There was a bumper edition to the Weekend Watch with all eyes veering to Cheltenham as Kate Tracey, Andrew Mount and Dave Young turn their attentions to Festival Trials Day at Prestbury Park
Their selections line up in front of the ITV Racing cameras on what is set to be an epic day of top quality National Hunt racing that should throw up some vital Cheltenham Festival clues.
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1:15 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
Dave: “I’m taking a swing at Hitman! He’s had a wind-op since his run at Aintree, where he was never really travelling, but he’s down to 156 and with Freddie Gingell taking 5lbs off he’s effectively lining up off 151. Third in a Ryanair Chase behind Envoi Allen and Shishkin and that form suggests this horse is more than capable of running well here.”
Andrew: “It’s a terrible race! I could half go for Frere D’armes for Dan Skelton, but I came back to the favourite Il Ridoto. If you look at the roll of honour in recent years, you have to be on the front end, so you know what they are going to do with him, so if you back him each-way there’s very little downside, so reluctantly I will tip the favourite.”
Kate: “I am going to side with Alan King’s Grandeur D’ame. He’s 3lbs lower than December Gold Cup run (finished 4th) and with conditions to suit and I feel he’s been forgotten about in the market.”
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Value Pointers and Punts – Saturday, 27th January
It’s Trials Day from Cheltenham this weekend, and our early value man Matty Sutcliffe has already got his keen eye on two selections. They include one from the Cotswold Chase, the big prep for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Updated: 9:20am 26th January (Odds correct at time of publication) SATURDAY 1:15 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Cheltenham…
Wed 24 Jan 20241:50 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
Andrew: “I will go with Stay Away Fay in the hope he can get into a good rhythm on the front end. I’m not worried about his novice status against some horses that aren’t running in their ideal conditions.”
Dave: “It’s a wide open affair – I will not be having a bet in the race”
2:25 Cheltenham – My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
Andrew: “My first thought is to oppose Jonbon because of the question marks on some of Nicky Henderson’s horses. If the ground does dry up Nube Negra is not without a chance, while if they go like the clappers Fugitif is an each-way bet at 1/4 odds 1,2. If you gave me £1 each way, I’d go for Fugitif and hope they go too fast up front and hope he stays on and grabs ‘probably’ second.”
Dave: “I don’t see how Jonbon gets beat – it’s great for him to have more experience at Cheltenham before the Queen Mother Champion Chase.”
3:00 Cheltenham – Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
Andrew: “I’d go Rubaud for Paul Nicholls. Since they went front-running he’s improved, he used to race keenly and sit behind the pace and not always get home, but they put a hood on for the first time and he won well at Kempton in Grade 2 company and then won his next three. Finishing second to Constitution Hill (Christmas Hurdle) isn’t being beaten really is it?”
Dave: “I think Lossiemouth is the right favourite. I think this is her ideal trip and she just be too good and should win this, but we are doing this more on promise than what we have seen in the book.”
3:35 Cheltenham – McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
Andrew: “I am going to be favourite boring and tip the favourite and back Paisley Park to beat Dashel Drasher. It’s something they’ve done previously and you’re probably going to get 12/13 to 1 or something like that for your forecast.”
Dave: “The two I want to bet are Strong Leader and Noble Yeats. Strong Leader is bred to be a Gold Cup horse, so I am glad they are stepping up in trip. Noble Yeats is just a beast of a horse on his day and this will be more testing than his recent hurdle run.”
Andrew Mount’s Cheltenham Selections:
Il RidotoAndrew Mount’s tips for Saturday 27th January.
Dave Young’s Cheltenham Selections:
HitmanDave Young’s tips for Saturday 27th January.
Don’t forget to check out occasional Weekend Watch pundit, Matty Sutcliffe’s selections for this weekend as well as Dave Young’s weekly Cheltenham ante-post picks.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Weekend Pointers & Punts
Dave Young’s Cheltenham Ante-Post Book
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