DAY two of the Christmas Meeting at Cheltenham features the December Gold Cup Handicap Chase in which at the time of writing on Friday has Thunder Rock Unibet 100/30 favourite in a tightly grouped field. Thunder Rock definitely deserves to be heading the market after beating Mahler Mission in the Colin Parker at Carlisle and he needs to show he can replicate this winning formula at Cheltenham. Il Ridoto, Monmiral, So Scottish and Fugitif are all the mix here, however there is not that much consistent winning form amongst the principals in a race that hasn’t had a successful favourite in the last ten renewals and a winner priced under 7/1. This is wide-open and I decided to look at Grandeur D’Ame and Torn And Frayed at bigger prices.  

The Quintessentially Handicap Chase looks tightly matched with In Excelsis Deo Unibet 7/4 and Calico Unibet 2/1 at the front of the market, whilst I’m looking forward to seeing Shanagh Bob follow up in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson.

Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watching #athome on ITV Racing or Racing TV.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Cheltenham – December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2m 4½f)

Grandeur D’Ame is not easiest to predict and like Torn And Frayed is running from slightly out of the handicap, which isn’t ideal, however he could spring a surprise in a wide-open race.

On his last start in November after a six-month break when he beat Cornerstone Lad by 25 lengths at Wetherby he jumped superably and easily drew clear. That was visually very impressive and whilst you wonder about the credibility of the form the fact remains that he started his novice chase career off a mark of 115 and is now on 133, with more improvement to come. He has the course experience too, with a second in a listed bumper back in 2020 to Goodriskatall. This is Grandeur D’Ame’s eighth start over fences, which is no barrier to success in a race where inexperience is very much a trend.

Torn And Frayed might bounce after his comeback appearance after 658 days off the course in the big handicap chase won by Stage Star last month, but there was plenty of promise in that run before he got tired and fell two out (only career fall). A very good Grade 3 handicap winner here back at the start of 2022 on his penultimate start when beating Galahad Quest by six lengths. He still looks reasonably handicapped (despite having to race from slightly out of the handicap) and the more it dries out, the better his chance.

2.25 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (3m 2f)

Easy As That (nap) was also entered in the 1.50 December Gold Cup Handicap Chase over the shorter trip but the step up to three miles two furlongs could see more improvement from Easy As That on what is only his sixth start over fences. There are plenty you can make a case for here including obviously the favourite Broadway Boy, who won easily here last time out at the November meeting, however Easy As That ran an eye-catching race in the big handicap, when held up out the back by Charlie Deutsch but made up some good late ground to finish sixth, looking like he’d plenty left in the tank. If you take a look back at his easy Haydock victory over 2m 6f last year you can see he is more than capable of stepping up in trip and this looks like a shrewd piece of race planning.

Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race

3.00 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Grade 2 (3m)

Shanagh Bob for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson can follow up on his Plumpton victory on hurdling debut when still looking green after making the running and drawing clear from All The Glory to win by seven lengths. Shanagh Bob won on his sole appearance in an Irish point-to-point and looks sure with his debut hurdling success to have a smart career ahead of him.

3.35 Cheltenham – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (2m 4½f)

Coquelicot thrived under a change of tactics at Kempton last time in a Listed contest, making all and finding plenty from the front over three miles and half furlong, which she stays well. The handicapper may have badly underestimated that run, raising her only five pounds for it (she beat a 137 rival off levels) and she can track likely leader Stainsby Girl here before taking it up in the latter stages and making it another true test of stamina, which would have plenty of these in trouble.

The Wine Tipster’s Fourfold

Does this tickle your fancy?

Roll these picks from our red-hot tipster into an acca and that currently pays 1508/1 – £5 each way potentially returns over £7,560 if they come in!

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