The Grand Annual (4.15pm) looks fiercely competitive as ever, but it is a race that has thrown up some big outsiders in recent years and I am backing one at a price today.
Cappuccimix hasn’t yet come close to winning a big handicap, but he has got plenty of strong form in the book and I can see him winning one of these. Runner-up to Chosen Mate and Cash Back in two beginners chases last season, he was well backed on two of his first three starts in handicap chases this season, but failed to justify that market support.
However, there was much more encouragement to be gleaned from his seventh at Leopardstown in February. He travelled really nicely that day, jumped well in the main and still looked to be going as well as any as they entered the home straight. He tired from the last, but the drop back from 2m1.5f to 2m on drying ground should help.
Entoucas (finished fourth) is one of the leading fancies for this, while The Shunter (third) won well at Kelso last time and is favourite for the 2m4f handicap chase here tomorrow. He has just 10-4 today, Darragh O’Keeffe knows him well, having been on board on three of his last four outings, while the form of the de Bromhead yard is an obvious plus.
4.15pm Cheltenham – 0.5pt each-way Cappuccimix @ 50-1 6 places (Skybet, Betfair, PaddyPower)
