Cheltenham Trials Day

Hi all,

My partner's operation went well which is a great weight off my mind.

Inside my main piece I'm looking at the action on Cheltenham Trials Day.

In truth I’m a bit underwhelmed by the final entries for Cheltenham Trials Day. Don’t get me wrong, the races are decent enough but the quality and numbers seem to be lacking. Of the eight races on the card just three have more than seven runners and two of them are handicaps.

Despite the drying conditions the field sizes for Doncaster’s 8 races have held up remarkably well. Ok Cheltenham Trial Day is the focus for today’s big race attention, but I think Doncaster’s is even more competitive and we do have the one of the leading fancies for the Supreme Novices Hurdle in Jeriko Du Reponet running in the Grade 2 SBK Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle (1:30).

Doncaster also hosts the most competitive race of the day, the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (3.15). It’s nice to see that 18 have been declared for a race with £100,000 on offer in guaranteed prize money.

Cheltenham Trials Day

12:05 – JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) – 2m 1f

Seven declared for this Grade 2, which looks a match between Burdett Road and Sir Gino. Burdett Road, suited to better ground, aims to maintain an unbeaten record and I think can win this.

12:40 – Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m 4 ½ f

A competitive handicap with twelve runners, unfortunately this isn’t on ITV. Paul Nicholls, saddled last year’s winner and eyes back-to-back successes with C&D winner Ginny’s Destiny. Other contenders include Theatre Man and Happy And Fine. The drop back in trip could suit Theatre Man who was a shade keen at Newbury last time. He’s handicapped to win races over fences.

1:15 – Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – (Class 1) – 2m 4 ½ f

Il Ridoto aims back-to-back successes in the race. The form of his short head defeat to Fugitif in last month’s Virgin Bet December Gold Cup over C&D looks strong. It’s interesting that trainer Venetia Williams opts to drop Victtorino down in trip rather than go for the 3m handicap chase at Doncaster. He’s won both this season’s starts at Ascot (3m). Good/good to soft ground suits the improving 6-year-old and a 4lb rise might not prevent the hat trick, if he’s as good going this way around and on this more undulating track. Another potential improver is Excello with Straw Fan Jack an interesting outsider.

1:50 – Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) – 3m 1 ½ f

Six runners, Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille, last year’s winner Ahoy Senor, The Real Whacker, Datsalrightgino, novice chaser Stay Away Fay, and Irish challenger Capodanno.

It’s an intriguing race and it’s a daring move by trainer Paul Nicholls to throw Stay Away Fay into open company. I’m not sure Royale Pagaille is as good at Cheltenham. Ahoy Senor has run poorly on both starts this season. Capodanno will appreciate the dying ground and was a Grade 1 novice chaser two seasons back.

2:25 – My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) – 2m ½ f

Rescheduled from Ascot, Jonbon faces four rivals and should win barring a mishap. Last year’s winner Editeur Du Gite looks the one for forecast purposes.

3:00 – Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) – 2m 1f

Triumph Hurdle winner Lossiemouth makes her seasonal return. Love Envoi, runner-up to Honeysuckle in last season’s Mares Hurdle, has strong form but I think Lossiemouth can make a winning return to action.

3:35 – McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) – 3m

Paisley Park, Dashel Drasher, Champ, Strong Leader, Noble Yeats, Botax Has, and Flight Deck feature in this competitive race.

The lack of early pace didn’t suit Champ on his seasonal return at Ascot last month. He’s got the back class to win this but was beaten at odds on in this race by Paisley Park in 2022.

Flight Deck was just two lengths behind Dashel Drasher and Paisley Park at Newbury last time. A reproduction of that run would give him place claims. He’s done well here in the past and because he’s with a small yard he looks overpriced. The 25/1 that was available on Thursday has gone but he still makes each way appeal with bookies playing three places.

4:10 – SS Super Alloys Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle) (Class 1) – 2m 4 ½ f

Gidleigh Park, unbeaten on both hurdle starts, faces seven rivals. I think he’s the best British novice hurdler we have seen this season and I expect him to show that by winning here. His main market rival is Johnnywho who was a 2-length 4th of 9 to Captain Teague in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury last time. That form looks solid and according to Racing Post Ratings he’s 4lb better than Gidleigh Park but the latter is open to more improvement. From a value perspective you could argue that Johnnywho is the better bet of the pair but I’m hoping Gidleigh Park could be a bit special.

Saturday Selection:

Yesterday’s selection Keep Running stopped like he had been shot four out and was clearly amiss. Other horses that I fancied on the Sandown card fared better. Issam looked set to score when four lengths clear at the last but fell into a hole on the run and had to settle for second. There was plenty to like about the last race where my two fancies Gyllen and Wot You Wearing finished first and second.

Today’s selection is from Cheltenham.

Cheltenham

12:40 – Theatre Man – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Saturday bets.

John