Cheltenham Trials Betting Tips

With the 2024 Cheltenham Festival just around the corners, all eyes are on the main event at Prestbury Park, which makes Cheltenham Trials weekend even more important as many runners attempt to secure their place at the main event in March.

In the build-up to the Cheltenham Festival here at Bet UK, we'll have all of the latest UK horse racing betting odds, including ante-post online betting markets for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Champion Chase.

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2024 Cheltenham Festival Trials Day Betting Tips

Cheltenham's Festival Trials Day takes place on Saturday afternoon, the final action at the famous Cotswolds venue before their fantastic four-day extravaganza in March. It's an eight-race offering at Cheltenham (12:05-16:10) with the Cotswold Chase and Cleeve Hurdle supplemented by the re-arranged Grade 1 Clarence House Chase on a stunning card. Here's our race-by-race picks for Cheltenham's Trials Day card.

12:05 - JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m1f)

BURDETT ROAD is atop the ante-post lists for the Triumph Hurdle back here in March and having attained a rating of 101 on the Flat, he is a classy recruit to this sphere. He's a perfect 2-2 over hurdles so far and showed a stunning turn of foot when scoring over this trip here in November. He faces a stern examination now from the Nicky Henderson-trained Sir Gino, an easy winner at Kempton over Christmas on his UK bow. Burdett Road looks the way to go as he seeks to rubberstamp his Festival ticket.

Selection: Burdett Road

12:40 - Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase (2m4½f)

Ginny's Destiny bids for a hat-trick of Cheltenham wins over the trip, after scores in November and December. He is, though, up another 6lb and facing his toughest challenge so far, with a field of 11 rivals unlikely to permit him an easy time up front. Blow Your Wad made good on his promising Sandown fencing bow in November to score in decisive fashion at Kempton on Boxing Day and is shortlisted, but UNEXPECTED PARTY is given a chance despite a poor run at Ascot five weeks ago.

A winner at Chepstow in October on his comeback, he faced tough challenges here and at Sandown (Grade 1) afterwards and a busy spell might have caught up on him before Christmas. He's had a break now and is eased 3lb by the handicapper.

Selection: Unexpected Party

13:15 - Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap, 2m4½f)

Three-and-a-quarter-miles on heavy ground around Aintree rather found out LOUNGE LIZARD in the Becher Chase back in December. That was his second encounter with really testing ground and the second time he's failed to see his race out. His comeback run at Exeter in October had plenty of promise in it and he's only rated 4lb higher now.

Henry Daly's charge carries just 10st 2lb and as long this doesn't turn into a bog, he should carry a decent each-way shout in this wide open contest.

Selection: Lounge Lizard

13:50 - Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2, 3m1f)

Just six runners but a potential firecracker of a race in store. It will be interesting to see how Ahoy Senor and Stay Away Fay get on in what could be a contest for the lead. The former hasn't been finishing his races off, but isn't dismissed, while his presence could hinder Harry Cobden on his unbeaten chaser.

The Real Whacker was ridden patiently in the King George (fourth), but is another with previous for going forward.

Coral Gold Cup winner Datsalrightgino has more on his plate here and ROYALE PAGAILLE might be the one to gather up the pieces for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.

The Betfair Chase winner is 0-3 around here but they've all been Gold Cups. This may well be his best hope of notching a graded win on this hallowed turf.

Selection: Royale Pagaille

14:25 - My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase (Grade 1, 2m)

Last weekend's mammoth JONBON vs El Fabiolo showdown at Ascot was sadly claimed by the weather and, with the Dublin Racing Festival next weekend to concern himself with, Willie Mullins' charge has stayed at home now.

That paves the way for Jonbon to go about his business. Regular pilot Nico de Boinville is sidelined, but this Nicky Henderson star is not complicated and should carry James Bowen to Clarence House success.

El Fabiolo will undoubtedly be waiting back here come March.

Selection: Jonbon

15:00 – Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m1f)

No Constitution Hill, alas, but the seasonal comeback of Lossiemouth ensures there's plenty to anticipate here as the International Hurdle takes up a new slot in the calendar. This Mullins mare won 4-5 last season, including the Triumph here in March and a Grade 1 at Punchestown after. Her only defeat was a rather luckless one at the DRF in February. She is, however, taking on older performers now and LOVE ENVOI will give her plenty to think about.

She put in a rare sub-par effort at Sandown in December on her comeback and actually did well to finish second.

She should leave that behind and is a major danger in receipt of weight from these four rivals.

Selection: Love Envoi

15:35 - McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2, 3m)

PAISLEY PARK bids for a record fourth Cleeve Hurdle win and Emma Lavelle's veteran is much-respected. He was inched out by Dashel Drasher in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and then by Crambo in the Long Walk at Ascot in December, with Dashel Drasher third, Champ fourth and Botox Has sixth.

Any of that quartet could go well now five weeks on, but the 2019 Stayers' Hurdle hero has a great record in this race and is as likely as any to prevail again.

Selection: Paisley Park

16:10 - SSS Super Alloys Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m4f)

The unbeaten GIDLEIGH PARK has done everything asked of him so far and relished the step up in trip at Newbury in December as he readily made it 2-2 over timber for Harry Fry and Jonathan Burke.

He's entered in a couple of the Grade 1 novices back here in March and he's entitled to win this on ratings, with further improvement deemed probable.

Johnny Who (Jonjo O'Neill) and Isaac Des Obeaux (Paul Nicholls) are both dangers, but the biggest threat might come from Antrim Coast.

He was inched out over three miles here in November (winner scored again on New Year's Day) and Gavin Cromwell's record with UK raiders is superb. Dropping back in trip is no concern.

Selection: Gidleigh Park

Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips

Ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, Bet UK will have all of the latest ante-post UK horse racing betting odds, so whether you're looking at who is the race favourite or you're banking an outsider, all the markets will be available. Not only that, but we'll also have top Cheltenham Tips for all of the key races, including the Gold Cup and the Champion Chase.

*All odds from Bet UK’s online betting markets correct at the time of writing.

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