Lucky 15 Tips For Today

Matata returns to Prestbury Park with something to prove, yet plenty in his profile suggests he is worth keeping firmly onside. His previous run here was disappointing, but that entire meeting saw several runners from the yard perform below expectations, hinting that his effort should be viewed with generosity rather than concern. When this horse is at full tilt, his natural cruising speed and sharp jumping make him a formidable rival, and his body of form from last season backs that up. He previously defeated high-quality opposition in decisive style, including giving substantial weight to the subsequent Grand Annual runner-up before powering clear by a wide margin.

The presence of a strong pace here should actually suit him, as he has shown he can settle into a rhythm and deliver a proper finish when the race unfolds honestly. His official mark puts him right among the main contenders, and if he rekindles the spark he showed earlier in his career, he is capable of pushing the leading lights harder than the market implies. At the current odds, he looks a significantly overpriced danger to those at the top of the betting.

A Pai De Nom enters handicaps for the first time, and his opening mark looks notably manageable considering the substance of his early hurdles form. His debut win at Newton Abbot was achieved with authority, and the horses behind him have since validated that performance by going on to score in competitive company. He built on that effort when chasing home an exciting rival on his return to the same venue, travelling strongly throughout and sticking on with determination once asked for his effort.

What strengthens confidence further is the calibre of his previous opponents, particularly his narrow defeat to Sober Glory, who has turned out to be a seriously progressive type. That line alone brings a layer of depth to A Pai De Nom’s profile that the assessor may not have fully accounted for. Dan Skelton’s team excel with horses moving into handicaps at this stage of their development, and this gelding fits the mould of one who will improve physically and mentally as the season unfolds. A prominent showing looks very much within reach.

Can You Call has long shaped like the kind of horse who thrives when stamina and testing conditions combine, and this veterans’ chase looks tailor-made for him. Despite his age, he has relatively few miles on the clock for a ten-year-old, largely because he has seldom encountered truly soft terrain over fences, which is where he appears at his most effective. The last time he raced on heavy ground, he produced a dominant display over hurdles at Uttoxeter, travelling with ease and putting the race to bed in good style.

He has also shown that he can handle higher-calibre opposition, as seen in his excellent Chepstow run where he split two smart performers and stayed on strongly to the line. Dropping to the foot of the weights here plays perfectly into his hands, and the booking of Brian Hughes adds another layer of appeal. With rain arriving to enhance his prospects further, the conditions seem to have aligned ideally for a big performance from a horse who often saves his best for days just like this.

Double Powerful returns to Cheltenham after a highly promising third on his chase debut, a run that hinted strongly at further improvement to come now he has that experience under his belt. He travelled with confidence for much of the race and only wilted late on as fitness began to tell, yet his attitude and scope over fences were both encouraging. The handicapper reacted with a small rise, suggesting that the performance did not go unnoticed, and there is every reason to believe he can build on it.

Although stepping into a Listed race poses a tougher test, his profile suggests he is capable of coping with the upgrade. His overall strike-rate highlights the talent he possesses, and he has already demonstrated stamina for today’s trip when running a big race over hurdles at Aintree in the spring. Neil Mulholland often brings his chasers along steadily, and Double Powerful may well be approaching peak condition at the perfect moment. With his rider knowing him intimately, a bold showing is very much on the cards.