Simon Holt previews Saturday's meeting at Cheltenham with Slate House fancied to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup for Colin Tizzard.
Recomended Bets: November 14
2pts win Lamanver Pippin in 1.05 Cheltenham at 11/2
2pts win Slate House in 2.15 Cheltenham at 10/1
1pt win Debestyman 2.50 Cheltenham at 9/1
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In last year's Paddy Power Gold Cup, SLATE HOUSE looked the likely winner only to fall at the second last and Colin Tizzard's gelding is fancied to make amends off just a 5lb higher mark in Saturday's renewal at Cheltenham.
Sent off 4-1 favourite that day, Robbie Power's mount made steady progress on the bridle approaching the home turn and looked ready to take over from the eventual winner Happy Diva (now 6lb worse off) only to crash-land with more momentum than his legs could handle. The form worked out quite well subsequently with the ill-fated Warthog (third) returning to Cheltenham a month later to land the December Gold Cup.
Slate House went on to win his next two starts at Huntingdon and Kempton (the Kauto Star Novices' Chase over three miles on Boxing Day) but was well beaten on his final two appearances and it's just possible this horse is best in the first half of the season.
After a sluggish start to the campaign, Tizzard is now firing in a few winners (notably with Ofalltheginjoints and Fiddlerontheroof at Exeter on Wednesday) and this race is bound to have been the selection's target once again.
In opposition are several horses who ran well at the Cheltenham Festival, including the Plate winner Simply The Betts who has been raised 8lb for beating Happy Diva by just over a length (Siruh De Lac still just in front but ridden when falling two out and Spiritofthegames sixth) as well as Mister Fisher and Saint Sonnet who both ran creditably in fourth and seventh respectively behind Samcro in the Marsh Novices' Chase.
Earlier, Tizzard can also strike with LAMANVER PIPPIN in the South West Syndicate Handicap Chase for conditional and amateur riders.
This lightly-raced seven-year-old was always going to be a better chaser than a hurdler and ran out a comfortable winner at Chepstow just under a year ago when giving Fortescue, the winner of his next two starts, 10lb and a five length beating.
With the runner-up now rated 129, Lamanver Pippin looks well handicapped off 132.
On one final outing, William Biddick's mount was far from disgraced in the National Hunt Chase here at the Festival, chasing up Ravenhill and Lord Du Mesnil (both rated in the 150s) before finishing a leg-weary third over a challenging three and three-quarter miles. Off level weights with that pair, it was a brave effort which also suggests he could be well treated here.
Later on, DEBESTYMAN should be primed for a big run in the Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle after his back-to-form second behind Captain Tom Cat, with several of his rivals here behind him, at the October meeting.
Stepped up in trip rather than renew rivalry with the winner later on in the card, Suzy Smith's seven-year-old receives weight all round (1lb out of the handicap) and, with another patient ride from Michael Nolan, can prove better than his current mark.
Loyal followers of this advice may recall that Debestyman looked sure to win last season's Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton when going to the last with a three length lead only to blunder Nolan out of the saddle.
Hopefully, victory here can help erase that painful memory.
Posted at 1645 GMT on 13/11/20
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