Ireland but he also loves it round here and he may have improved a little from previous seasons when he saw the back of Kauto.  I do think Neptune could have improved enough to finish ahead of Kauto as he has nothing to find with him on last year's race but for a small e/w bet I am going to stick withMADISON DU BERLAIS who on a literal reading of his win last time looks overpriced and a value bet to reach the frame and as a cover bet on the main each-way on Exotic Dancer.

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4:00 FOXHUNTERS CHASE

I still haven't worked up much enthusiasm for the Foxhunters so I will just go for the one bet, an each-way on the top-rated, in-form Venetia Williams runner LIMERICK BOY at 16/1.

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4:40 MARTIN PIPE HURDLE

BIG EARED FRAN won well last time and David Pipe will be keen to win this for his old man. Again, although he is only 5/1 I would urge each-way caution. It is conceivable though that Alan King could spoil the party with 2nd top-rated PENN DA BENN at a big looking 14/1 and these two are rated way ahead of anything else.

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5:15 GRAND ANNUAL

I actually had Chapoturgeon top-stats rated for this...doh ! Alongside him I had FRENCH OPERA who is a close 4th on the ratings so he goes straight in as an each-way bet alongside the top-rated PASCO. Those two will do for me and hopefully one will win and one will come 2nd.