Lalor, Under the Care of Paul Nicholls, Can Strike at Cheltenham
Cheltenham, the much-touted ‘home of jumps racing’, takes center stage on Saturday afternoon. The Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap is the feature race of a seven-race card. While it may look a minefield for punters, we are expecting a big run from Lalor.
Formerly trained by Kayley Woollacott, Lalor has not won a race in three years and was pulled-up in both his starts at the beginning of 2021. However, the German-bred has a lot of back-class underlined by a Grade 1 novice hurdle success at Aintree in April 2018.
Trainers Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton are expected to be amongst the winners at Cheltenham on Saturday. ©GettyImages
The switch to Paul Nichols is expected to see the nine-year-old’s enthusiasm for the game rekindled and this sound jumper, racing for just the third time in 22 months, might just make a mockery of his current handicap mark.
Second Time Lucy for Lucki?
At 1.40 pm, in a two-mile Grade 2 novice chase, Third Time Lucki is unopposable and gets our nap treatment. Rated 144 over hurdles, this six-year-old was imperious when making his chasing debut over course and distance three weeks ago.
One of the brightest lights amongst the 158 horses currently trained by Dan Skelton, Third Time Lucki looks to have benefited from surgery to help his breathing performed during the summer. He should take this contest at the expense of Mick Pastor.
However, instead of playing the forecast market, we suggest making this one your banker bet in four Trixi bets. For that we need two more selections. The first of those comes from Punchestown.
Gentleman Can Go Three-From-Three Back at Punchestown
Across the water in Ireland, Cape Gentleman can complete a hattrick in the BetVictor Casino Novice Chase at Punchestown. Only a five-year-old, he could have been described as a fortuitous winner when scoring on his chase debut over course and distance four weeks ago.
That day the odds-on favorite, Ballyadam, fell at the first fence. But the Emmett Mullins’ trained horse showed that victory was no fluke by taking a novice chase by 14-lengths at Cork two weeks later.
The best form guide of all is a horse called Buddy Rich. He finished second to Cape Gentleman at Punchestown but scored convincingly last time out at Navan. In between those two runs he also finished second to today’s nap selection, Third Time Lucki, at Cheltenham.
Don’t Desert Lime at Lingfield
And finally, at Lingfield, Desert Lime can make amends for his odds-on defeat last time out at Newcastle. On that occasion, the formerly Irish-trained and Juddmonte owned horse appeared to find the seven furlong trip too demanding.
Now, over a furlong shorter and in receipt of five pounds from most of her rivals, she can get her nose in front on her third start. The booking of jockey William Buick is noteworthy and, in an ordinary-looking maiden, she can use this race as a steppingstone to better things.
Saturday’s Top Tips:
Banker: Third Time Lucki (1.40 pm Cheltenham)
Next Best: Lalor (2.15 pm Cheltenham)
Cape Gentleman (12.38 pm Punchestown)
Desert Lime (1.55 pm Lingfield)
Suggested bet: Four Trixie bets all featuring Third Time Lucki as a banker selection.
