Saturday Yankee: We’ve got a friend in Ben…

The Daily Yankee

NAP OF THE DAY:   Benatar, (1355 Cheltenham), 1pt win, 12/1: 

Two solid market leaders here but both have crept up the weights.  Cepage is 12lbs higher than when second here last year and Brelan D’As looks the better choice but is also 5lbs up for coming second last time. Benatar is very interesting as a horse who lost his way running far too freely last season.  He has won first time out twice before, and the first time hood is being used in pursuit of this valuable prize.  Lots of front runners here may help him and if he could burst back to the form of his JLT 3rd place (ahead of Kemboy) then he has to have a big chance.

Kiltealy Briggs, (1430 Cheltenham), 6/1:  this trip is a proper stamina test for novice hurdlers and it makes form at shorter trips only an approximation to what happens here.  Champagne Well may be stretching things here at a short price, and we prefer Kiltealy Briggs who is bred for a slog and handled a stiff test at Hexham last time.

Call Me Lord, (1505 Cheltenham), 3/1:   This classy type has plenty in the plus column, the handicapper suggesting he is 10lbs well in with favourite here Pentland Hills.  The only doubt is that this is his first go left handed in the UK – deliberately so as trainer Henderson feels he might struggle that way.  That could be the case, but it’s worth risking given it is untried.  Pentland Hills is the obvious danger but needs to prove last year’s juvenile form will stand up.

Lust For Glory, (1540 Cheltenham), 8/1:   Two Henderson trained Mares here who both ran eye-catching seasonal debuts.  Hot favourite Dame De Compagnie made her return in the Greatwood and is obviously the more likely, but she’ll need to repeat that in her second run after an injury layoff.  Lust For Glory ran a blinder at Ascot and on that run, and on breeding, should enjoy this longer trip.  She looks the value at 4 times the price.

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