It’s day one of Cheltenham’s December Meeting on Friday 13th December and our value tipster Matty Sutcliffe is here with four best bets across the card at Prestbury Park…
12:40 Cheltenham – SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Jango Baie 11/4 1.5pt WIN
Nicky Henderson has won this four times in the last ten renewals including with a chase debutant, and JANGO BAIE can continue that good record. Caldwell Potter looks short enough in at 10/11 as he didn’t blow me away when dispatching a 112 rated rival by five lengths on chase debut at Carlisle earlier this month, for all he is entitled to come on for that run and prove better for stepping up in trip.
Jango Baie recevies 5lbs from the favourite which puts them level on adjusted weights and I’m excited to see how this son of Tiger Groom improves for the switch to fences. He split rivals now rated 135/130 when second in a Knockanard point, before transitioning to rules in a stellar debut at Ascot given how hard he pulled throughout.
He took the Tolworth in equally good fashion, but wasn’t seen to best effect when finishing in three runs since, including at Aintree last time out when staying on strongly having been badly hampered two out. He gave 3lbs to Kateira there who’s won a Listed contest since, and he can rate higher now taking on fences.
1:15 Cheltenham – Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-140) – Tintintin 12/1 1pt EW 4 places
Like last year’s winner of this race, Go Dante, TINTINTIN will find this less competitive than the Greatwood Hurdle last time out behind two graded sorts in Burdett Road and Dysart Enos (and probably Be Aware), and a similar effort should see him go close.
Tintintin gets similar ground here, and its worth noting he was a neck winner over C&D in April off just 4lbs lower. Jonathan Burke takes the ride for the first time since finishing third on him in the Swinton in May which is arguably a signal intent, given he is normally claimer ridden.
2:25 Cheltenham – Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier) (Class 2) (10yo+ 0-150) – Raffle Ticket 16/1 1pt EW 4 places
RAFFLE TICKET may be on a career high mark, but unlike some of these who are regressing with age, he’s still somewhat unexposed at the age of ten having only had thirteen runs under rules, and is 6/15 overall in his career.
His record over fences reads 311F621PU1, with the two anomalies coming on unfavourable soft ground, and he could still potentially be well handicapped off 145 given he last beat Soul Icon a shade cosily by a length giving 3lbs, who’s since finished second in both the G3 Summer Plate and the G2 Rising Stars’ Chase. Though his record on season debut reads F336, he has a least won from a 115 day layoff, and he won his P2P fresh too, so I’m not too concerned in that respect particularly with Harry Cobden retaining the partnership, with his record on him reading 21PU1.
3:35 Cheltenham – Citipost Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) – An TaillIur 33/1 0.5pt EW 3 places
Three poor efforts over fences after a 500 day layoff will hopefully have sparked some life back into AN TAILLIUR, who is thrown in off a mark of 132 now back over hurdles.
The formerly progressive son of Authorized was last seen over hurdles finishing an eight length 9th in a competitive handicap at Aintree in 2023 off 139, having ran an excellent four length 6th in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham again off 8Lbs higher. Two starts prior, he was sent off favourite against Marie’s Rock at Kempton in receipt of 2lbs, who later that season went one to win the G1 Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival.
His record fresh reads 711362 and brigs crucial course form. There’s plenty to trust about his current well being, but hopefully the first time tongue tie works with immediate effect and this good to soft ground will suit him more than most.
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