Saturday 25th January 2025
Cheltenham Trials Day
12.40 Cheltenham: Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase: My first selection on Saturday where it’s Trials Day at Cheltenham comes within the 12.40 which is a Class 2 novice handicap chase over two miles and four and a half furlongs. I like Resplendent Grey in this for the team of Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen. He’s progressed well this term over fences, winning on his chase debut back in October by five and a half lengths before finishing second in Listed company here behind Hyland in November. He then followed up with another second-placed effort behind the progressive Handstands in the Grade 2 Esher novices chase at Sandown in December and I think that this is the best form on offer in the race and I make him the one to beat here. Resplendent Grey – 7/2 (Win)
1.15 Cheltenham: JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle: Next up it’s the 1.15 which is the Grade 2 Triumph Trial which is juvenile hurdle that’s ridden over two miles and a furlong. East India Dock will be very tough to beat here and I find it hard to see past him, however, he’s very short at the top of the betting and there may be value elsewhere in the lineup. I’ve come down on Quantock Hills as an each-way alternative here for Warren Greatrex and Nico de Boinville. He was last seen when dead-heating in a Triumph Trial here last month with Teriferma who he reopposes in this assignment. He still showed signs of immaturity in the closing stages on that occasion and if he progresses again he can be a player here at a big price. It’s unknown if the French recruits will handle the course here and the Greatrex charge has already proven that he can. East India Dock – 4/6 (Win) & Quantock Hills – 14/1 (Each-Way)
1.50 Cheltenham: Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase: My third selection of the day comes in the 1.50 at Cheltenham and this is Premier Handicap Chase action over two miles and four and a half furlongs. This is obviously really competitive, however, I’m going with Iroko for Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero who’s the mount of Jonjo O’Neil Jr. He fell at the first on his latest outing at Ascot so he should come into the race fresh. Prior to his Ascot outing, or lack of, he was a half-length second behind Trawlene at Haydock and that was a fine run for his first outing of the season. I think he’s the horse with the most potential here having placed in Grade 1 company as a novice and he may well have enough ability to shoulder top-weight in this. Iroko – 9/2 (Each-Way)
2.25 Cheltenham: Betfair Cotswold Chase: We move back up in grade at 2.25 with the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase taking centre-stage over three miles and a length and a half. I think that L’Homme Presse could prove very tough to beat here for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch. He’s a fine horse who was a Grade 1 winner as a novice, including here at The Festival in the Brown Advisory and has since gone on to finish fourth in last year’s Gold Cup behind Galopin Des Champs and was most recently third behind Banbridge in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. He may not be too far clear on ratings but I do believe he’s considerably the best horse in this race and it would be disappointing should he not post a very bold bid. L’Homme Presse – 10/11 (Win)
3.15 Doncaster: Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase: I’ve got one selection from Doncaster on the day and this comes within the 3.15 which is the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase and this is a Premier Handicap over three miles. I like Forward Plan here for Anthony Honeyball and Chad Bament who takes off ten pounds. He’s a course and distance winner who was narrowly beaten in this race last year when going down by a nose to Annual Invictus. He’s effectively contesting this year’s contest off a pound lower mark when taking the rider’s claim off and judging by his fine third of fourteen here last month he looks primed for another big effort in the race. Forward Plan – 6/1 (Each-Way)
3.35 Cheltenham: Betfair Cleeve Hurdle: My final selection of the day comes back at Cheltenham and within the 3.35 which is the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle that’s ridden over a distance of three miles. I think that this can go to Crambo for Fergal O’Brien and Jonathan Burke who bounced back to form when winning the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last month. He drifted in the betting on that occasion yet still managed to get the job done and if he comes on again for that run I think he could prove a significant player in this division. Strong Leader has got a bit to find following his very below-par run in that same Ascot race and has since had a wind operation. If the O’Brien charge is once again firing on all cylinders he’ll be tough to beat. Crambo – 11/4 (Win)
