The Bettingsites.co.uk Cheltenham racing tips cover the LIVE ITV Racing this Saturday as the free-to-air channel are covering FIVE races from Prestbury Park on their popular Trials Day fixture – the last meeting before the Festival in March. Therefore, horse racing fans can expect many clues ahead of the biggest four days of jump racing on the planet in around six weeks, with top races this weekend that include the Cleeve Hurdle, Cotswold Chase, Unibet Hurdle and the rearranged Clarence House Chase.
Cheltenham Racing Tips For Festival Trials Day: Stay Away Fay To Give Nicholls His Sixth Cotswold Chase Win
1:15 Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m4½f ITV: GRANDEUR D’AME
The Venetia Williams yard have won two of the last 10 runnings of this race and have fair chances again with Easy As That and Victtorino, while it’s also a prize the Paul Nicholls camp have won two of the last five – they’ve got recent December Gold Cup runner-up Il Ridoto, who is sure to be popular in the betting.
However, the call is to side with the horse who was fourth in the already mentioned December Gold Cup the Alan King runner Grandeur D’Ame. This 8 year-old has around 10 lengths to find with Il Ridoto on that form, but has a nice 8lb weight pull this time to suggest he can get a lot closer.
That run was also only his second run back from a summer break so will strip a lot fitter this time and still gets in here with a featherweight of just 10-5, which will be a big plus.
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1:50 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m1½f ITV: STAY AWAY FAY
Since the Cotswold Chase was first run in 1980, we are yet to see a ‘back-to-back’ winner, which is the first negative for last year’s hero Ahoy Senor. Add in that his Lucinda Russell runner has not fired this season in the Charlie Hall and Coral Gold Cup, then he’s overlooked.
The Real Whacker has a bit to prove too after winning at the Festival last season, having been pulled up in the Paddy Power and then a remote fourth in the King George last time. Royale Pagaille will be popular after winning the Betfair Chase, but it’s no secret he’s a much better horse around Haydock.
Datsalrightgino seems to be getting a tad overlooked, despite being the Coral Gold Cup winner (Hennessy) and is a course winner too – he’s one to respect.
However, the main pick is the Paul Nicholls runner Stay Away Fay.
This 7 year-old is the youngest in the line-up but is also the one with the most potential and improvement still to come. Festival fans will remember him winning the Albert Barlett last March but has since been switched to fences, where he’s 2-from-2.
The last of those wins was a gutsy success at Sandown, when he outbattled the useful Giovinco and looks the sort to have more to come over this longer trip and at a track we know suit.
He can give Nicholls his sixth Cotswold Chase win, with his most recent Frodon in 2019 and his first the former Gold Cup winner See More Business back in 1998.
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2:25 Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m½f ITV: JONBON
Full marks to Cheltenham for stepping in for the second year to cover the Clarence House, which is normally staged at Ascot. Last year the race was taken by the Gary Moore-trained Editeur Du Gite and he’s back for more. However, he faces a stern test if he’s to defend his title with the 170-rated Jonbon in the race this time.
This JP McManus runner is 7-from-8 over fences, with his only blot coming in the Arkle Chase at the Festival last season. The horse that beat him there, El Fabiolo was meant to run in the race last week at Ascot, but connections decided against the rescheduled Cheltenham race and he’ll be aimed at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown next week.
That paves the way for Jonbon to add this to the Tingle Creek he won last time out and then head to the Champion Chase and try his luck with El Fabiolo again.
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3:00 Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m1f ITV: LOSSIEMOUTH
Not a great renewal of the Unibet Hurdle – a race we last saw run in 2021, when Guard Your Dreams landed the honours. That Nigel Twiston-Davies horse is back in the race too and has only raced four times since having had some injuries. He’s still only 8, but it would be a big training effort from NTD after 660-days away.
Love Envoi is the top-rated in the field at 151 and is a CD winner after winning the 2022 Mares Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival. But the worry would be that she ran below par in the Fighting Fifth last time out at Sandown. Rubaud saw the back of Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle last time and will find this easier.
But the big player here is the Willie Mullins runner Lossiemouth, who landed the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival last season. This likeable grey mare has since added the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival and returns this season now into open company for the first time.
This will be another step up but she’s 5-from-6 over hurdles, has a good record fresh and the fact that Mullins is bringing her over is a good sign he’s ready to rumble.
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3:35 McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m ITV: DASHEL DRASHER
The popular Paisley Park has won the Cleeve Hurdle three times in the past and despite now aged 12 is back for more and still loving his racing. He’s been runner-up twice this season in the Long Distance Hurdle and Long Walk – beaten by narrow margins both times. He’s sure to be in the mix again.
2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats runs to in what will only be his third run over hurdles. But was beaten last time at Limerick at odds-on and has a bit to prove. Champ is another of the old-timers in the race at 12, but was behind Paisley Park the last day, as was Botox Has.
So, the safer call looks to be Dashel Drasher, who was third in the Long Walk Hurdle last time at Ascot. Yes, he’s got a bit of ground to find with Paisley Park on that runner but don’t forget he also beat the Lavelle runner in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
We also know Cheltenham is fine, having run a close second in the Stayers’ Hurdle here at the Festival in March, while his overall consistent form over hurdles sees him hit the top three 14 times in the 16 times he’s raced over the smaller obstacles (7 wins).
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