Racing fans and punters will get more hints for March’s Cheltenham Festival this weekend with another quality meeting taking place at Prestbury Park. After some excellent racing on Friday, it gets even better on the second day of the International Meeting. ITV Racing will broadcast four live races from Saturday with three races from Doncaster complementing that card.
There is real variety in the seven live races that we have previewed below. Each of them provides some tempting betting value though and we think we’ve found the best of it in our Saturday Racing Tips.
Cheltenham
Cheltenham’s well respected International Meeting takes place this weekend. The course hosts 14 quality races across both Friday and Saturday and the ITV cameras will be present on both days.
Saturday’s racing looks particularly strong with the big chase of the day, the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, followed by three significant races over hurdles.
1:55pm Caspian Caviar Gold Cup
The Grade 3 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup is a cracking way to get the live ITV Racing action underway. Run over a distance of 2m4½f, this race has been won by some high class horses over the years with a number going on to make an impact at the Cheltenham Festival later in the season. Riders Onthe Storm was one of those in the field who will be targeted at the Festival and he looking like a decent option but is a non-runner for this one.
With that being the case, the Paul Nicholls-trained Brelan D’As could be the one to take advantage. This is his favourite trip, he’ll relish the good to soft ground and has the experience to get the job done at 8/1 with Ladbrokes after running in second at Cheltenham in the BetVictor Gold Cup in November.
2:30pm Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Incoming form is the most important indicator of success in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. None of the last 15 winners finished outside of the top two in their most recent performance in this three mile contest. That is because this quality Grade 2 is a very difficult race to win. The race’s difficulty also means that horses at the head of the betting have a strong record with seven winners who were either the favourite or joint favourite.
Champagne Well and Igor are battling it out for favouritism currently but it’s the former who gets the nod at 4/1 with bet365. He finally got over the line in a hurdle on his first race of this season before showing how tough he is when finishing second last time out and he can go in again.
3:05pm International Hurdle
The International Hurdle is the feature race of the weekend at Cheltenham. With a big prize fund of £140,000 and always attracts a quality field of hurdlers who look to use this Grade 2, over a distance of 2m1f. It is used as a springboard for even more success in the biggest hurdles of the season so we could see some decent performances.
Nicky Henderson is hopeful that Pentland Hill will kick on from an incredible juvenile hurdling season to have more success at the very top level. It’s never easy for younger horses going into open company though and he might just find it too tough to justify his position at the head of the betting. Instead, take the 7/1 that Coral are quoting on Elixir De Nutz. The five year old would have been a big player in last year’s Cheltenham Festival were it not for injury and he can get his preparations for this year’s Festival underway with a big win in this one.
3:40pm Park Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
Cheltenham’s Saturday card draws to a close with the Park Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. This is just the fifth edition of this race but it’s already proven to be an exciting race for punters. Whilst there has been just one winning favourite, we’ve yet to see a winner with starting price of over 8/1. That may be about to change with Misty Bloom an exciting option at 12/1 with Coral. She’s already won twice this season, is still improving and looks well treated by the handicapper. Moreover, Emma Lavelle is in a rich vein of form as a trainer and can earn another win thanks to Misty Bloom.
Doncaster
Christmas comes to Doncaster this weekend. It is the bet365 Festive Jumpers Day on Saturday with racegoers encouraged to spread some seasonal cheer with their outfits.
Those who brave the cold and wind decked in tinsel will be treated to some quality racing with three races being broadcast live by the ITV Racing cameras.
2:10pm December Novices’ Chase
There are some very good novice chasers around at the moment. Sam Spinner and Windsor Avenue are two who racing fans are excited about and the two of them lock horns at Doncaster on Saturday. This is a genuine two horse race with the only other runner in the field, Aye Right, unlikely to lay a glove on the leading pair.
Sam Spinner did a lot of good work for Jedd O’Keeffe over hurdles and has made the step up to the bigger obstacles impressively well. It was clear that 2m3½f was too short for Sam Spinner on his chasing debut but he got the win before winning again over 3m last time out. Staying at that trip should help no end so he can justify his narrow favouritism at 5/4 with Coral.
2:45pm Summit Juvenile Hurdle
There is another fairly small field assembled for the next race at Doncaster, the Summit Juvenile Hurdle. It is always tough to be overly confident about three year olds who are still learning their craft as hurdlers and the bookies have this as a fairly tight contest with Tombee Du Ciel, Lord Lamington and Navajo Pass all available at 9/2 or shorter.
The value, however, could be in looking beyond the top three and lending each way support to Paseo at 6/1 with Ladbrokes. He is still a long way from his best over hurdles but has shown great heart so far and broke his duck last time out. Competing on level weights with all but Tombee Du Ciel (who gets a seven pound fillies’ allowance) will be tough for Paseo but he will battle away and should earn a place in the top two.
3:20pm bet365 Handicap Chase
Doncaster’s card comes to a close with the three mile bet365 Handicap Chase. This race has provided some big winners over the years and is often one for punters to get their teeth into but it’s different this time around with just four confirmed runners. Jonjo O’Neill is one of the few who is not too disappointed about the small field as it gives his seven-year-old, Cloth Cap a better chance of winning. His three opponents should keep the favourite honest but he’s the most likely winner at 11/10 with Ladbrokes.