The ITV7 competition is worth £100,000 to a winner on Saturday as Cheltenham and Doncaster both go to post with some top class racing. GG tipster Joe Napier picks out his selections for the competition below.
The contest is made up of seven races, with the winner required in each of them in order to claim the jackpot. If you do win all seven alongside someone else, whoever’s tiebreaker margin of victory is closest will win the prize.
Each of the seven contests this week is at Cheltenham or Doncaster, with four from Prestbury Park and three from Town Moor.
Race 1 – 1.50 Cheltenham – Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup Handicap Chase
The December meeting’s big race can go to the Skeltons courtesy of Hoe Joly Smoke. The seven-year-old has won over 3m at Sandown previously, so should relish the emphasis on stamina that the New Course provides compared to the Old Course, over which he was third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup to stablemate Panic Attack last month. Given that mare has gone on to win the Coral Gold cup too, that is almost certainly strong form, especially as the selection made a key mistake at the second last as the race was beginning in earnest which put him significantly on the back foot. Harry Skelton takes over again in the saddle as he is the only yard representative and should go very close.
Race 2 – 2.05 Doncaster – bet365 Pennine Handicap Chase
This appears to be a good opportunity for Docpickedme to get back to winning ways for Richard Hobson. The nine-year-old was third last time out behind a ready winner having been the only one to go toe-to-toe with him throughout, but that has necessitated a 2lb drop in the weights by the handicapper to a mark of 129. He is now on the same rating as that which he won off over course and distance in January, beating The Changing Man, a rival of such class that he does not have to face here. 5lb claimer Charlie Maggs has ridden two winners from his four rides since midweek, so also arrives in good form.
Race 3 – 2.25 Cheltenham – Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap Chase
An impressive performance on his second chase start suggests Excelero can take higher rank over fences than he did hurdles. Jane Williams’ five-year-old was more than capable over the smaller obstacles, but after running away with Ciaran Gethings on his chase debut over 2m4f, thus setting the race up for two stayers to battle out the finish, he routed his two opponents next time out at Warwick off a mark of 121. Over 2m, with some slick jumping, he can get into a rhythm out in front that even this higher quality of opposition may not be able to match and both trainer and jockey have been in the winners in the past fortnight.
Race 4 – 2.40 Doncaster – bet365 Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle (Listed)
All four of her rivals are thorough stayers, most notably World Of Fortunes, a Listed winner over track and trip last season, but Kateira is different class on her best form and does stave form over 3m. Tristan Durrell takes over, as he did at Ascot when she was fourth in Grade 2 company behind the talented Wodhooh last time, with Dan Skelton’s mare having beaten an admittedly below par Golden Ace prior to that at Wetherby over 2m. She was fifth in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle over this distance at Ascot this time last year though, and was beaten a head in Grade 2 company over course and distance subsequently, so it would be a surprise if any of this field can improve to best her.
Race 5 – 3.00 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Conman John’s form on the Old Course in October has taken a couple of significant knocks since and he may be worth taking on, with a chance taken down the market on Big Cadillac, another for the Skeltons. The five-year-old has a very stout jumping pedigree and was a £95,000 purchase in February 2024 by connections, with his point-to-point win that month highlighting the promise he has for staying trips. That was further exemplified by his win in a heavy ground bumper at Chepstow in January, in which he beat a horse who has won his first two starts over hurdles, so while the selection himself was only sixth of ten at Ffos Las, he had had wind surgery and may well have needed the experience still so early on in his career. There could easily be more to come from him going straight up to 3m.
Race 6 – 3.17 Doncaster – Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Hurdle
Faye Bramley has improved a fair number of horses who have been sent her way in the early stages of her training career so far and Amancio looks to be one such example. The four-year-old has won three of his five starts since joining Bramley, including two from three over hurdles, with him kicking clear for a convincing victory at Sedgefield last time out, An opening handicap rating of 122 is slightly steeper than ideal but Benjamin Macey takes off 7lb and he could serve it up to his older rivals if further improvement is in the offing.
Race 7 – 3.35 Cheltenham – Download The BetMGM App Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
Fergal O’Brien’s Siog Geal has been consistent since beginning her rules career, finishing second in a Listed bumper among her efforts last season, though she swiftly moved onto hurdles, winning two of her four starts over timber. In between victories at Catterick and Newbury she was a close fourth at Windsor behind today’s rival Jubilee Alpha, in receipt of 3lb, but was beaten less than three lengths and is set receive 18lb here. That is an enormous swing in her favour while she has looked progressive in handicaps, winning a 15-runner class 1 event at Newbury, then finishing a close third on her return at Carlisle. The winner that day has boosted that form since and a 1lb rise for O’Brien’s mare for that effort does not look harsh.
