MILL GREEN is lightly-raced over fences, so appeals most from Cheltenham December Meeting day 1 tips given by our experts for the extended 2m 4f Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase at the home of jumps racing on Friday (2:25). Trained by Nicky Henderson, this 11-year-old Black Sam Bellamy gelding likes the track.
Placed in the last two editions of the Pertemps Final over 3m, Mill Green perhaps doesn’t quite get the trip. Going down in distance at Cheltenham looks a smart move, though. With just four steeplechase races to his name, Mill Green could still have one more win left in him.
Yes, he’s rising 12, but shaped nicely on reappearance when runner-up at Warwick. Mill Green conceded race fitness to Thomas Darby over 3m in the John Sumner Memorial off the same mark of 141. While he can still brush up on his jumping, all of the leading betting sites in the UK have him prominent in the market here.
Mill Green bested useful sorts in their prime in Aye Right and Cepage the last day. He’s still unexposed as a chaser too. At 5/1 with BetMGM, Mill Green is a solid each way punt among Cheltenham December Meeting day 1 tips.
Two Worth Backing Against the Field in Finale
We rarely advocate hedging your bets, but two runners that shaped well in defeat over shorter trips at the November Meeting are of interest for the concluding 3m handicap hurdle (3:35). They are WHITE RHINO and Gyenyame. Dealing with the former first, Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero’s seven-year-old son of Doyen is up 5lb for an unlucky second at 2m 5f here the last day.
White Rhino found himself short of room on more than one occasion in that conditional jockeys’ race. Beaten by just three-quarters of a length, the front two pulled clear of the third. White Rhino heads the ante post betting and our Cheltenham December Meeting day 1 tips on the finale at 5/1 with Betfair.
At slightly bigger odds is GYENYAME. Joe Tizzard’s five-year-old Nathaniel gelding was a rallying runner-up here off 2lb lower in the Intermediate Handicap Hurdle last month. Gyenyame needs to jump more fluently, but it was a still fine effort in defeat to topweight Springwell Bay.
He was a stayer on the Flat and All-Weather for Andrew Balding, so could have more to offer over a longer trip. Gyenyame is 7/1 with Betfair to go one better now upped in grade and distance under Brendan Powell.
Vital Island Among Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1 Tips for Cross Country
Vital Island enjoys more @punchestownrace Festival success! Well done to Benny Walsh & Richie O’Keeffe
📅 April 27, 2023: @mongeycomms La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase
📅 April 26, 2022: Ladies’ Perpetual Cup pic.twitter.com/eWZ1sOe8l1— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) April 27, 2023
In the extended 3m 5f Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (3:00), Irish raider Vital Island brings a wealth of Banks experience. Gordon Elliott is responsible for four of the five entries highest in the weights, so it’s anyone guess which will frame the handicap.
Given his extensive Point-to-Point background over the Banks, however, Vital Island is overpriced on horse racing betting sites for what would be a first trip to Cheltenham. Trained by R.P. O’Keeffe, this 11-year-old son of Trans Island won Ireland’s biggest Cross Country Chase, the 4m 2f La Touche Cup, at the Punchestown Festival in the spring.
Vital Island was far from disgraced when giving weight to Birchdale when runner-up in the Risk Of Thunder on reappearance. He should come on for that and is well worth trying on the Cheltenham course. At 12/1 with Paddy Power, Vital Island is a speculative each way bet.
Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1 Tips
- Mill Green (NAP) in the Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2:25) @ 5/1 with bet365
- White Rhino in the 3m handicap hurdle (3:35) @ 5/1 with Betfair
- Gyenyame (E/W) in the 3m handicap hurdle (3:35) @ 7/1 with Betfair
- Vital Island (E/W) in the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (3:00) @ 12/1 with Paddy Power
