Nine races will take place in front of the ITV Racing cameras on Saturday 25th January as Cheltenham’s Trials Day and Doncaster take centre stage. Former Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill is the star attraction at Prestbury Park and is a warm order for the International Hurdle, but our tipster Steve Chambers veers away from that odds-on jolly and picks out four selections for the action at Cheltenham and on Town Moor.
1:50pm Cheltenham – Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase
One of the toughest betting heats of the afternoon at Cheltenham comes at 1:50pm and plenty will line up feeling they have the ability to claim victory. Il Ridoto won the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but failed to follow up in the December Gold Cup and may be in the handicapper’s grip now, while Iroko has been a bit disappointing over fences so far and could well struggle again. The top-weighted GINNY’S DESTINY won at this meeting 12 months ago and then finished a fine second behind Grey Dawning in the Turners Novices’ Chase. The Paul Nicholls-trained star has flopped in both starts this season, but with excuses both times he has dropped slightly in the weights and could prove to be a class above his rivals here.
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2:40pm Doncaster – Virgin Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle
Fifth in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time out, Kateira will switch to calmer waters in the 2:40pm at Doncaster on Saturday and is entitled to be clear at the head of the betting. However, she could prove vulnerable to an Irish rival in the shape of Jessica Harrington’s JETARA, who was last seen finishing third in a Graded contest at Leopardstown. She steps up in trip for this contest and shaped like she could improve for further and in what looks a much easier task on paper she could prove to have too much class for the Skelton mare here.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Value Punts – Saturday, 25th January
Saturday sees Trials Day from Cheltenham headline the racing action, though there is top class racing from Doncaster live on ITV as well. Matty Sutcliffe has spotted some long shots to keep onside, including a 66/1 shot in a Grade 2… 1:50 Cheltenham – Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)…
Thu 23 Jan 20253:15pm Doncaster – Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase
Joe Tizzard’s THE CHANGING MAN has been knocking on the door of late, but can finally get his day in the spotlight in the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase at 3:15pm at Doncaster. Second to Frero Banbou in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle back at the end of November, the eight-year-old was then only beaten half-a-length by Victtorino in the Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot. Given another 2lbs rise by the handicapper for that run he will need a career best here, but he’s in the form of his life and can storm home late to grab the prize.
3:35pm Cheltenham – Betfair Cleeve Hurdle
Impressive when winning the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time out, Crambo will aim for another big staying prize in Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham at 3:35pm. Fergal O’Brien’s star disappointed in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March when finishing ninth, so it could be worth taking him on with STRONG LEADER for Olly Murphy. Third in this race last season, he showed when winning the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree that on his day he is the premier staying hurdler on British shores. A winner of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his comeback run, he was last of ten in the aforementioned Long Walk, but something must have been amiss that day and he’s worth taking another chance on here.
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