Cheltenham Placepot: Paul Kealy reckons Henderson bankers can close out perm
The early action is the most competitive at Cheltenham and the hardest race for Placepot punters to get through is probably the first (12.15).
Cormier is my fancy at a price, and I'll try to get favourite Lively Citizen out of the frame with Masters Legacy and Hydroplane, with the latter at least as at home on decent ground as the heavy he won on last time at Sandown.
I have my doubts over Iceo in the next (12.45), so Interne De Sivola and Pied Piper are the ones to go with, while the third (1.20) is incredibly tricky but has been narrowed down to Beakstown and Solo.
Farinet is surely one to take on in the big handicap (2.30) as soft ground seems important, and I'm perfectly happy with my pair of Magic Saint, who is well handicapped now, and Whatmore, who goes well fresh.
That just leaves two Graded races, and in the first of those (2.30) Chantry House ought to take all the beating. He was pulled up in the King George after being well backed, but I have a theory he doesn't like going right-handed, and he certainly has no worries on this track.
His trainer Nicky Henderson's Champ is very much the one to beat in the last (3.05) as well.
Cheltenham Placepot perm
12.15
1 Masters Legacy
4 Cormier
8 Hydroplane
12.45
2 Interne De Sivola
7 Pied Piper
1.20
2 Solo
5 Beakstown
1.55
1 Magic Saint
3 Whatmore
2.30
2 Chantry House
3.05
1 Champ
3x2x2x2x1x1 = 24 lines
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