COKO BEACH from the Gordon Elliott yard is the one that interests me the most and at current odds of 33-1 I'm more than happy to get involved.
Elliott has won the Fred Winter twice since 2011, with a further two finishing in the places, from a pool of only 12 runners, and this French bred 4yo looked every inch a Fred Winter project in the making based on his tender handing on his last start at Naas, where he was 'nursed' to the line under hands and heels to finish an 8L third.
COKO BEACH should also appreciate the likely under foot cut he'll get at Cheltenham, with the ground having now finally softened up after the much needed rain we've just experience. He won his only start in France on Very Soft ground over 2m1.5f, suggesting there is enough stamina in him to handle the final climb up the Cheltenham hill ,and with 17 of Elliott's 20 Festival winners (in past 6 seasons) having
warmed up in a NON-Handicap event (which this lad did) it gives yet another positive to his chances.
He's got a solid trends profile, I suspect he'll be a full marks scorer on my wider trends for the race, and the 33/1 on offer (NRNB) looks well worth a dabble.
MAZE RUNNER for Mullins is of a certain level of interest but the trainer is currently 0/12, 0p in the race and only two of them have even managed to trouble the top 10, and I do just wonder if it's a race that's pretty low on his list of priorities. It's worth noting, however, that he has finished in front of Coko Beach on the two occasions they've met...
I'll keep the rest of the shortlist firmly on my radar though and I'll give them further thought come final decs.
Best of luck if getting involved...
Ben (NTF)
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