Ed Quigley, aka ‘Mr Cheltenham’ is pumped up for a cracking weekend of action, and selects his bets for the top races at Cheltenham and Aintree…

Ted’s best bets for Saturday 26 and Sunday 27, October, 2024:

Find the following picks for the races of the day on weekend, October 26 and 27. Play on the races with our best expert-rated horse racing betting sites:

Saturday

Cheltenham 1.10 – Guard Your Dreams – bet with talkSPORT BET

Cheltenham 2.20 – Does He Know – each way bet with Betano

Cheltenham 2.55 – Hardy Boy – each way bet with Betfred

Sunday

Aintree 1.50 – Minella Drama – each way bet with VBET

Aintree 1.50 – Shan Blue – each way bet with bet365

Cheltenham 1.10 – Guard Your Dreams

This could be a big afternoon for the Nigel Twiston-Davies team, and GUARD YOUR DREAMS can kick things off in good style in this Novices’ Handicap Chase over 2m4f to kick off proceedings.

Last season was a bit of a write off for the 8-year-old, having previously shown some very smart form, including at Cheltenham when winning on two occasions.

He got off the mark over fences at the first time of asking when scoring at Warwick three weeks ago. He wasn’t foot perfect over his obstacles in the early exchanges, but warmed to the task nicely and showed great guts and resolution to win when he got into the hard yards.

Considering he was rated 147 at his peak over Hurdles, he looks capable of running another big race despite the 4lb hike in the weights, as a rating of 136 leaves him well treated in context. Trip and ground should be spot on for this talented sort who can cash in once again for an in-form yard. 

Back Guard Your Dreams with talkSPORT BET

Cheltenham 2.20 – Does He Know each way

This is an absolute cracker of a race, where a lot of respect has to be given to Broadway Boy who could easily get back to winning ways at a track he loves.

However, he does arrive after two poor efforts and connections have hinted this could be a tune-up before heading to Newbury last month, so I am going to back the top weight DOES HE KNOW to run a stormer for the Kim Bailey team who have been in scintillating form over the last month or so.

Does He Know has a bit of a hot and cold profile, but has won off this mark in the past and has an outstanding record at Prestbury Park, as four wins on the CV would testify. He has a good record fresh, so this could be the time to catch him on ground that will really suit. The horse arrives after a recent wind-operation and looks a serious each-way player with Tom Bellamy in the saddle.

I would be disappointed if he wasn’t in the conversation at the business end of proceedings.

Back Does He Know each way with Betano

Cheltenham 2.55 – Hardy Boy each way

HARDY BOY is out of the Handicap here, but can easily get in the shake-up, as everything looks tailor made for a massive run. He is a strong traveller who loves good ground and a fast pace to aim at, so he should have everything in his favour here on paper looks to be the type of race for proper hurly burly.

He is happiest when he can sit off the pace in a big field and cruise through; so although on official figures he is up against it you could orchestrate a better scenario for him. With the prospect of ground looking to be on the quick side connections will be confident that this experienced campaigner can get in the mix here.

He is relatively unexposed over staying trips so I wouldn’t be surprised if we are yet to see the ceiling of the horses’ ability. Ben Jones is in the saddle for the Ben Pauling team, and this combination is the each-way angle in this assignment. 

Bet on Hardy Boy each way with Betfred

Aintree 1.50 – Minella Drama each way

MINELLA DRAMA looks capable of causing an upset if he takes his chance in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday – a race which as always, looks an absolute belter on paper.

Minella Drama is a little bit of a frustrating character, but has plenty of ability. He is capable of getting involved in a race of this nature, and has a good record when fresh as we saw when he was runner-up in this assignment 12 months ago.

That was a cracking run, and considering it came off a mark of 155, he looks well treated for today’s effort off a 7lb lower rating this time around. Underfoot conditions will be spot on for him and he can’t be ignored in the market here for the Donald McCain team.

Brian Hughes takes the ride and this combination look more than capable of upsetting the apple cart.  

Bet on Minella Drama each way with VBET

Aintree 2.25 – Shan Blue each way

This is the turn of the veterans, and some familiar names will be looking to strut their stuff in this encounter.

One horse who might have unfinished business is SHAN BLUE, who getting here off 142 looks to be in a race where he can be a real threat to everyone. If you roll the clock back to the Charlie Hall Chase of 2021, he was about to win by a postcode until he tipped up three fences from home and he has never really been the same horse since.

However, there were signs in some races last season that the old fires still burn, and he is now on an attractive mark. Decent ground and flat tracks really suit him, and after an unusual quiet period, the Dan Skelton team are starting to fire in the winners.

The trainer’s brother Harry will be in the saddle, and a return to the winners’ enclosure would be far from a shock in a race where you can make a case for quite a few of these old campaigners.  

Bet on Shan Blue each way with bet365

Don’t forget Ed will be back on Tuesday as he serves up his best bets for Chepstow here at talkSPORT…

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