Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’m looking at the best of Saturday’s action from Cheltenham.
Cheltenham
The Cheltenham December meeting this Saturday may lack Graded races, including the International Hurdle, but offers enticing betting opportunities. ITV Racing covers five from Cheltenham and a further three from Doncaster.
Cheltenham's seven-race card starts at 12:05 with the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, featuring notable contenders An Bradan Feasa and Kourosh. The first named finished runner-up to Burdett Road in a Grade 2 here at the last meeting. He’s lightly raced and open to further improvement.
The 12:40 race, the John Wyke Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, features the likes of Everything'sontick, Mofasa and Wiseguy. All three won last time out and are capable of better over fences.
The Quintessentially Handicap Chase at 1:15 includes the likes of In Excelsis Deo, Calico, and Aucunrisque. The first two named both ran well here last time and holding ground I just prefer the claims In Excelsis Deo.
Fakir Faces Challenges: Previewing the Virgin Bet Gold Cup
The Virgin Bet December Gold Cup Handicap Chase at 1:50 is the big betting race of the weekend. Classy chaser Fakir D'oudairies bids to defy top weight and he could do it on seasonal return. However, he faces a couple of strong contenders in Thunder Rock and Monmiral who could be better than their marks.
So Scottish has a handicap like this in him if all clicks jumping wise and the ground isn’t too testing.
Fugitif might be facing one or two treated rivals, but he likes it around here and always must be respected.
It may pay to keep an eye on Torn And Frayed who get into the frame at big odds, albeit he's 3lb out of the handicap.
Kerryhill Eyes Success in Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
The 2:25 Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Handicap Chase may only feature the nine runners but they include likes of Protektorat and Threeunderthrufive. Besides those two top chasers there are several others who can go well.
Irish challenger Malina Girl won a handicap chase here over a bit further last time. She’s been hiked up 11lb but Conor Stone-Walsh takes off a handy 5lb and the mare is going the right way.
Broadway Boy impressed when winning a Listed novice chase here last time and is interesting on handicap debut. The step up in trip could really suit Easy As That and he started the new campaign on a winnable mark.
The 3:00, the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle could be heading North, well I hope it is. Kerryhill was an expensive purchase after winning an Irish Point and made a winning hurdle debut at Kelso for Ruth Jefferson last month.
Concluding the card is the 3:35 Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Mares' Handicap Hurdle, features the likes of Theatre Glory, Bonttay, Windtothelightning, Nurse Susan, and Stainsby Girl.
Theatre Glory is a classy mare but might prefer a sounder surface. Bonttay and Windtothelightning are both improving mares going the right way. Nurse Susan is interesting returned to hurdles and could be on a good mark based on her novice hurdle form from two seasons back.
Saturday Selection:
Cheltenham
3:00 – Kerryhill.
Good luck with your Saturday bets.
John
Come on Donny!?
2.40 jumping 4 hurdles and a 7 furlong run in?!
Just void the race and refund all punters and connections money/costs.
It’s not the race that owners/trainers have entered and certainly not that which punters have bet on.
Isn’t it just the most frustrating thing??!!
3.15…5 Furlong run in, yet all of the missed fences in the straight were in shade?
In France, from what I can gather, there has never been a hurdle, or, fence ommitted due to low sun (or any other reason).
Of course they don’t have sun in France?..No, that can’t be right?!
Better forget about UK racing and get the Frog form book out…
I know what I want for Christmas Santa….Vive la France!