Cheltenham Placepot picks: Paul Kealy's perm for the £150k guaranteed pool
In The Air is the default favourite for Cheltenham's opening handicap hurdle (1.15) but he had to work hard enough to complete his double in an average race at Exeter last time and this is much tougher.
Anyharminasking is just 1lb higher than for last year's clear second on his return in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and he makes much more appeal for Placepot purposes. Lightly raced pair Push The Button and Support Act are the other two for the perm.
In the next (1.50), Path D'Oroux's failure to win in ten chase outings last term will put off some, but he was placed in some hot handicaps, including the Grand Annual and Red Rum, and he's getting weight from inferior rivals here, so it's now or never. He should win.
Calico is a strong fancy for the third (2.25) but it's competitive enough, so I'll add Triple Trade, who was very consistent in the first half of last season.
The second banker of the meeting should be in the fourth race (3.00) with Gale Mahler, who has the best form and just keeps on winning with tons in hand.
There's no such thing as a banker in a 19-runner handicap chase (3.35), so my main two fancies, Atlanta Brave and Planned Paradise, are going to be joined by last year's winner Mole Court, and Wick Green, who is a big price for a horse who was third last year and is 6lb lower now.
The form horses in the final leg (4.10) are Potters Charm and Minella Sixo, but I reckon we can get away with one in this field. As the latter jumped to his right at Fairyhouse last time, I'll stick with Potters Charm.
Cheltenham Placepot perm
1.15
3 Anyharminasking
4 Push The Button
11 Support Act
1.50
5 Path D'Oroux
2.25
4 Calico
6 Triple Trade
3.00
6 Gale Mahler
3.35
5 Mole Court
6 Atlanta Brave
14 Wick Green
17 Planned Paradise
4.10
4 Potters Charm
3x1x2x1x4x1=24 lines
Read more:
Paul Kealy's play of the day at Cheltenham
Sign up to the Tote here. New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org. Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators that our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing.
Published on inFree tips
Last updated
- Racing Postcast: Cheltenham, Doncaster and Newbury preview show with Graeme Rodway and Jonny Pearson
- Charlie Huggins has found 9-4, 17-2, 2-1 and 7-4 winners from his last five tips and has three more selections on Friday
- Friday's free racing tips: six horses to consider putting in your multiple bets
- Paul Kealy's play of the day at Cheltenham
- Spotlight Lucky 15: four horses to back on Thursday
- Champions League betting offer: get a 40-1 odds boost for both teams to score in Barcelona vs Bayern Munich with Parimatch
- Bag 50-1 odds for a goal to be scored in Barcelona vs Bayern Munich in the Champions League with Betfair
- Get up to £255 with the best Champions League betting offers + get 50-1 for a goal to be scored in Barcelona vs Bayern Munich
- Racing Postcast: Cheltenham, Doncaster and Newbury preview show with Graeme Rodway and Jonny Pearson
- Charlie Huggins has found 9-4, 17-2, 2-1 and 7-4 winners from his last five tips and has three more selections on Friday
- Friday's free racing tips: six horses to consider putting in your multiple bets
- Paul Kealy's play of the day at Cheltenham
- Spotlight Lucky 15: four horses to back on Thursday
- Champions League betting offer: get a 40-1 odds boost for both teams to score in Barcelona vs Bayern Munich with Parimatch
- Bag 50-1 odds for a goal to be scored in Barcelona vs Bayern Munich in the Champions League with Betfair
- Get up to £255 with the best Champions League betting offers + get 50-1 for a goal to be scored in Barcelona vs Bayern Munich