A super Saturday of jump racing with an eight-race card at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day, which will certainly live up to the billing with Jonbon, Paisley Park, Rogal Pagaille, Dashel Drasher, Stay Away Fay and Lossiemouth amongst an array of stars on show at the home of jump racing.
The My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) has been rerouted from the abandoned Ascot meeting and whilst we will have to wait to The Festival to see Jonbon take on El Fabiolo we can in the meantime enjoy Jonbon Unibet 2/7 on winning his eight chase from nine starts over fences for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson, having won the Schloer Chase at the November meeting and then followed up with Tingle Creek at Sandown. On this occasion Jonbon will be ridden by the excellent James Bowen, who takes over from stable jockey Unibet Ambassador Nico de Boinville, who broke his collarbone at Doncaster in December and had returned to race riding, however Nico signed himself off on Thursday to allow more time to recover from his injury.
The Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) looks tightly matched with Royal Pagaille Unibet 3/1, winner of the Haydock feature in November, when beating Bravesmangame in dominant style on testing going returning to Cheltenham, having finished sixth in the 2023 Gold Cup and fifth in the 2022 renewal. Royal Pagaille is taking on the less experienced Stay Away Fay Unibet 11/4, who won the Albert Bartlett last season and was victorious last time out in the Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown when beating Giovinco, who like Stay Away Fay is in my Unibet Ten to Follow. The Real Whacker can set the pace here and try to return to winning form at Cheltenham, although he hasn’t convinced this season so Royal Pagaille can just come out on top in a tight finish with Stay Away Fay.
At Doncaster there are three Grade Two races with the SBK Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle, Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle and Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle with potentially plenty of festival clues and a wide-open Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase.
Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or Doncaster or watching #athome on ITV Racing.
Cheers,
The Wine Tipster
12.40 Cheltenham – Timeform Novices Handicap Chase (2m 4f)
Es Perfecto (nap) is a nine-year-old having only his eleventh career start and had been off the course for 678 days when returning to action last January. His form figures including the race at Uttoxeter last year have been 3323, with races over fences on the latter two starts. Es Perfecto was third at Cheltenham in October to Ginny’s Destiny, who won at the December meeting and is reopposing today with Es Perfecto now better off at the weights to the tune of 15lb. On his latest appearance Es Perfecto ran at Kempton on Boxing Day (marked up in my Unibet blog) when he ran well to finish third, given he had too much to do under his usual hold-up style. The return to Cheltenham will be to his benefit tactically and in a wide-open renewal Es Perfecto, who is a good jumper, can come out on top.
Unibet 6/1 each way
1.15 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (2m4½)
Excello came over from France with a good reputation and has had two starts for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson, with a third over hurdles at Ascot in November followed by at the same course in December a victory when beating Solo by 6½ lengths in receipt of 8lb when showing improvement. The handicapper gave Excello a 13lb rise for that success, which on the face of it looks plenty but many paddock watchers thought he was badly in need of the run beforehand. This five-year-old lacks experience with only four starts over fences, yet he looks an exciting prospect who won’t be fazed by this totally different test.
Unibet 11/2 win
3.00 Cheltenham – Unibet Hurdle Grade 2 (2m 1f)
Rubaud might just be able to take on Lossiemouth and Love Envoi despite the weight allowance with his front running style on his first start at Cheltenham. He couldn’t match Constitution Hurdle in the Christmas Hurdle when beaten by 9½ lengths, however he wasn’t given a hard race on that occasion and previously had won the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton when easily beating Hansard. There is more to come from this smart individual.
Unibet 9/2 win
3.15 Doncaster – SBK Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (3m)
Famous Bridge is looking for a three-timer after two victories at Haydock after winning by a length on both occasions, though he tends to win by pretty narrow margins the handicapper has raised him 10lbs for those two successes. The ground at Haydock on both occasions was heavy, though Famous Bridge has won on quicker going and in a wide-open Great Yorkshire Chase he will run a big race.
Unibet 13/2 each way
Latitude has to be worth an each way play having only finished outside of the first three on one occasion on eight chase starts. Latitude has been well placed by trainer Mel Rowley and last time out was finishing behind Flegmatik and Chianti Classico at Kempton when fading after the last.
This eight-year-old is likely to be prominent throughout and can outrun his odds here.
Unibet 25/1 each way
3.35 Cheltenham – McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle (3m)
Paisley Park can take his fourth Cleeve Hurdle at the age of 12 with no Crambo in the field, though he has familiar opponents in the veteran stage too, as Dashel Drasher and Champ line up once again. Dashel Drasher beat Paisley Park by a head at Newbury in the Long-Distance Hurdle in December when in receipt of six pounds and they meet on level terms today as they did at Ascot in the Long Walk Hurdle. On that occasion Paisley Park, who ran with plenty of zest, was beaten a short head when the youngster Crambo just caught him before the line, with Dashel Drasher six lengths back in third. If Paisley Park travels with the same enthusiasm, he can take his fourth Cleeve Hurdle and his fifth victory at Cheltenham on going that will suit him.
Unibet 11/4 win
