Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Each-way Plays: 'His level of form has taken a jolt forward'

Cheltenham 13:20 - Came From Nowhere

It looks like a cracking renewal of the Turners to kick off Wednesday’s card and one that may have been a little underestimated in the betting is Jeremy Scott’s gelding, Came From Nowhere.

This seven-year-old made a promising start to his career, bolting up in a bumper and while he had a setback which made him miss more than a year, he has slowly worked his way back to form this campaign.

He was good value for the winning margin at Hereford on his penultimate outing, a piece of form that worked out nicely and he made easy work of a competitive Ascot handicap subsequently when well backed.

This is a different level, but there could be more to come up in distance and he’ll be well suited by the likely strong gallop that should be on.

Cheltenham 14:00 - Oscars Brother

It looks like an above-average Brown Advisory but Oscars Brother looks overpriced at a double-figure price.

Connor King ’s gelding has really progressed over the larger obstacles this campaign, hitting the crossbar in two beginners’ contests before winning at Galway in October.

The level of form has taken a jolt forward in two subsequent starts, getting the better of Koktail Divin in a Punchestown Grade 2 in November and he was even more impressive when beating The Wallpark at Navan last month.

He barely came off the bridle in that contest, and his solid jumping will hold him in good stead against his fellow novices. A return to quicker ground also won’t be an issue and he can outrun his price.

Cheltenham 14:40 - Iberico Lord

This contest doesn’t look quite as deep as some of the recent renewals we’ve had of the race and perhaps a good opportunity for the impressive Lanzarote winner, Iberico Lord, to land back-to-back valuable handicaps.

He was thought good enough to compete in the Champion Hurdle a couple of seasons ago, and he seemed to relish the step up in trip at Kempton, having been largely out of form in the interim.

An 8lb rise looks perfectly fair and he’s still unexposed at this sort of distance.

Cheltenham 16:40 - Martator

It’s a bit of a leap of faith to support Martator, but he’s back on a dangerous handicap mark and he showed he retains plenty of ability when runner-up at Ascot earlier this season.

It might be worth forgiving his two subsequent outings given the yard have been out of form for some time but there have been more encouraging signs recently and if he is in better form, he can make the frame from off his reduced mark.