Put it on the ‘slate’ - SLATE HOUSE - in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.15) at Cheltenham today.
Colin Tizzard’s eight-year-old is due a change of luck in the biggest handicap chase of the National Hunt season so far.
Twelve months ago, Robbie Power had yet to ask his mount a serious question when Slate House crumpled on landing after the second last fence, leaving Happy Diva to lift the prize by a neck from Brelan D’As.
The son of Presenting won his next two starts, including the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
Slate House underperformed at Cheltenham behind Santini in the Cotswold Chase in January and Champ in the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase in March.
But his record fresh - my selection has made a successful beginning to two of the past three campaigns - suggests Slate House will bring his ‘A’ game as he returns to the fray.
And a British Horseracing Authority handicap mark of 153 - 5lb higher than last year - looks within range and the form of the Tizzard team is another plus.
Saturday's racing tips
CHELTENHAM
12.30 HELL RED
1.05 STORM CONTROL
1.40 ELDORADO ALLEN
2.15 SLATE HOUSE (NB)
2.50 DEBESTYMAN
3.25 CAPTAIN TOM CAT
3.55 ELLE EST BELLE
WETHERBY
12.03 JETAWAY JOEY
12.38 SIR VALENTINE
1.13 DEMI SANG
1.48 FANZIO
2.23 MACKENBERG
2.58 HAAFAPIECE
3.33 LITHIC
UTTOXETER
11.52 GUMBO FLYER
12.22 PADDYS MOTORBIKE
12.57 SEHAYLI
1.32 PRESS YOUR LUCK
2.07 ROSMUC RELAY
2.42 LEGENDS GOLD
3.17 OLDABBEY BRIDGE
3.50 SOLWARA ONE
LINGFIELD PARK
11.40 MR MAC
12.10 EMERALD FOX
12.45 IRREVERENT
1.20 KING ATHELSTAN
1.55 THE NOSEY PARKER
2.30 FOLK MAGIC
3.05 DUBAI WARRIOR
3.40 GOOD EFFORT (NAP)
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.30 FRENCH POLISH
5.00 ENZO
5.30 DEEP SIGH
6.00 HELMONT
6.30 LOVE OF ZOFFANY
7.00 BUCKINGHAM
7.30 CAPTAIN CLARET
8.00 LAST SURPRISE
8.30 SHOW ME THE BUBBLY
DOUBLE: GOOD EFFORT and SLATE HOUSE
