14th Nov 2015 | Horse Racing
Cheltenham Tips: Oceane
Finished only 0.75 lengths behind St Leger winner Simple Verse on his UK debut and seems to have transferred his talents to the National Hunt sphere.
The 12.40 Cheltenham race is unusual because the horse I want to back actually entered my notebook as a horse to follow on the flat.
Oceane caught the eye on his debut for Alan King in a 12f flat race at Salisbury. In a race which favoured those ridden prominently, he did well to finish third, running the fastest sectional of the race and a good speed rating for the grade.
The winner of the race was Simple Verse who ended up winning the St. Leger whilst the runner-up won a valuable class 2 handicap at York.
As for Oceane – well his form declined. I tipped him at Ascot but he was well beaten and it was a similar story at Newbury.
Perhaps Alan King had already started the process of turning him into a hurdler because he won his maiden at Fontwell in fine style and backed it up with another good win at Kempton.
He is a horse with considerable ability on the flat and he could turn into a top-notch hurdler. At 15/8 (Betfred) it is worth getting on before he shows his hand.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 06:13 14th Nov, 2015 but subject to change
