2025-01-24

Cheltenham Festival Trials Tips

We head to Cheltenham for the Festival Trials Day, and for the final time before the festival in March. Many are looking to book their place with a good performance, and, with five Grade 2 races, there will be plenty of brilliant horses on show.

Perhaps the highlight for many will be watching the unbeaten Constitution Hill in the Unibet Hurdle, while for others, it might be the Triumph Hurdle Trial.

There are seven races in total and we have selected our best bets in all of them.

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

We start with a competitive novices’ handicap chase, which boasts a strong roll of honour.

The one who might be the best handicapped in the field is Billytherealbigred, who has been prolific for the past 12 months, only failing to win when falling.

This season he has comfortably won both chase start and the form of his triumph at Exeter is working out well, with the majority behind him that day posting improved efforts since.

An official rating of 131 looks to be well below what he is capable of achieving and he can win for the in-form Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero stable.

Selection: Billytherealbigred

13:15 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Finesse) (2m1f)

East India Dock is likely to be a warm favourite in this race, having been so impressive when winning on the Old Course in November.

He has been off the track since and has become a bit of a forgotten horse, but the form of that performance looks superior to anything we have seen from the rest of the field.

There are some interesting French recruits, most notably Sauvignon, but this looks a tough ask on a stable debut, and East India Dock can put himself firmly in the picture for the Triumph Hurdle once more.

Selection: East India Dock

13:50 Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (2m4½f)

The third race of the day represents another competitive handicap chase where cases can be made for most in the field.

However, it is Ginny’s Destiny who gets the vote of confidence. He has not been at his best this season but he put in an improved effort last time and he won the novice chase on this card last year.

He went on to finish at the festival in March and legendary trainer Paul Nicholls can get him back to his best to take this contest.

Of the others, it will be interesting to see how Iroko fares, having fallen at the first when favourite at Ascot in December.

Selection: Ginny’s Destiny

14:25 Betfair Cotswold Chase (3m1½f)

We are likely to have a short-priced favourite in L’Homme Presse but, despite the lack of value, he is a favourite worth siding with.

Earning fourth in the Gold Cup last season before finishing an encouraging third at Kempton in December, he has by far the best form in the race, is the highest rated, and yet, as a result of others carrying penalties, carries less weight than Gentlemansgame and Stage Star.

This looks like a good opportunity for L’Homme Presse, and he should be a comfortable winner.

Selection: L’Homme Presse

15:00 Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (2m1f)

This is a chance to watch Constitution Hill as much as anything.

It isn’t a strong race, he is officially 29lb better than the next closest challengers and he is likely to win this by a wide margin.

Selection: Constitution Hill

15:35 Betfair Cleeve Hurdle (3m)

This is a Grade 2 where those towards the head of the market will be hoping to throw their name in the hat for the Stayers Hurdle at the festival.

Crambo was impressive when winning on reappearance at Ascot in December, but with Fergal O’Brien’s charge having been a little disappointing at Cheltenham in the past, preference is for Gowel Road.

His last five ruins have all come at the course with the most recent four all resulting in a second-placed finish.

There is a danger of him being the bridesmaid once more, but he can be trusted to run his race.

Selection: Gowel Road