Cheltenham December Meeting Saturday Tips
The second day of Cheltenham’s Christmas Meeting takes place on Saturday and it’s a fantastic seven-race card featuring several competitive handicaps and a few races sponsored by BetMGM.
Day two’s feature is the December Gold Cup (13:50), which features some real old favourites, while there are four other races live on ITV. It’s a bumper card at Cheltenham and we have selected our best bets in all of the races.
12:10 - Juvenile Hurdle
This is an early trial for the Triumph Hurdle and ONE HORSE TOWN must go well now that he returns to the scene of his last success. The Harry Derham-trained youngster is unbeaten in four starts over hurdles and looked better than ever when bolting up in a Grade 2 at this course last month. That is the best form on offer in this event and there should be more to come from this progressive novice, who remains open to plenty of further improvement.
Selection: One Horse Town @ 7/4
12:40 - Handicap Chase
One of the most exciting horses on the card lines up here in the shape of THE JUKEBOX KID. He has won a point and two of his three starts under Rules, and looked better than ever when an easy winner on his chasing debut at Carlisle last time. He finished strongly up the stiff finish on that occasion over 2m5f and looks certain to improve for stepping up to 3m1½f at this course. A mark of 131 may seriously underestimate his ability and potential for better.
Selection: The Jukebox Kid @ 13/8
13:15 - Handicap Chase
This is a very competitive race and the one to be on is GREYVAL, who finished between four individual subsequent winners when fifth in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow over hurdles in October and made a promising chasing debut when second behind Pic Roc at Huntingdon last time. Pic Roc ran an excellent race after a slow start at Newbury next time and Greyval is capable of building on that chasing debut promise at a track where she is unbeaten in one.
Selection: Greyval @ 9/1
13:50 - December Gold Cup Handicap Chase
The big race of the day can go to KIM ROQUE, who was a big eyecatcher when second on his debut for Joseph O’Brien at this course last month. Kim Roque travelled like the winner that day and came to the last fence with every chance, but an almighty mistake put an end to his chance. However, that was his first run for a new yard and he had been off the course for 141 days, so there should be plenty more to come from the selection this time with that effort under his belt.
Selection: Kim Roque @ 5/1
14:25 - Read Meg Nicholls' Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap Chase
Trainer Chris Gordon is having his best season so far and one of his most exciting runners lines up here. DAVID’S WELL comes into this race searching for a four-timer and was mightily impressive when running away with a handicap chase at Haydock three weeks ago. That race was run in a solid time and the selection sprinted away up the run-in like he had lots left in the tank. It won’t take much improvement for him to defy a 6lb rise in the weights on this occasion.
Selection: David’s Well @ 5/2
15:00 - Novices' Hurdle
This looks like a good opportunity for CONMAN JOHN, who comes into the race on a hat-trick and finished strongly when winning a 3m novice hurdle at this course last time. There should be plenty more to come from this lightly raced five-year-old, who represents the in-form Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore team that do well in staying races, especially novices like this.
Selection: Conman John @ 11/8
15:35 - Download The BetMGM App Mares' Handicap Hurdle
This was one of the hottest races run all last season when Wodhooh beat Joyeuse and, while there probably isn’t anything of their quality in it this year, it still looks a competitive heat. PRETENDING finished eighth behind Wodhooh last season from a mark 3lb higher than this and might be capable of improving on that now she returns to a course that she loves. She is a course-and-distance winner who has finished in the first three in three of her four starts at the track and has almost certainly been trained with this race in mind. She can go well again.
Selection: Pretending @ 14/1
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
