Jonbon headlines a sparkling list of big names putting their 2024 Cheltenham Festival credentials on the line on Trials Day this Saturday. Nicky Henderson’s charge leads a field of five in the rearranged Grade 1 Clarence House Chase (2:25) in which he takes on last year’s winner Editeur Du Gite and December Gold Cup hero Fugitif as he looks to advertise his winning claims for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March.
The eight-year-old is just one of many top-class runners gracing Prestbury Park this weekend. Another is current Mares’ Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth, who is odds-on to make a winning return in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle (3:00), run for the first time on Trials Day having been moved from the December meeting. She will take on last year’s Mares’ Hurdle runner-up Love Envoi, who is on a retrieval mission after a disappointing showing in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown.
Earlier in the card, the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase (1:50) may provide pointers towards the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Last year’s winner Ahoy Senor faces stern opposition in a competitive betting line-up which also features the novice Stay Away Fay, who is among the market leaders for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, won last year by another Cotswold contestant, The Real Whacker. Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille, Coral Goral Gold Cup hero Datsalrightgino and Savills Chase third Capodanno make up the field.
Triumph Hurdle favourites Burdett Road and Sir Gino open the card of eight races in the Triumph Hurdle Trial (12:05), while further Graded contests feature Paisley Park and former Grand National winner Noble Yeats in the Cleeve Hurdle (3:35), and leading Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle entry Gidleigh Park in the concluding SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Hurdle (4:10). Last year’s Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase (12:40) produced a Festival winner in Stage Star and will also be worth keeping an eye on for clues to prospective winners come March.