2016 Cheltenham Festival ante post plays: Johns Spirit to step up to the Plate

David Metcalf | March 7, 2016

Johns in the Brown Advisory Plate Spirit

Johns Spirit reserves his best for Cheltenham, so looks good value at the current 10/1 on offer with Coral to land the the 2m 4f Brown Advisory Plate at the Festival on Thursday, March 17th.

The Jonjo O’Neill trained gelding is a three-time winner at Prestbury Park, and has also run well at the Cheltenham Festival to finish fourth in the 2014 running of this race off a mark of 148 and was a decent sixth in last year’s Ryanair Chase off an official rating of 160.

While Johns Spirit has failed to sparkle in three runs this season, all of those have been on unsuitable heavy ground.

Given a big chance by the handicapper

The nine-year-old also didn’t run too badly last 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, with the advanced weather forecast favourable, Johns Spirit is likely to get the good ground that he relishes.