Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on Friday’s action at Cheltenham’s December Meeting.
ITV Racing are covering five races live from Cheltenham’s December Meeting on Friday. Sadly, ITV won’t be covering two races from Bangor as that meeting has been abandoned due to waterlogging.
It’s dried out at Cheltenham to good to soft, soft in places as of Thursday evening, so it won’t be as testing as I thought when I wrote this preview of Friday’s action.
Cheltenham (Friday)
1:15 – Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m1f
French Emperor arrives in top form. He’s two from two in handicaps this season, the latest a smooth win here over 2m½f. A 7lb rise demands more, but the 5yo is progressing and handles soft ground well.
Fortune De Mer looks a major player. He won a Grade 2 novice here in October and shaped well on handicap debut at Ascot. He travelled strongly and Harry Skelton rode him with plenty of confidence, maybe too much, before finishing a close second. Connections are aiming him at the County Hurdle, and he should score off this mark if he’s as effective on softer going.
Brentford Hope switches back to hurdles after two tough assignments over fences. He’s fairly treated based on past form on easy ground, and Megan Fox’s 7lb claim brings him into the mix.
Kel Du Large, unbeaten in two bumpers including a Listed race here, and sole hurdle start two seasons back, returned from a 21-month absence to shape with encouragement when a four lengths 3rd of 6 at Exeter last month. He likely needed that run and should improve for it. Now going handicapping, he remains capable of better when getting a stamina test.
1:50 – Turners Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – 3m2½f
I previewed the race in Thursday’s column which you can find here.
2:25 – Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Chase Series Handicap Chase (Qualifier) (Class 2) – 2m4½f
Fugitif could come on for last month’s seasonal return. He was sent off joint-favourite but never threatened and finished a distant fifth behind Eldorado Allen. Even with 7lb swung in his favour, he needs a major step forward to reverse that form. Cheltenham suits him, though, and his five best RPRs have all come here.
Copperhead, from the same yard as Eldorado Allen, was a neck second in this race last year. He hasn’t been seen since February but did win first time out last season. His best-efforts last season came on good or good to soft ground though. In the mix.
3:00 – Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 3m5½f
J'Arrive De L'Est is the wild card. He’s won five of his 10 chase starts in France and now debuts for Emmet Mullins. He’s untested on good ground, but his profile makes him of major interest here. Not surprisingly he was the subject of market support on Thursday.
Mister Coffey remains winless after 17 chase starts, but he often runs well. He finished fifth in the Festival Cross Country race and was a staying-on runner-up in this race last year. Returned with another second over regulation fences here and sits just 2lb higher than 12 months ago. He should be right there again.
Latenightpass won this in 2023 and was a solid third last year. He’s 4lb better off with Mister Coffey and had him well behind when finishing second in the Festival Cross Country. He needed the run on seasonal return, and the switch back to the Cross Country course could see him return to form.
3:35 – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 3m
Long Draw won this last year and is a dual C&D scorer, so he demands respect. He ran below par here last time though and may want a sounder surface. He headed the early bird betting but has been deposed as favourite.
Lucky Manifest now heads the betting and brings stronger recent form. He chased home a well-backed winner here last month when bidding for a hat-trick. That run produced a career-best RPR and confirmed he handles soft ground. A 5lb rise asks for more, but he’s progressing.
Pier Road has been busy this year and returned to winning form at Uttoxeter 15 days ago. He’s up 5lb and meets stronger rivals today but stays well and handled soft ground last time. He remains in the mix.
Titan Discovery will strip fitter for his Haydock reappearance. He proved his stamina for this trip when scoring at Windsor in January and remains unexposed over three miles. A step forward looks likely.
Kyntara ran a cracker when second in the Pertemps Final over C&D at the 2024 Festival. He never convinced over fences last season but shaped with more promise switched back to hurdles at Aintree last month. He’s qualified again for the series final but can strike before March. He looks a major player.
Good luck with your Friday bets.
John