Saturday’s racing at Cheltenham should prove a hugely enjoyable watch and Matty Sutcliffe will be busy cheering on a number of contenders. He has five best bets for you to follow across the card.
1:10 Cheltenham – Debenhams Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-135) – Herakles Westwood 6/1 1pt WIN
HERAKLES WESTWOOD was progressive as a novice chaser last season and he can return to winning ways now with his sights lowered.
He was second to In d’Or on chase debut at Taunton who franked that form with a win at Ascot next time out prior to finishing third in the Class Two Masters Handicap at Sandown, finishing the season with a six in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at the Festival.
Herakles Westwood then racked up a double over fences at Newbury and Windsor, latterly beating a subsequent winner and he wasn’t disgraced when a twelve lengths third in a competitive looking Newbury Novice Handicap. He was then a place behind In d’Or at the Cheltenham Festival and he didn’t lose all that much in defeat when fifth in a valuable handicap at Punchestown despite beaten twenty five lengths, given the winner bolted up 15 lengths.
He drops into an easier contest here given the top-weight is an exposed 12-year-old off 132 and the rest of the field are rated between 129-111. The in-from yard have secured top amateur Finian Maguire who could prove the difference between winning and losing as ever in these amateur rider events, and he may just have a touch more class and upsides than some of his rivals with the ground posing no issue.
1:45 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The November) (GBB) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Breaking Cover 40/1 0.5pt EW 2 places
This is a fascinating renewal of the Arkle Trial, with the market dominated by July Flower who was excellent on her chase debut and bids to emulate Put The Kettle On who won this race for Henry De Bromhead before winning the Arkle in 2019.
The Skeltons won this with L’Eau Du Sud last season and they look to back that success up with Be Aware, who recorded the same RPR of 145 as his stablemate did when winning at Stratford on chase debut. He only appeared to get going in the final furlong there, and I wouldn’t be surprised if his future over fences lies over further.
Burdett Road, Brentford Hope and Stencil are all flat-bred making their chase debuts, with the latter pair making their seasonal debut, and on this forecast dampening surface it may prove to stick with those race-fit horses here.
BREAKING COVER is the lowest-rated runner of the sextet in here, but I thought he ran a superb race to be beaten a length by the 147 rated Blueing d’roux at Wincanton in the G2 Rising Stars last weekend. He’s been productive since returning in July with form figures of 11311212, and while you’d suspect for a summer campaigned horse the forecast rain will scupper his chances, his two best efforts came on soft ground, formerly when winning at Worcester with Doyen Quest six lengths in behind and latterly when a fifteen lengths winner at Newton Abbot.
Despite running a blinder last time out, this drop back to two miles will suit better but with a reserve of stamina equipped with his ability to handle a soft surface, I wouldn’t be surprise to see Rex Dingle make this a strong test from the front to put some of these inexperienced animals to the sword.
2:20 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (In Memory Of Edward O’Grady) (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Conyers Hill 14/1 1pt EW 4 places
I had initially placed Il Ridoto as the likeliest of winners here in the ante-post preview, but I am a tad concerned by the forecast rain as he won’t want it too deep and as a result, the eyes are drawn to Irish raider CONYERS HILL for Paul Nolan.
The son of Walk In The Park landed a pair of soft/heavy ground hurdles at Cork and Clonmel a couple of seasons ago, before running a big race to finish third in a Fairyhouse Listed Handicap Hurdle. He had to wait eight runs before getting back into the winners enclosure, which came in a Down Royal Novice Chase in January, and he ran a belter in the Grand Annual to be a ten-length sixth, staying on in the manner of one needing further.
He backed that effort up in a listed novice chase at Fairyhouse when second to Hillsdale, coming from rear to split an always prominent pair. He stepped up in trip on seasonal debut last month when second at Limerick having been given a chunk to do in rear, coming there travelling strongly for all he didn’t find that much in the finish.
That has become a trait of his, but several of the leading contenders won’t appreciate any serious ease in the going and Sean O’Keeffe may be able to deliver him as late as possible. He can strip fitter from that seasonal debut, and he has the valuable benefit of course experience to give the Irish a belated winner in this contest.
2:55 Cheltenham – From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Supremely West 2/1 2pt WIN
SUPREMELY WEST was an eye-catcher in a similar contest here at the October meeting on seasonal debut when travelling smoothly in rear, though lacking the finishing kick to the always prominent Electric Mason and the well backed winner in Ma Shantou.
That was his first run for the Skeltons and his first one after wind surgery, so naturally he’s likely to come on for that effort and improvement should see him justify favouritism. His best form for his previous yard came on soft/heavy going with form figures of 11122231, latterly at Haydock when carrying twelve stone to make all by an eased down six lengths.
A mark of 138 may yet underestimate him given his three lengths second to Gwennie May Boy in a class two at Uttoxeter in March 2024, with that one now rated 148 having won the Rendlesham last season, and he can given the Skelton’s back to back victories in this race.
3:30 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-140) – Royal Infantry 9/2 1pt WIN
Chepstow, in particular the Silver Trophy, has proved a successful path in landing this contest next time out of late and ROYAL INFANTRY can continue that trend.
The son of Soldier Of Fortune was an eye-catcher there having travelled well throughout in rear, and he finished strongly to be beaten just the four lengths. That form has already worked out well with the second bolting up in a listed mares chase next time out, the fourth was a comfortable winner of a class two handicap at Kempton and the sixth was beaten a neck in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle.
Royal Infantry shoulders the burden of top-weight, but he’s entirely unexposed in handicaps with the yard holding him in enough regard to contest graded races, including an eighth in the 2024 Champion Bumper and a fifth in last year’s Top Novices’ Hurdle. He was a solid second in a Perth Listed Novices’ Hurdle over three miles behind a Willie Mullins trained winner, and this slight extra distance here looks to suit in that respect.
His form second time up after a break reads 1112 so like the majority of Skelton’s this season, he’s bound to come on for the run and any ease in the going will be in his favour.
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