Matty Sutcliffe is on hand for both days of Cheltenham‘s December meeting this week. He begins with four best bets at Prestbury Park on Friday 12 December.
Cheltenham Racing Tips (Friday 12 December 2025)
12:05 Cheltenham – British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4-6yo) – Lisbane Park 9/2 1pt WIN
The vote in what looks a very trappy Novices’ Hurdle where eight of the ten runners all won last time out goes to Lisbane Park, for a yard who’ve won this twice since 2016 including with a four year old with connections also having JPR One beaten only a neck here as a four year old in 2021.
Like JPR One, Lisbane Park also won an Exeter Novice on debut prior to this and while the form of that is open to question, he beat a pair of more experience five year olds fairly convincingly jumping fluently throughout. He was given a calm introduction to racing by Brendan Powell having raced in fourth throughout, but not only was it notable how well he was travelling, he appeared to need little help from Brendan Powell in jumping department as he made his mind up himself for the large majority.
He drew away with ease after the last and given he had a marginal preference to shift slightly left, Cheltenham looks set to suit him better than Exeter.
1:15 Cheltenham – Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-140) – Iberico Lord 6/1 1pt WIN
Iberico Lord is only 4lbs higher than when beating L’Eau Du Sud in the Betfair Hurdle two seasons ago and if connections don’t have one eye on that contest once more, then it would be a surprise should he not be classy enough to beat this field bar the burden of top-weight.
This race has gone to one well beaten in the Greatwood in the past, and he wasn’t the only one to be put in his place when midfield to the classy Alexei, shaping as if needing that first run of the season in rear. He’s not quite shown his best form since falling in an Ascot Novice Chase, but he’s yet to race below class two over hurdles level since winning his Novice Hurdle in 2023 having race in some big Premier Handicaps, including when winning the Greatwood here in 2023.
This is his easiest task in a long while and despite having to give plenty weight away, he has to be featuring here to get his career back on track for a yard among the winners.
1:50 Cheltenham – Turners Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Gowel Road 14/1 1pt EW 3 places
The classy L’Homme Presse is the graded horse in a handicap here but he returns from 300 days off the track after another setback and he’s now a ten-year-old giving at least 16lbs to the field so it may prove to pass him over this time around.
The one that’s of major interest in here is Gowel Road, who returns to chasing for the first time since 2022 when an eighteen length winner at Ascot, though aided by a faller (for all had joined him at the second last). He missed the rest of that season presumably through injury, and has subsequently stayed hurdling since.
He was in career best form last season with form figures of 222218, including a second to Lucky Place in the G2 Relkeel before taking the G2 Cleeve Hurdle in game fashion from the front. He came on from a below par reappearance this season when an eight length third to Kikijo here last time out, with that winner now rated 14lbs higher after taking a competitive class two at Sandown last weekend.
I suspect his mark is high enough for hurdling handicaps off top weight now, so the return to chasing looks a smart move and he could hardly have found a more suitable opportunity carrying just 10-12 given the last time he carried below 11-0 was when winning that chase at Ascot off this mark.
His form here on the hurdles course is a bonus, he evidently stays well and the headgear combination will hopefully prove further spark for a yard who’ve won this three times since 2018.
2:25 Cheltenham – Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Handicap Chase (Qualifier) (Class 2) (9yo+ 0-150) – Fugitif 9/2 1pt WIN
Fugitif weakened badly in a similar contest behind Eldorado Allen here last time out, but that was his seasonal debut in deteriorating conditions and he was still pitching in two out, so I’d expect him to be a lot sharper this time around particularly now the cheekpieces go back on.
He’s struggled off marks in the 150s/high 140 since winning the December Gold Cup over C&D in 2023 before an excellent third in the G1 Clarence House, though he ran a fine race when third in last years December Gold Cup at this meeting and given he’s effectively 12lbs lower than that mark, it would be very surprising should he not be able to make his mark in Veteran’s company now particularly given the forecast drying conditions.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
Matty Sutcliffe’s Racing Tips – Friday 12 December
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Cheltenham across Friday 12 December’s cards.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Cheltenham tips were published at 9.35am on Thursday 11 December
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival.