".... the kind of stat I'm perfectly happy to completely ignore...."

Friday, 13th November 2026

“…. the kind of stat I’m perfectly happy to completely ignore….”

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in Saturday’s big handicaps at Cheltenham….

I’m on RELEASE THE BEAST in the 2.20 – up at 20s….

…. and I’m on AIMERIC at 16s in the 2.55….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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>>>> If you missed this afternoon’s selection at Cheltenham….

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Tomorrow’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham (2.20) is the first proper big handicap of the new season….

…. and – as you’d expect – there are multiple young and progressive horses you could make a solid case for….

Me? I want something at a price – and the one I’ve landed on is Paul Nolan’s RELEASE THE BEAST at the general 20s….

It might be 15 years since an Irish horse won this race….

…. but that’s a pretty meaningless stat – the kind I’m perfectly happy to completely ignore – especially at a big e/w price….

Trainer Paul Nolan’s hit a nice vein of early-season form – with 16 winners already chalked onto the board….

…. and when you consider he only had 23 winners for the entire season last term it’s pretty obvious he’s got his string firing….

Release The Beast hasn’t had a run so far this season – but I’m not too concerned about that with him….

…. he runs well off his breaks and his pattern of campaigning appears to be based on having a single run followed by a decent rest….

On 132 there’s plenty of potential upside in his mark….

…. and we know he handles the track – he finished 4/20 in the Grand Annual at the Festival in March….

He steps up in trip tomorrow – but not for the first time. He placed at Wexford over an intermediate trip on seasonal debut last term….

…. removal of the hood he was tried in a couple of times at the back end of last season suggests to me that they think he’ll settle just that bit better for the slower fractions he’ll encounter tomorrow….

…. his best two performances have been produced in the two biggest fields he’s faced to date – another positive signal for tomorrow’s 15-runner assignment….

…. and he won’t mind the decent ground….

Bottom line – I reckon he can run well at a price – no more, no less….

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In the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle (2.55) I’m backing AIMERIC at the general 16s….

He might have gone up 19lb in the rankings for two wins and a second in the three handicap hurdle races he’s contested since August….

…. but he’s still only rated just 115 and he could find plenty more improvement for the step up to 3m tomorrow….

He was straight and true and staying on strong in the closing stages at Sedgefield last time….

…. giving me the impression that he was only just getting going in the later stages – and that there was plenty more grunt under the hood….

He won’t mind the decent ground tomorrow, and not many the field will be quite as match-sharp as he is….

He was pretty good on the flat – ranking as high as 108….

…. on that basis his hurdle mark of 115 is well within what you’d think he’d be capable of over timber….

…. and trainer Jennie Candlish has stuck 5lb claimer William Shanahan on his back to boot….

Bottom line – he’s an interesting runner at a price that could underestimate him….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for now. I’ll be back with more tomorrow….

Contact me direct at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd