Timeform Radio Tips: A Super day for McCain

Today's bets come from Cheltenham

David Cleary picks out two bets at Cheltenham...

Cheltenham's December meeting gets under way this afternoon with a fascinating card, full of competitive handicaps and good-quality novice events. The prospect of heavy rain through the morning means the ground is likely to be quite a bit softer than the official going given first thing. This meeting is also run on the New Course, the stiffer of the two tracks at Cheltenham, so stamina will be very much a premium.
The novice chase at 12:15 makes for a cracking start to proceedings, with all those to have run over fences in the line-up looking to have improvement in them. Broadbackbob won well at Plumpton on his chasing debut and is very much the sort to make a better chaser than a hurdler. However, he's not entitled to be so short as he is at morning prices, with Super Duty the pick of those against him. Super Duty has finished second on both starts over fences so far, but his performance against the smart hurdler Poungach at Haydock last time is better than any of the others in this field have achieved. His second to Simonsig in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree makes him just about the best hurdler in the field too. Super Duty will cope with the conditions, however soft the ground gets, and looks the value alternative to the favourite.

The staying handicap hurdle at 15.05 features a trio of unexposed sorts who will dominate the market. Saint Roque was going like a winner when he was brought down at the last meeting here, yet the handicapper hasn't raised his mark. Inish Island was much improved on his first start for Willie Mullins and is sure to build on that, though will need to off what looks a stiffish mark. However, the one to beat is At Fishers Cross. He has been raised 9 lb for his win at Newbury last time, but that looks lenient, as in beating a couple of other thoroughly unexposed sorts, At Fishers Cross looked miles ahead of his mark that afternoon. He has to prove his stamina, but on style and pedigree there's every likelihood of him staying, even improving for the longer trip.
   
Recommendations

Back Super Duty in the 12:15 at Cheltenham
Back At Fishers Cross in the 15:05 at Cheltenham