Wednesday 4th March 2015

Un Ace is a horse I’m keen on next week at the Cheltenham Festival, trained by Kim Bailey Un Ace holds 4 entries but will run in either the Brown Advisory Plate “Thursday” or the Grand Annual on Friday, I like the way the horse is progressing and think he’s well handicapped.

Last time out Un Ace was 2^nd beaten just over a length by the classy Champagne West at Cheltenham over a distance of two miles five, the Brown Advisory Plate is run over the same distance.

Un Ace ran a cracker on the above occasion but met Champagne West wrong at the weights due to the event been a novice chase. Champagne West was rated 152 whilst Un ace official rating was 142, strictly on form terms Champagne West was a 10lb better horse going into the race but both horses carried 11-8.

The Kim Bailey horse ran far better than his official rating as he was only beaten a length by his rival that's rated 10lb higher whilst Un Ace also stumbled on landing at the last fence and lost ground.

We’ve also not seen the selection since 13^th December, this is due to Un Ace having a breathing operation so it’s quite possible there’s more improvement to come if the procedure has improved the horse, chances are it has.

The sticking point is this, Un Ace must have decent going, if the ground is soft his chances would go out of the window. The Brown Advisory Plate is the preferred race on Thursday but if the going looks like being quicker the following day he will run in the Grand Annual.

I wouldn’t be as confident in if the horse does end up in the Grand Annual as I think the selection could be outpaced over two miles but wherever he goes I do think he’s got a fair bit in hand and still runs off an official rating of 142.

With the none runner no bet offers the majority of bookies are now doing Un Ace can be backed for both of the mentioned races with the knowledge money will be refunded back from one of the bets.

I’ve had a good EW punt on the horse for the Plate a few weeks ago at 16-1 but halved my stakes for Fridays race.

The best prices now are 12-1 for the plate and 20-1 for the Grand Annual, I couldn’t put you off backing him EW for both but stronger for Thursdays race, fingers crossed the going is good.