Kevin Blake, who tipped Ultima winner Johnnywho on Tuesday, has offered three tips for Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival, including a 66/1 fancy in the opener.
Blake’s column highlights the competitive nature of this year’s meeting with large fields and opportunities to back talented horses at big prices. He notes day two has a particularly open look.
Zeus Power at a Colossal Price
The first race of interest for Blake is the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle (1.20), where he is siding with the Joseph O’Brien-trained ZEUS POWER, likely to be his biggest-priced selection of the week.
Blake believes that Zeus Power might be capable of improvement against the odds. He notes that the changes to the handicap rules, requiring horses to have five runs over hurdles, have benefited Grade 1 novice hurdles. Zeus Power would have previously been teed up for a handicap hurdle but now runs in this race against 21 rivals.
According to Blake, the son of Protectionist has improved since being sent over hurdles, winning a maiden at Thurles in December. He took a step up in class for a rated novice hurdle at Navan, facing Lazare De Star.
Zeus Power, ridden with confidence, made headway to challenge up the inside and showed bravery to see off the favourite. Blake says Zeus Power will benefit from that experience. The longer trip promises to suit him well and the style of race should play to his strengths.
Kaid D’Authie in the Brown Advisory
Blake also considers the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2.00) to be another open Grade 1 contest. He believes Willie Mullins-trained KAID D’AUTHIE is overpriced.
Blake argues that the market is underrating Kaid D’Authie’s win against Final Demand at the Dublin Racing Festival, believing it was no fluke. Kaid D’Authie put Final Demand under serious pressure from a long way out, and Final Demand couldn’t respond.
Blake says it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the six-year-old has progressed.
The opportunity to back talented horses at very big prices is what sets these big meetings apart.