‘Strong upward trajectory’ - Lucky 15 tips for Cheltenham on Thursday

Cheltenham 1.20 - Carrigmoornaspruce

Thursday’s opener looks like an open contest, despite Bambino Fever being a short-priced favourite and one mare that looks worth taking her on with is Carrigmoornaspruce.

She’s been on a strong upward trajectory since finishing third behind today’s favourite at last season’s Dublin Racing Festival, finishing runner-up in a Listed bumper before signing off last season’s campaign with a Grade 3 success at the Punchestown Festival, beating the Aintree Grade 2 bumper winner in the process.

She has subsequently made a bright start to her hurdle career, winning a Listowel maiden hurdle in good style before finishing runner-up back up in class in Grade 3 company at Down Royal in October.

She then ran another massive race at this year’s Christmas meeting at Leopardstown, finishing runner-up in Grade 1 company when not seen to best effect and she ought to get a stronger gallop to aim at here, which is going to suit this mare.

If she finds any more improvement, it’s hard to see her being out of the first three at double figure odds.

Cheltenham 2.00 - Sixmilebridge

The subsequent graded contest also looks open with a chance taken on Sixmilebridge who arrives on the back of a Grade 1 success at Sandown in the Scilly Isles.

That took his record to three from three over fences, following on from a course and distance success at the International meeting before Christmas and the handicapper may have let him off lightly with a revised mark of a 150.

He’ll be fine back on quicker ground and his course form counts for plenty so he looks like the value play at around 9-1.

Cheltenham 3.20 - Ma Shantou

Another selection with course form in the book is Ma Shantou. Emma Lavelle’s new staying stablestar followed up a New Year’s Day success over course and distance with another in the Cleeve Hurdle on Trials Day.

He was notably well backed for that win and won going away from even money favourite, Impose Toi who re-opposes here.

If he continues on his upward trajectory, it’s hard to see him out of the frame and he looks overpriced at 7-1 or bigger.

Cheltenham 4.00 - Banbridge

Jonbon rsquo;s surprise declaration for the Ryanair has pushed Banbridge out to an each-way sort of price.

This son of Doyen was only beaten a nose in his bid for back-to-back King Georges last time out when tried in a first-time visor, which seemed to help him bounce back to form and given that was a stronger race than the King George he won in 2024, it rates as a career best effort.

He makes plenty of appeal at the prices having been kept fresh for this, unlike his main market rival Fact To File who won on gruelling ground at the Dublin Racing Festival.