THE weights for the Cheltenham Festival handicaps have been revealed – and now the serious punting can start.
There is way less guesswork involved in the ante-post markets now the handicappers have done their job.
PAKing Of Kingsfield could be one of those well treated by the handicapper[/caption]
Here, Sun Racing picks out five runners who stand out as having been well treated.
Sa Majeste – Martin Pipe
The sharks were quick to pick up the price on this JP McManus runner in the final race on Friday.
Trained by Willie Mullins, he has raced just once this season but has met the four-run minimum needed to qualify for the race.
He was last seen beating former Grand National hero Noble Yeats over 2m4f at Limerick on December 27.
He has been given a rating of 140 after easily seeing off a horse rated 12lbs higher.
He’s very lightly raced and their appears to be way more to come from top, top connections.
King Of Kingsfield – County Hurdle
Has been left alone for a strong third-place finish to Supreme and Baring Bingham fav Ballyburn.
His form reads like a who’s who of top young prospects, finishing well behind the likes of Slade Steel, Farren Glory and A Dream To Share.
There has been no ‘Irish tax’ on his mark of 140 and, if top weight Pied Piper runs, he will have more than a stone in hand against him.
Waterford Whispers – Martin Pipe
Another dangerous JP runner to look out for, this time trained by Henry de Bromhead.
He readily saw off Answer To Kayf at Fairyhouse last December with that horse – who has won since – now rated 135.
Waterford Whispers only has the Martin Pipe has an entry and has been given a mark of 133, suggesting he still has some wiggle room.
He may need further in time but the New course at Cheltenham places an emphasis on stamina and his could come to the fore.
White Rhino – Pertemps
May need a bit of help to get in off a mark of 129 against top weight Farouk d’Alene on 154, but looks well treated.
Trained by the ultra shrewd Josh Guerriero and Oliver Greenall, he is a winner round Cheltenham already.
Was last seen in a Pertemps qualifier at Huntingdon last month where he came third and remains highly progressive.
Milan Tino – Boodles
That man again, JP McManus.
Milan Tino has been dropped 10lb from a mark of 136 for the juvenile handicap over two miles.
The four-year-old, who is trained in France, was a seven-length third to Burdett Road at Cheltenham last November.
And he was an 11-length third to red-hot Triumph Hurdle fav Sir Gino at the track in January.
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