There are seven races taking place in front of the ITV Racing cameras on Saturday 14th December and the highlight comes from Cheltenham as the December Gold Cup takes centre stage at 1:50pm. Our tipster Steve Chambers has a selection for that competitive handicap, while he also some other selections at Jumps HQ and one from Doncaster…
1:50pm Cheltenham – Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase
Last year’s winner Fugitif will take on recent Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Il Ridoto in the December Gold Cup at 1:50pm and the pair are prominent figures in the betting. Former Cheltenham winner Ga Law and former Cheltenham Festival winner Stage Star are another brace sitting towards the head of the latest odds, but the one to side with is Dan Skelton’s MADARA, who can build on a decent fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Held up during that contest, he was always going to struggle to reel those in on the front end, but was storming home up the hill and eventually managed to grab fourth. If he’s given a more prominent ride here then he can benefit from remaining on the same mark of 140, and while most of his rivals are higher in the weights he’s handicapped to go very close.
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2:05pm Doncaster – bet365 Handicap Chase
Kim Bailey’s DOES HE KNOW just folded in the closing stages at Cheltenham last time out over 3m 3f, so the slight drop back in trip at Doncaster for their 2:05pm contest should bring on some improvement. Fourth that day, the nine-year-old has been dropped 1lb by the handicapper is back to his last winning mark of 149 for this 2m 7f 214y contest. His last win actually came at Doncaster in the Grimthorpe Chase back in March, so a return to Town Moor should be a huge positive and he can get the better of Gaboriot and last year’s winner Forward Plan.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Value Punts – Cheltenham, Doncaster & Newcastle Feature in Saturday’s Best Bets
The December meeting at Cheltenham rolls onto day two on Saturday, with Doncaster also live on ITV. Matty Sutcliffe gives you SIX selections to follow for the weekend, including a bonus tip for Newcastle… 11:42 Newcastle – Hawk Ponteland Now Open Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5) (3yo+ 0-100) – Paddy O’Mahler 1pt WIN Before…
Thu 12 Dec 20242:25pm Cheltenham – BetMGM Handicap Chase
Joe Tizzard’s TRIPLE TRADE has been struggling of late, but he’s gradually been eased by the handicapper and he looks capable of going close in the 2:25pm at Cheltenham. Fourth at Ascot last time out, the eight-year-old has been dropped to a mark of 130 and it’s that mark he was victorious off of at Cheltenham last season. A winner at Ascot of 135, he’s more than capable of playing a starring role here, as long as he doesn’t get himself too detached in the early stages of the race.
3:35pm Cheltenham – BetMGM Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
Impressive when winning on her British hurdling debut at Taunton last January, JOYEUSE failed to make it two from two when third at Ascot at the end of last month. However, Nicky Henderson’s mare was having her first start for over ten months, so she’s entitled to come on immeasurably for that effort and she wasn’t disgraced finishing behind some smart rivals that day. A half-sister to Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante, the five-year-old is well fancied to land the final race at Cheltenham on Saturday at 3:35pm and she could just be too classy for her rivals off an eye-catching mark of 119.
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