The 2023 Cheltenham Festival: Placepot picks for day three

He will be a banker for many, as Mighty Potter has carried all before him this season and is hard to knock, but if there is a crack in his armour then look no further than last year’s Festival. He didn’t travel over well and then failed to fire in the Supreme and was pulled up. We’re a year on and maybe the wheel will spin more kindly but there’s hope in last year to take him on for the Placepot.

BANBRIDGE (3) was a long way behind him in the Drinmore but stayed on notably well in the Irish Arkle. APPRECIATE IT (1) was taken off his feet in the the same race but still performed well in defeat and should be more comfortable over this trip, while Stage Star impressed in handicap company last time is another to consider.

Last year’s winner may have been 25/1 but two of the three co-favourites placed and I don’t think there’s any need to try and get too ambitious again here. Thanksforthehelp fairly dotted up at Chepstow to stake a late bid for this prize and will be popular, but I prefer the claims of CAPTAIN MORGS (7) who doesn’t appear to have been too harshly treated for a win here in December. Gordon Elliott has enjoyed more success than most and MAXXUM (3) has leading claims in a typically strong team. Little went right for him last time and he’s better judged on his 16-length success prior to that for all it came from a significantly lower rating. Good Time Jonny and Green Book, who bounced back at this meeting last year, are another two to consider at longer odds.

Shishkin is head and shoulders above these on his best form and the popular chaser looked to be close to that level on his return from numerous well-documented problems at Ascot. To some, he will be Placepot banker material but he did pull up in last year’s Champion Chase and clearly had quite a hard race at Ascot. His overall profile suggests he must be taken on.

As in the first race, I’ll take him on in the hope of landing a large Placepot dividend and I’ll do so with last year’s runner-up JANIDIL (8) who looked in rude health on his recent return. French Dynamite has to improve to take a hand but unlike many of his rivals he has few other questions to answer and could outrun his odds. Fury Road is owned by the sponsor and respected.

There have been several different ante-post favourites for this race already with poor performances and injury scares leading to turmoil in the markets. The progressive Blazing Khal and FLOORING PORTER (4) – the winner for the last two years – slot into the latter category but the hat-trick bid is alive and well and the reigning champion has to go in the pot. He’s not been popular with punters, but the easy Cleeve Hurdle winner GOLD TWEET (5) is a must for inclusion as his claims could be overlooked by many. That wasn’t the strongest test of his stamina so there are doubts about the form but the change of gear the French horse showed was taking. The pace of the Cleeve didn’t show Paisley Park in the best light and he’s capable of better while progressive pair Home By The Lee and Teahupoo hold leading claims.

Turn the clock back two years and The Shunter won this race for JP McManus and Emmet Mullins at odds of 9/4. There could well be a similar outcome with SO SCOTTISH (12) all the rage and it’s easy to see why as he’s progressed well and ran a fine race at Ascot over an inadequate trip. He may not want the ground to ride too soft though, so with rain forecast it’s worth adding another line to the Placepot permutation in MIDNIGHT RIVER (4). He’s at his best over this trip when the mud is flying and has already run two fine races in course handicaps, winning in January. He’s been freshened up, has scope for further progress and shouldn’t be far away. Il Ridoto ran a career best last time and, along with Frero Banbou, who is respected now up in trip, is a live contender in a competitive heat.

Love Envoi broke the stranglehold Irish trained runners had on this race when beating Ahorsewithnoname into second last year and the home team can keep their hands on the prize. Nicky Henderson has a stronger candidate than last year’s runner-up in LUCCIA (1) who looks banker material after impressing sufficiently to leave connections pondering a tilt at the Supreme on the opening day. They’ve opted for this ‘easier’ option and Luccia can justify that decision.

Magical Zoe hasn’t had the opportunity to achieve as much but is unbeaten in three career starts while You Wear It Well is worth considering with the Challow Hurdle form working out fairly well although her best form has been over further.

Leg 1: 1 Appreciate It, 3 Banbridge

Leg 2: 3 Maxxum, 7 Captain Morgs

Leg 3: 8 Janidil

Leg 4: 4 Flooring Porter, 5 Gold Tweet

Leg 5: 4 Midnight River, 12 So Scottish

Leg 6: 1 Luccia

✍ GOLD CUP RUNNER-BY-RUNNER GUIDE

🐴 STATS AND TRENDS FOR ALL 28 RACES

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