Cheltenham Placepot: Friday December 14

Donald McCain's Super Duty has excellent claims

Tony McFadden brings you a Placepot permutation from Cheltenham's good card on Friday...

12:15- Super Duty always looked like the type that would relish the switch to the larger obstacles, and he has made an encouraging start to his chasing career, finishing runner-up on both starts this term. Ordinarily we would look to bank on a horse with his strong credentials, but the fact only seven have been declared tempers enthusiasm somewhat, so adding Broadbackbob could prove to be a wise move. Nicky Henderson's charge was a useful novice hurdler and had little difficulty on his first start in this discipline, winning at Plumpton last month. He should be involved in the finish.

12:45- Having shaped with conspicuous promise on his seasonal return at Carlisle, Valley View is the obvious starting point reunited with promising conditional rider Maurice Linehan. The jockey enjoyed two wins aboard Jonjo O'Neill's unexposed six-year-old last year and his 6lb claim looks extremely useful in this company. It is a competitive field, however, so we will also add Sound Stage, the winner of this race three years ago. He looks to be steadily coming to hand and may be capable of running better than his odds imply.

13:20- A competitive leg to try navigating but hopefully Open Day, a comfortable winner last time, can help see us through to the fourth leg. He had fallen to a fair mark due to a couple of lesser efforts, but last month's success signalled a step in the right direction and he still looks fairly treated. This isn't a race to be banking in, however, so Nampour is also added to the perm. He produced some useful form last season and, although he hasn't managed to replicate it this time around, it would be dangerous to dismiss a horse with his ability. The unexposed Turn Over Sivola is also one to keep onside, especially in light of how well Swampfire has performed since narrowly beating Alan King's runner in a novices' hurdle.

13:55- Plenty of people will have been left ruing the fact the well-backed Bradley couldn't hold on up the hill to win at the Open meeting, but he once again performed with credit and his reliability makes him the ideal type to include in the Placepot. We will bank on him to secure a top-three finish.

14:30- Course form can prove pivotal over this idiosyncratic track and we will rely on Uncle Junior and Outlaw Pete, the first and third-placed horses in the Cross Country event at the Open meeting. The conditions of this race mean Uncle Junior has to concede a good deal of weight to his rivals, but he has a good record here and that should count for plenty.

15:05- Not an easy race to finish with, and the unexposed pair of At Fisher's Cross and Saint Roque certainly make some appeal. However, we will oppose them with Inish Island and Sivola de Sivola, who perhaps have fewer questions to answer regarding the trip. The former couldn't win a maiden hurdle last season for Dessie Hughes, but his new trainer, Willie Mullins, has a knack of improving horses and last month's success at Downpatrick was achieved in easy fashion. Sivola de Sivola looks to have plenty of ability, but he is becoming slightly frustrating, often running lazily before running on at the finish to make the frame. However, running on to make the frame is good enough for our purposes so he makes the 'pot'.

Selections:
12:15- 2, 5
12:45- 3, 8
13:20- 9, 12, 14
13:55- 6
14:30- 1, 6
15:05- 7, 11
= 48 lines

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