The first day of the two-day December meeting at Cheltenham features the second race in the new Unibet Middle Distance Veteran’ Series over two miles and four furlongs which is open to 10, 11 and 12-year-olds. This season there are six races followed by a series finale which will take place on the 30th of March 2024. For the 2024/25 season the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Series will become an eleven-race series with ten qualifiers and a final for horses who have entered and ran in that season’s series.

I am a massive fan of these races, and it will be interesting to see how my selection Cepage performs on Friday in Unibet Middle Distance Veteran’ Series, as the drop back from three miles to this trip will be in his favour.

Later on in the Glenfarclas Cross County Handicap Chase the former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo is an interesting runner on what will be his first start over this cross country course. This is going to be an intriguing race with Galvin, Fury Road, Latenightpass and Gesskille amongst the other runners.

Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watch on ITV Racing or Racing TV.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

1.15 Cheltenham – Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle (2m 1f)

Go Dante was fourth in the Challow as a novice, them he took his time to win last year but was impressive when doing so at Wetherby, relishing the soft ground. He was below-par at Aintree on his final start of the year but came back from a break to run a very credible sixth to Iberico Lord in the Greatwood. This form is already starting to work out, with the fourth home Soningino a winner on his next start and the ninth Anyharminasking running second at Newbury next time. Go Dante should be fitter today, and with soft ground in his favour, should go well.
Unibet 7/1 each way

1.50 Cheltenham – Cheltenham Racecourse Food Bank Collection Mares’ Handicap Chase (2m 4f)

Game On For Glory for Lucy Wadham has the size and scope for fences, and she’ll have learnt plenty from her first start over them at Warwick where she made numerous little errors but it didn’t stop her from finishing a close second, beaten just under two lengths. The cheekpieces, on for the first time that day, are on again, she’ll love the ground and will step up here.
Unibet 17/2 each way

2.25 Cheltenham – Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2m 4f)

Cepage (nap) has been a high-class handicapper in his time, yet his form figures of 10 ,7 and 4 on his three starts since finishing fourth off a mark of 158 to Vintage Clouds in the Ultima at The Festival in 2021 hardly inspire confidence. This includes his last starts in the two most recent renewals of the same race at Warwick, when on both occasions he has been equally awful, although it might be the course for whatever reason as he has not raced there previously. There are definitely points in his favour though off a mark of 137, with conditions to suit and importantly this shorter trip, which he won over at Prestbury in January 2020 when beating Spiritofthegames. Cepage has each way claims with the Venetia Williams team remaining in good form.
Unibet 13/2 each way

3.00 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (3m 6f)

Latenightpass was marked up in my Unibet blog for the November Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase when second to Foxy Jacks on his first appearance on the course and for Dan Skelton. Initially I thought that Latenightpass hadn’t seen out the trip, however rewatching the race I now take a different view in that he did stay and that he will come on for that race stripping much fitter this time around. He will benefit from having the course experience too, as he backed off at some of the hedges so losing ground in the process and he will have a smoother passage this time. Clearly, Geskille is a serious threat in his first race over the cross-country fences, however Latenightpass will be victorious this time.
Unibet 100/30 win

3.35 Cheltenham – Citipost Handicap Hurdle (3m)

Captain Morgs can follow up on last year’s success for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson off a mark of 137, which is only three pounds higher than his 2022 victory. This season Captain Morgs has had two starts over fences and ran well last time out at Huntingdon when second to Mofasa whilst looking not entirely comfortable over fences. This return to hurdling looks to be in his favour and although he has performed well on quicker ground, as he showed last year, he has won on soft too.
Unibet each way price to be added.