3:50 Cheltenham – Grivetana
This looks to be a great opportunity for these Juvenile fillies to pick up some valuable Black Type for their CVs, but the standout candidate must be GRIVETANA. The winner of her only start in France at Cagnes-Sur-Mer, she didn’t seem to take to the soft ground on her British debut at Wincanton in February, where she finished 4th to Farmers Gamble. That form hasn’t really worked out, but she was in against older horses on that occasion, and she quickly made amends for that on her next start at Chepstow, where the return to a sound surface brought out significant improvement and she won with any amount in hand. The Handicapper has reacted by giving her an opening mark of 122, which looks very fair in the context of this race and with Angus Cheleda taking off a handy 5lbs, she should go close for the champion trainer.
2:40 Cheltenham – Trapista
Another competitive affair on this Mares’ only card, but the horse who makes the most appeal in this handicap hurdle is surely TRAPISTA. When she won at Huntingdon in October, she looked to be very promising, but she hasn’t quite been able to reach those heights in 2 runs since. Her Flat breeding has perhaps left her vulnerable in 2 starts at Cheltenham and Ludlow on softer ground in the interim and she did travel well on her return from a 2-month break before tiring last time out. She has work to do with a couple of those rivals from the Ludlow race here, but she is weighted to get closer and with the Jonjo O’Neill team in good form, she looks to have a solid each-way chance in an open race.
