Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle – 3.30 Cheltenham – Saturday 14th November

There is a decent 1-star * ante-post bet to be had in Saturday’s Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle at 3.30 at Cheltenham, as Moneygarrow and Daylatedollarshort take out a fair old chunk of the market.

But surely Moneygarrow can’t get any shorter, and for all that he caught the eye travelling really strongly until the second last in the Albert Bartlett back in March, it wasn’t the first time that his finishing effort was a little tamer than seemed likely. There’s no denying he might be well handicapped, but maybe first time out at a short price is the time to get him beat.

Daylatedollarshort I have a lot of respect for, as he won what is always a strong race at Chepstow, but he received a peach of a ride that day and while he will run his race again, he can be left alone at a best priced 9/2.

Instead, the 14/1 each-way with Unibet for 4 places about Neil Mulholland’s Grand Conqueror is definitely worthy of a bet at this ante-post stage, as locking in the 4 places might be wise as a large number of the entries either won’t run or aren’t qualified to run, given it’s an ‘intermediate’ hurdle.

Grand Conqueror was a massive improver last season, and was value for a good bit more than the bare form on a number of occasions in good races at Plumpton and Fakenham. Extremely well backed when winning at Fontwell Park on seasonal debut and ridden as if a significant rise in the handicap wasn’t undesirable, presumably to get him into some of the better races now, Grand Conqueror has a good bit more to give, and at 14/1 looks way too big.