Saturday 14th December 2024
12.15 Cheltenham: JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle: The opener on Saturday at Cheltenham is the 12.15 which is the Class 2 Triumph Trial, a juvenile hurdle that’s contested over two miles and a furlong. I’m fairly strong on the chances of Lavender Hill Mob here for James Owen and Sam Twiston-Davies. He was turned over at very skinny odds on his hurdling debut at Newcastle last month when finishing fourth, however, he wasn’t given a hard time of things by Nico de Boinville once his chance had gone. He was rated as high as 96 on the flat and the trainer has been very complimentary about him. The Newcastle effort should’ve blown the cobwebs away and I suspect he’ll be a lot better here. Lavender Hill Mob – 11/8 (Win) (NAP)
12.40 Cheltenham: Josh Wyke Birthday Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase: Next up is the 12.40 which is a Class 3 novices handicap chase over three miles and a furlong and a half. I like Destroytheevidence here for Kim Bailey and Jonathon Burke. He won well on his chase debut back in October when getting the better of Haiti Couleurs by two lengths who he’ll reoppose here and lost nothing in defeat last time at Newbury, when second of five and a length and a quarter behind Bowtogreatness. He remains a nice prospect and has got smart form at the course having finished a second in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at this meeting last year, and I think he can go well once again here. Destroytheevidence – 8/1 (Each-Way)
1.13 Cheltenham: Quintessentially Mares’ Handicap Chase: The third race of the day comes up at 1.13 and this is a Class 3 mare’s handicap chase over two miles and four and a half furlongs. I think that this can go to Coco Mademoiselle for the team of Dan & Harry Skelton. She won twice over hurdles and made a very encouraging start to life over the larger obstacles when finishing a head second at Worcester back in September and should improve for that run. She remains on what looks to be a decent mark and I fancy her to put on a bold showing here for a yard that is never too far away from the winner’s enclosure. Coco Mademoiselle – 10/3 (Win) (NB)
1.50 Cheltenham: Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase: The feature comes up at 1.50 and this is the December Gold Cup, a Premier Handicap that’s contested over two miles and four and a half furlongs. I’ve come down on Madara in this year’s renewal of the contest who’s another the Skelton team. He won a Listed handicap at Leopardstown in February which followed success in handicap company at this meeting last year. When he was last seen he finished fourth of fifteen in the Paddy Power Gold at this track in November staying on towards the finish. That run gave the impression that there should be improvement next time out and we could well see that here. Madara – 11/2 (Each-Way)
2.25 Cheltenham: BetMGM Handicap Chase: It’s further handicap company at 2.25 with a Class 2 handicap chase over two miles and half of a furlong. I’m with Libberty Hunter here who represents the duo of Evan Williams and Harry Cobden. He was a fine second here at The Festival in the Grand Annual behind Unexpected Party and then took his form to the next level when finishing third of ten in Grade 1 company at Aintree. He’s a course and distance winner and if he’s fit and ready to go he should take a lot of beating in this. Libberty Hunter – 5/2 (Win)
3.00 Cheltenham: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: We’re up in grade for our penultimate race of the meeting and this is the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over three miles. Skyjack Hijack will be all the rage here following his impressive winning sequence, however, I’ve tried to take him on and I’ve done that with French raider Jet Blue for David Cottin and James Reveley. He’s a Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 placed on the flat and has made an impressive start to this campaign, winning by seven lengths at Auteil in October before finishing three-quarters of a length at the same track last month. He doesn’t necessarily need heavy ground given he’s had success on the flat on good to soft, and I think he could surprise a few here. Jet Blue – 5/1 (Each-Way)
3.35 Cheltenham: BetMGM Mares’ Handicap Hurdle: Signing us off for the day and the meeting will be the 3.35 which is a Class 2 mares handicap hurdle over two miles and four and a half furlongs. I like Take No Chances here who’s another for the team of Dan & Harry Skelton. She won a Listed mares hurdle at Wetherby by ten lengths on her penultimate outing and was fifth of seven behind Sir Gino in the Fighting Fifth last time out. These are much calmer waters than her latest assignment and if she turns up in the same form as her Wetherby success she’s got every chance of defying her lofty weight in this affair. Take No Chances – 7/1 (Each-Way)
