Strong course form is always a major plus for horses contesting races at Cheltenham, whether it is at the Festival in March or any other meeting at the track. The trouble when evaluating the merits of the runners in the tomorrow’s big race, The Support the Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup Handicap Chase, (1.50 p.m.), is that all three horses vying for favouritism have run big races at Cheltenham. So, too, have several of the others in the race so it is difficult to rule out many of the 11 runners.
Jagwar, Hoe Joly Smoke and Vincenzo are at the top of the market and of the three the first mentioned has the most potential to become a graded horse. However, the poor form of his yard means I would not want to take odds of 7-2 on Jagwar.
On balance, and on the drying ground, I would rather take a chance on one of the two outsiders in the whole field. GA LAW is from the in-form Jamie Snowden yard and has a talented conditional jockey, Isabelle Ryder, in the saddle, who can claim a valuable 7 lbs.
Ga Law knows his way around Cheltenham having run at the course several times, including winning the 2022 Paddy Gold Cup and then being runner up in the same race last year.
He will turn ten years old on 1 January but Snowden would not enter Ga Law in a race of this quality if the gelding did not retain plenty of ability. The key to him is the ground: he does not well go in the mud. Back Ga Law 1 point each way at 25-1 with either Paddy Power or Sky Bet, both paying four places.
I also fancy another outsider later in the Cheltenham card: PRETENDING in the Download The BetMGM App Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (3.35 p.m.). Trainer Lucy Wadham loves targeting this race having won it in 2020 with The White Mouse and following up with another victory a year later with Martello Sky.
Pretending went off at 7-2 to win this race a year ago, only to finish a disappointing eighth of the 12 runners. However, the mare is better than she showed that day and, at six, she should be at her peak. Another bonus is that she has winning form at the course, landing a 16-runner handicap in April 2024 by a cosy three lengths.
If Pretending is back to anything like her best for her second run of the season, then she is a decent each way bet and so back her 1 point each way at 18-1 with Sky Bet, once again paying a generous four places.
At Doncaster tomorrow, I am going to take a chance on Ruth Jefferson’s LAVIDA ADIVA in the Listed Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle (2.40 p.m.). This six-year-old has plenty to find on official figures against both Keteira and World of Fortunes but her handler can’t hide her admiration for the horse she calls ‘my little pocket rocket’.
This three miles contest has been the target for some time so I am going to suggest 2 points win on Lavida Adiva at 10-1 with bet65 in this five-horse race. That’s three horses, all at double figure prices, for an interest in tomorrow’s racing.
Pending:
1 point each way Ga Law at 25-1 in the December Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
2 points win Lavida Adiva at 10-1 for the Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle.
1 point each way Pretending at 18-1 for the BetMGM App Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Shomen Uchi for the Welsh Grand National at 16-1, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Romeo Coolio at 16-1 for the Arkle Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Derryhassen Paddy at 25-1 for the Brown Advisory Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
Last weekend: – 6 points.
2 points win Lump Sum at 9-2 for the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. 3rd. – 2 points.
1 point each way Gaboriot at 16-1 for the Becher Chase, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way White Rhino at 20-1 for the Becher Chase, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2025-26 jumps season: running total – 24.1 points
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for six full seasons of tipping: + 126 points
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