Cheltenham Placepot picks: Paul Kealy goes in with an early banker

Cheltenham opens with a Triumph Hurdle trial (12.35), and early favourite seems to have decent French form.

It is almost certainly not as good as the French handicapper rates him – his mark would be 151 if the BHA still reciprocated – but he has twice been close up behind one of their top juveniles and I wouldn't be surprised if he was better than this early-season field. I'll take a chance and bank on him as it gets tougher after that.

makes most appeal in the amateur jockeys' handicap chase (1.10) as he's fit after a recent run and won at this meeting in 2020, but I'll add as he doesn't look badly treated off just 2lb higher than this Irish mark.

The Arkle trial (1.45) looks a cracker and my preferences are Pentland Hillsand .

I'll go with only two in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.20). has been a strong fancy for a while, and there aren't too many others I like. One exception is , a runaway winner on good ground on his return.

I really want to put Annual Invictus in with in the fifth (2.55), but he might not run due to the quick ground, and if he doesn't and Padleyourowncanoe ends up favourite, which is possible, it would be a case of all the eggs being in one basket.

Therefore, , who won this two years ago, goes well fresh and has been given a chance by the handicapper, is the back-up selection.

That just leaves the 2m5f handicap hurdle (3.30), and I'll resist the temptation to bank on and add , who ran into a very well-handicapped horse at Chepstow last time.

Cheltenham Placepot perm

12.35
2 Blueking D'Oroux

1.10
2 Castle Robin
7 Brave Way

1.45
1 Banbridge
5 Pentland Hills

2.20
6 Stolen Silver
8 Midnight River

2.55
1 On The Blind Side
8 Padleyourowncanoe

3.30
11 Forever William
14 Unanswered

1x2x2x2x2x2=32 lines

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