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Johns Spirit can rise to the occasion and step up to the Plate

| 17.03.2016
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

David Metcalf | March 16, 2016

Course specialist Johns Spirit weighted to strike in Plate

Johns Spirit comes alive at Cheltenham and looks to hold outstanding claims of landing the Brown Advisory Plate on day three of the Festival (16:10).

The Jonjo O’Neill trained gelding is a three-time winner at the venue, and has also performed well at the Festival to finish fourth in the 2014 running of the Byrne Group Plate off a mark of 148 and a decent sixth in last year’s Ryanair Chase off an official rating of 160.

Johns Spirit has failed to sparkle in three runs this season, but all those have been on unsuitable heavy ground and the going has now come in his favour.

Given a big chance by the handicapper

Horse Racing - Visit to Jonjo O'Neill's Stables - Jackdaws Castle

The nine-year-old also didn’t run too badly late time out at the track when fourth to Annacotty and has since been dropped another 3lb in the weights.

John’s Spirit is now able to race off just 145, his lowest mark in over two years and 2lb less than when last victorious.

It makes the son of Gold Well dangerously well-treated on the pick of his form, and Johns Spirit has also clearly been saved for this contest and had a good record fresh.

Another plus is that he hails from a yard which does particularly well with its chasers and has already tasted success at the meeting with Minella Rocco and had Holywell finish a very good second.

Kings Palace an interesting contender

David Pipe Stable Tour

Trainer David Pipe has won three of the last six runnings of this Festival race, and has a very interesting contender in the shape of Kings Palace.

The eight-year-old was a very useful hurdler and looked e for great things when winning his first three starts over fences in terrific style.

Two of those successes came at this venue, and Kings Palace beat the now 162-rated Sausilto Sunrise with ease on each occasion.

Dropped to a dangerous mark

Kings_Palace_big

Although Kings Palace failed to shine in the RSA Chase at this meeting 12 months ago, and has been very disappointing in two starts this season, that has resulted in the handicapper cutting him some slack.

Having been rated as high as 156, the son of King’s Theatre is now able to race off 150.

That makes Kings Palace well-treated if bouncing back to his best, and the yard have already landed a gamble at the meeting with a similar type in the shape of Un Temps Pour Tout.

Related

Check out more Cheltenham Festival tips, previews and comment on our dedicated section.

Coral’s top tip: Johns Spirit rates a solid bet to take advantage of a drop in the weights and enhance his excellent record at the venue. Kings Palace looks decent each-way value.

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Author

David Metcalf

A lifelong Manchester United supporter, David has over 25 years’ experience in the media industry having worked for regional and national newspapers. He is a huge horse racing, football and greyhound fan and has done interviews on various radio and TV stations, including talkSPORT and Sky Sports, whilst working as a PR front man for a betting firm. David has also written for most of the top Premier League football fan websites, and produced a Cheltenham Festival guide with former eight-times champion national hunt jockey Peter Scudamore, MBE, after helping him to set up a syndicate for his trainer son Michael.