Wet and windy, and I’m under the weather. Tuesday’s exertions possibly the boiling point. I’ve been watching the festival, but unfortunately the posts didn’t make it. However, today goes my bet of the festival, so a point made to get this one together.
Moneygarrow 12/1
1pt EW | Cheltenham 15:20
T: Dan Skelton | J: Harry Skelton
Not one of the possible plot jobs of the Skelton’s, who have fired in a few who have suddenly found heaps in hand come the handicaps, but I fancy the pants off of Moneygarrow to run a biblical race in the Albert Bartlett.
Solid Bumper form throught 2024 and early 2025 made him an obvious horse of above average ability, but it jumped out how the Skelton’s dropped him in the deep end when making his Hurdles bow in the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow at the beginning of the season, despite being over what was always likely to be a trip significantly on the short side for him.
As the season progressed, they gradually stepped him up in trip each time, and on each occasion he has eeked how more and more improvement, culminating in a really eyecatching win over They Call Me Hugo, who will go on to surpass his mark of 132 significantly.
The way in which Harry Skelton stalked They Call Me Hugo that day, on Moneygarrow’s first start over three miles, did little justice to just how comfortable a win it was on the day. He had so much horse under him, it was always a case of when rather than if.
I think we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg of what this lad can do over staying trips and fully fancy him to be cruising into this as they make the turn at the foot of the hill.
The each-way bet of the festival for me, by a long margin.
Best of luck with your punting today,
