Mick says Gordon Elliott’s Sermandzarak is worth keeping on side in the 14:55.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Saturday Cheltenham Tips
13:10 – Darcys Friend
13:45 – Pour Les Filles
14:20 – Three Card Brag
14:55 – Sermandzarak
15:30 – Give It To Me Oj
16:05 – Intense Approach
16:40 – Le Beau Madrik
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
A 2m 4f handicap Chase opens the card on Saturday and it’s wide open. Emmet Mullins’ runners are always to be noted when travelling over from Ireland and his DARCY’S FRIEND makes some appeal. He was second at Killarney when he was very unlucky not to win after making a mistake two fences out. There could be more improvement to come and this is a valuable prize.
Gordon Elliott seems to be targeting some early-season prizes and had a five-timer at Forest Hills in the United States last weekend. His POUR LES FILLES was a good winner at Downpatrick in a four-runner maiden hurdle and looks to have plenty of upside to him.
A competitive 3m 1f handicap where Gordon Elliott may hold the key again with the highly-tried THREE CARD BRAG. He ran very well again in the Kerry National at Listowel when second to Spanish Harlem last month. He’s part owned by Max McNeill who loves a winner at Cheltenham.
Gordon Elliott is doubly-represented with Sermandzarak and Winning Smut. I’ve ben quietly impressed with SERMANDZARAK who has a 50 per cent strike rate, winning three of his six starts. A handicap mark of 134 looks workable and he has a live change on what could be a very good day for the Co. Meath handler.
It’s very hard to get away from the market leader GIVE IT TO ME OJ in the 2m Masterson Hurdle. He’s been running well on the Flat and won well at Epsom recently. He should justify his odds in a four-runner affair.
He’s a previous course winner for Irish trainer John McConnell when taking a novice hurdle last season. McConnell has a good strike rate with the runners he sends over for this Showcase meeting and INTENSE APPROACH won his Beginners Chase at Galway in August. His back form suggests he could be good enough to win this.
His one run last season saw LE BEAU MADRIK finish runner-up at Plumpton on debut behind a Willie Mullins’ hotpot at Plumpton. He can put that experience to good use for the Skelton team who recorded a double at Cheltenham on Friday.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Saturday Cheltenham Tips
13:10 – Darcys Friend
13:45 – Pour Les Filles
14:20 – Three Card Brag
14:55 – Sermandzarak
15:30 – Give It To Me Oj
16:05 – Intense Approach
16:40 – Le Beau Madrik
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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