With two of the big races on Cheltenham Trials Day tomorrow attracting four runners, I am looking at the lower-profile contests for my suggested bets. Without each-way betting, I have no desire to take on odds-on shots Grey Dawning in the Grade 2 Betfair Cotswold Chase (2.25 p.m.) or Sir Gino in the Unibet Hurdle (3 p.m.).
If Jagwar is as good as connections think he is – the horse’s ultimate aim is the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – then he will need to win tomorrow’s Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (1.15 p.m.) off an official mark of 149.
He’s probably the right favourite on form and expectation but his joint trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero have still not peaked with their horses this season and I would prefer to look elsewhere. There are plenty of options including bottom weight Javert Allen but he is trying this trip for the first time and is not guaranteed to stay two and a half miles as a prominent racer.
At bigger odds, I will take a chance on PRAIRIE WOLF for the up-and-coming Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith yard. The nine-year-old gelding showed real grit to reel in long-time leader Josh The Boss at Aintree last month and he has only gone up 3 lbs in the ratings for that win. Prairie Wolf handles soft ground and so back him 1 point each way at 16-1 with Ladbrokes or Coral, both paying three places.
After four straight wins, trainer Harry Derham’s four-year-old gelding ONE HORSE TOWN lost his unbeaten record over hurdles at Cheltenham last month but I wouldn’t write-off his chances of landing another race this season. He is a joy to watch on the racetrack, usually a game front-runner who attacks his hurdles with his ears pricked.
In tomorrow’s Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (12.40 p.m.), One Horse Town will have to give weight to all his nine rivals, including the two horses at the top of the market: Maestro Conti for the Skelton brothers and Minella Yoga for the Paul Nicholls’ yard. Both are unbeaten in their respective two runs. However, back One Horse Town 1 point each way at 7-1 with Willliam Hill, Betfred or BetVictor, all paying three places.
At Doncaster tomorrow, the Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Chase (2.05 p.m.) is too difficult for me with all ten runners having a shout. I was tempted to stay loyal to Lavida Adiva in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (1.30 p.m.) after she did this column a big favour at a double-figure price last month. I expect her to run well again but this race is a Grade 2 and a good deal tougher than the Listed race she won last time when the fancied horses misfired.
However, I do have a long-term suggestion for the William Hill Hurdle – that’s the Betfair Hurdle in old money – at Newbury on 7 February. If anyone has double figure prices on All In You before he was put up by Pricewise in the Racing Post last week at double-figure odds, then that’s a good bet. However, he is nearer half those odds now and so I am happy to look elsewhere for the winner.
The form of All In You’s last run, winning the Read Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle at Sandown earlier this month, looks rock solid to me. The fourth horse that day, Hot Fuss, did this column a favour when winning at double figure odds at Windsor a week ago.
The second horse at Sandown was DANCE AND GLANCE and he will meet All In You on 4 lbs better terms at Newbury for a length and a half beating. Admittedly, All In You could have extended that winning margin but the difference in odds for the William Hill handicap is now too big. In fact, in December, Dance and Glance had beaten All In You by a head at Ascot.
Trainer Anthony Honeyball has made it clear that Dance and Glance, who is still only six and open to plenty of improvement, is being targeted at the valuable Newbury contest so back him 1 point each way at 20-1 with most but not all bookmakers. There are highly likely to be more places on the day but I can’t see this horse still being available at 20-1 come the first Saturday in February.
Last but not least, I am going to put up two more horses for the Cheltenham Festival at big prices. I have already put up Romeo Coolio in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase on 10 March and he could hardly have performed better this season winning all his three races. However, Gordon Elliott, contrary to the plans at the start of the season, now seems likely to step Romeo Coolio up in trip at the Festival which would be disappointing for anyone, like me, who has an each-way bet on him for the Arkle at 16-1.
This race is certain to cut up, possibly to less than eight runners, so a horse that is on course for the Arkle, with no other Festival entries, is Ben Pauling’s MAMBONUMBERFIVE. This five-year-old gelding can expect to take on Nicky Henderson’s talented horse Lulamba and some tough opposition from Irish yards but he is also unbeaten in three runs this season. His odds make him an attractive bet: back him 1 point each way at 20-1, once again with most but not all bookmakers, paying three places.
Regular readers of this blog will know I am a fan of Lambourn trainer Jamie Snowden, who loves to target the Festival with his best horses. The entries are not out yet for the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase, also on 10 March, but Snowden is aiming LAURENS BAY at this race.
This six-year-old gelding should relish the longer trip and the drop in class after being third in two Grade 2 races. The fact the horse has winning form on all grounds from heavy to good is perfect for an ante-post bet. Back Laurens Bay 1 point each way at 25-1 with bet365, William Hill, Sky Bet, or Paddy Power, all paying four places.
I am going to have a rare day off from writing this weekly blog next Friday (30 January) when the main weekend attraction for many racing fans will be the Dublin Racing Festival on the other side of the Irish Sea. Although these two days of top racing will provide plenty of pointers for the Cheltenham Festival, it can be difficult for punters too, so good luck to those who decide to dabble.
Pending:
1 point each way One Horse Town at 7-1for the JCB Triumph Trial, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Prairie Wolf at 16-1 for the Betfair Exchange Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Dance and Glance at 20-1 for the William Hill Hurdle, 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 Mambonumberfive at 20-1 for the Arkle Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Golden Ace at 16-1 for the Champion Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Laurens Bay at 25-1 for the NH Novices’ 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.
1 point each way Haiti Couleurs at 14-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
Last weekend: +12.4 points
1 point each way Hot Fuss at 11-1 for the Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 1st. +13.2 point.
1 point each way Richmond Lake at 11-1 for the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 2nd. + 1.2 points.
1 point each way Marche D’Aligre at 11-1 for the Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2025-26 jumps season: running total + 4.615 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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