Andy Newton’s Cheltenham Racing Tips On Friday: Is Jonbon Worth Taking On?

1:45 Cheltenham – Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase Cl2 (9yo+ 0-150) 2m4f ITV4

Probably not a race to get too involved in – but just enjoy seeing some old faces back at Prestury Park.

2023 December Gold Cup winner Fugitif will be popular and is rated 6lbs lower (plus Charlie Maggs’ 5lb claim) than that win. But also hasn’t won a race since.

Gunsight Ridge will catch the eye with champion jockey Sean Bowen riding, but the Olly Murphy yard are only 1-23 with their chasers at this track.

The only recent winner in the field – Lord Baddesley, who won well at Newbury eight days ago, looks a fair option despite being 7lbs higher.

We know he’s fit and well and the Honeyball yard are in fair form too.

Mister Coffey is still looking for that first career win over fences (0-16) so it’s hard to get jiggy about his chase.

But there probably won’t be a bigger cheer all day if he does get that elusive first win.

While course winners Eldorado Allen and Numitor are respected too.

However, a chance is taken on CAN YOU CALL (e/w). 

The Evan Williams yard had a few winners in the week, so their stable form could be turning. Plus they also boast a solid 23% SR with their chasers here at Cheltenham.

A recent seventh at Fontwell would have blow away the cobwebs, has also been dropped 2lbs and will like the expected softer ground.

Former champion jockey Brian Hughes gets the ride.

🥇CAN YOU CALL (e/w)
🥈LORD BADDESLEY (nr)
🥉FUGITIF 

2:20 Cheltenham – Sun’s “Save Our Bets” Novices’ Chase (Listed Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m1f ITV4

The clear top-rated in the field Leave Of Absence outgunned Pied Piper here last month and is a chaser on the up.

This is a better-looking race though, but he’s the only CD winner in the field and is sure to go well.

This could, however, be the softest ground he’s tackled – with all runs on good-to-soft or faster.

Wade Out is another Olly Murphy chaser here but , as mentioned, their 1-23 SR over fences here is the worry.

That said, he took a nice scalp in Wendigo on his chase debut at Worcester last month but the unknown is the step up in trip (2m 4f to 3m1f).

One Big Bang, who is first time over fences, is back from a 197-day break and so fitness is taken on trust. But did run well last season over hurdles.

Notably when fifth in the Pertemps Network Final Hurdle at the Festival.

We know he’ll stay and won’t mind the ground – any moves in the betting should help us regarding his fitness.

Paul Nicholls Has A Good Record In This Race

But the likeable and consistent DOUBLE POWERFUL ran well here last month, when third over 2m4f.

He should be fine over this longer trip, has won on soft/heavy in the past and did well at this time of the year last season.

Plus won today’s opening race 12 months ago (over hurdles) and would have certainly come on for that recent spin.

The other of interest is the Paul Nicholls runner ISAAC DES OBEAUX, who has been a frustrating sort since beating Haiti Couleurs in 2023.

But he’s had a wind op over the summer so might just be worth having a saver on.

Yes, he’s got plenty to find on these terms, but it’s interesting Nicholls is pitching him in here. In a race he’s got a good record in.

Having won the pot four times since 2015.

🥇DOUBLE POWERFUL
🥈ISAAC DES OBEAUX,
🥉LEAVE OF ABSENCE 

2:55 Cheltenham – Shloer Chase (Registered As The Cheltenham Chase) (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m ITV4

The Nicky Henderson yard are hard to read at the moment – there are signs they are about to explode into action – but then a few a running flat to burst that bubble.

Jonbon will be the next horse to test this theory – one of their stable stars and a horse that’s won the last two runnings of this Grade Two.

But he’s never been a flashy winner of his races.

And also bombed out in the Champion Chase at the Festival in March and was last seen losing to Il Etait Temps at Sandown.

Meaning he’s lost two of this last three coming into today.

He’s nine now (going on 10) and has had a fabulous career. Running 23 times and winning 18 of those.

Jonbon has also had a wind op over the summer and has a good record fresh. Winning first time out for the last four seasons.

He’s the clear top-rated too (168). So with all the above, you don’t need me telling you his chance is an obvious one.

But at the prices he’s also NO VALUE.

L’Eau du Sud should improve from last season and ran well to be only beaten 1 1/2 lengths in the Arkle here.

He’s won on soft, the Skelton yard are one of the top Cheltenham trainers to watch this weekend. Oh, and they’ve also won two of the last four runnings of this.

So, with a step forward, could easily bridge the Jonbon gap.

In short, this looks a slightly stronger renewal than the last two years and Jonbon is not getting any younger.

‘Hunt’ Out The Value With Libberty 

A chance is, therefore, taken on LIBBERTY HUNTER, who we know will love the ground if the expected rain comes.

He fell in the Champion Chase in March, but was still going okay at the time and taking that tumble out – his overall Cheltenham record is solid.

Being 1-2-1-F here.

Harry Cobden has won on him here too and the Evan Williams camp do boast a 23% SR with their chasers here.

Libberty could be the value to ‘hunt’ down Jonbon in conditions we know he’ll relish.

🥇LIBBERTY HUNTER
🥈JONBON 
🥉L’EAU DU SUD 

3:30 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Hyde Novices’ Hurdle) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m5f ITV4

The key trends here tell us that 18 of the last 20 winners finished first or second last time out.

While ALL of the last 20 ran in the last five weeks and 19/20 returned 10/1 or shorter.

Based on these stats – GREAT FLEET ticks a lot of boxes. While if you can forgive the ‘five weeks trend’ so does the Irish raider Heads Up.

The last-named was a good winner 50 days ago at Listowel.

Plus the John C McConnell team often do well here when sending runners over to these early Cheltenham meetings.

He was also an excellent second in the Champion Bumper here in March to Bambino Fever. So that track experience is a further plus.

Great Fleet also has knowledge of the course, when third here last month. This Skelton runner travelled well that day but just seemed to fail to see out the 3m trip (2nd).

Therefore, with that run under his belt and this ease in trip – he looks fair value.

Of the rest, it’s a bit strange jockey Sam Twiston-Davies is NOT riding Intosomethinggood for his dad and brother.

Instead STD (unfortunate initials) gets the leg-up on the Anthony Honeyball-trained FOUNTAINS BLENHEIN. Who was a very easy winner at Fontwell last time.

He also ticks most of the main stats and STD also won this race last year on Potters Charm.