Cheltenham Placepot picks: Paul Kealy tackles Saturday's competitive card

I tried hard to take on favourite Samarrive in Cheltenham's opener (1.45) as it's easy to argue the handicapper hit him hard for winning a bad race at Kempton in April.

However, he jumped brilliantly and bounded clear in second gear and while he was doubtless bought to be a chaser, he'll surely have more hurdle races in him.

Add the fact this race does not look a strong one for the grade and he should get favourite backers off to a flyer.

I'm perfectly happy with my two selections Storm Control and The Hollow Ginge in leg two (2.20) but the next (2.55) is far trickier than it looks and I'm not at all convinced by the odds-on Tritonic after his soft effort in the Triumph.

Stepney Causeway is the most obvious one but I'm adding Champion Bumper ninth I Like To Move It, as we need the winner in this four-runner affair. He showed a good attitude on his hurdling debut and is only going to improve.

I'll be bitterly disappointed if Before Midnight isn't at least in the first three in the next (3.30) but will add Ashutor, who is nicely handicapped on his best form for Paul Nicholls if Sophie Leech can bring him back.

Born Patriot and Butler's Brief are the two in leg five (4.05), so that just leaves the five-runner novice chase (4.40), in which Does He Know looks the one to beat after comfortably seeing off Threeunderthrufive at Chepstow on his return.

Cheltenham Placepot perm

1.45
2 Samarrive

2.20
7 The Hollow Ginge
9 Storm Control

2.55
2 I Like To Move It
3 Stepney Causeway

3.30
5 Before Midnight
9 Ashutor

4.05
6 Born Patriot
9 Butler's Brief

4.40
1 Does He Know

1x2x2x2x2x1=16 lines

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