'She has to be included after her win' - Paul Kealy's Cheltenham Placepot perm

There are only two places to play for in the opening two legs at Cheltenham, but the opener (11.30, get your bets on early) doesn't look too competitive.

would be my clear choice as the form of his easy bumper win has worked out well (second won over hurdles since, third won on the Flat) and he jumped well and won as he liked on his debut.

The five-runner second race (12.05) is a bit tougher. I wouldn't want to leave out despite two lacklustre runs over 3m this term as the last time he ran at this track he was third to Imperial Aura and Galvin at the festival. He stayed 3m when second in a Grade 2 at Warwick last season.

definitely does stay though, and would be the second selection in a tight heat.

The next (12.40) is really competitive, although it's hard to leave out , who takes a drop in class after running an excellent third from off the pace in the Greatwood here last time.

An outsider who could go well at a price is , who stayed on late to be fourth to Buzz at Ascot last time. His Cheltenham form includes a Triumph trial success and fourth in the Triumph itself, both runs coming on the New course, which is in use this week.

In leg four (1.15) connections of must have been happily surprised with only a 9lb rise following her 28-length win in a 13-runner novice handicap chase at Leicester last week.

She is officially only 2lb well in under a 7lb penalty, but Racing Post Ratings has her a fair bit further ahead and she has to be included.

Jennie Candlish is 3-9 with horses in first-time cheekpieces since 2019, so her , who has run right up to her best in two starts at Ayr this season, goes in as well.

In the feature, the Peterborough Chase (1.50), is by far the most likely winner, while the improving has to be considered as well.

In the final leg we have a well-handicapped mare in , who has risen from 140 to 152 in Ireland following her win in the valuable Porterstown last week.

This was an early closer, so with a 5lb penalty added to her previous British mark of 143 she is still well in.

Placepot perm

11.30
1 Any News

12.05
2 L'Air Du Vent
5 Hold The Note

12.40
1 Nelson River
2 Tegerek

1.15
6 Stop Talking
11 Agent Valdez

1.50
4 Clondaw Castle
8 Kalashnikov

2.25
3 Court Maid

1 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 1 = 16 lines

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