Paddy Brennan: If anyone wants a massive outsider, Coolanly is your man
Coolanly
If anyone wants £1 each way on a massive outsider at Cheltenham, then Coolanly is your man. I see he is 66/1 [at the time of writing] and that is a huge price. Now, I know there are some good horses in here, not least Samcro, but I wouldn’t underestimate my horse. He had a good grounding in points and he won a fair bumper at Chepstow – First Flow was fourth in that race – and he ran really well against a good horse in Vinndication, who has won twice since, at Leicester on his hurdling debut. Ideally, we would have liked to get another run into him but he had a slight setback after Leicester which meant we ran out of time to get another start into him. But he comes here fresh as a result, so it could be a blessing in disguise. He will love the heavy ground and is in some form at home, so I genuinely do feel he has a massive each-way chance against the big boys.
I think this is a two-horse race between Presenting Percy and Monalee. I think Presenting Percy is probably a Gold Cup horse and his handicap experience will serve him well in this ground, so I like him best.
I don’t have an opinion in the race, so let’s move on.
God’s Own
The Altior news has thrown everything into the air at the moment, but they will have worked wonders to get him to the race in A1 form after that kind of last-minute problem. My horse is one of many who definitely would not have wanted all this rain – all his best form is on much better ground – but this is his time of year and he has run three good races in this contest. He chased home Un De Sceaux in 2015 and has performed with credit in the last two years, too. I thought he ran well for me when third at Kempton last time, getting a bit tired late on, and that will have put an edge on him here. However, the ground clearly is a negative.
4.10pm Cheltenham – Cross Country
I don’t have an opinion here, either. Sorry.
4.50pm Cheltenham – Fred Winter
I was gutted when Night Of Glory didn’t get in, as I thought he would have gone very well. In his absence, I think Saturday’s Sandown winner Eragon De Chanay has a big shout under his 5lb penalty. I am not sure how strong that race was at the weekend and the quick turnaround is an obvious worry, but he couldn’t have done it any easier.
Mercy Mercy Me
We haven’t seen him since his impressive Sandown win in November, but there have been no issues. He was due to run at the abandoned Welsh National meeting, and at least he comes here a fresh horse. That Sandown win worked out okay, as the runner-up has developed into a good novice hurdler, and he comes into this race in great order at home. I think he is more than capable of making his presence felt, and he is another of mine on the day with a massive each-way chance at around 25/1.
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