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

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Paul Kealy's play of the day at Cheltenham   

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