'He's plainly the wrong price' - Maddy Playle has a strong Cheltenham fancy

Farinet
Racing Post Gold Cup, December 11
1pt each-way at 25-1 with bet365

It's been a frustrating few weeks. The last horse I tipped in this column, Martinhal, was a non-runner in the staying handicap hurdle at Haydock a fortnight ago, while Remastered, who I'd backed ante-post for the Ladbrokes Trophy at 20-1, fell four out when taking the lead at Newbury.

The good news is Martinhal is entered in the Pertemps qualifier at Sandown on Friday, in which he'll no doubt hold a sound chance, and Remastered is seemingly none the worse for his tumble.

The Ladbrokes Trophy-winning team of Williams and Charlie Deutsch are in rip-roaring form, dispelling the belief their horses only thrive when the mud is flying, and I think the pair could win another big handicap chase before the year is out.

The race in question is the Racing Post Gold Cup at Cheltenham next Saturday. The race will feature lots of familiar faces, including two recent tips in this column, Coconut Splash (plethora of other options puts me off) and Coole Cody (shorter price now and 2lb higher).

Farinet (grey): unexposed in Britain after just two runsCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The trainer's 157-rated Cepage is entered, but it could be he keeps the weights down for his stablemate and my fancy Farinet, who is as short at 14-1 but can be backed at a standout 25-1 with bet365.

He ran a race full of promise on his British debut in February, finishing a staying-on third to Galahad Quest at Haydock, and then got the better of the useful Up The Straight in a competitive race at Sandown, where they finished tired.

He recorded an RPR of 139 then, suggesting his 8lb higher mark of 133 could still be underselling what he is ultimately capable of.

There is plenty of rain forecast for Cheltenham in the coming weeks, which will aid his cause as not only does he handle soft ground very well but it would put more emphasis on his featherweight of 10st 2lb.

Deutsch is a rider I've always admired and he's at the top of his game right now, while similar comments apply to Williams, who won this race in 2014 with Niceonefrankie.

I have no doubt Farinet is an unexposed horse with plenty more to give, and he's plainly the wrong price in a race where many towards the top of the market look as if they could be in the handicapper's grip.

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