We don’t see too many runners from Cheltenham Trials Day backing up their wins and winning at the festival, but despite that, this season’s edition of trials day was certainly an enjoyable one.
I don’t think we learnt a whole lot of new information, but more so, we got confirmation around a number of things.
Constitution Hill Survives Last Hurdle Mistake to Win Unibet Hurdle
Constitution Hill was the star name on show during Saturday’s card and had no problem winning on the bridle at very short odds of 1/12.
A three length winner, that small margin doesn’t tell the whole story. He won on the bridle and would have won far easier was it not for a mistake at the final fence.
Constitution Hill is now 10 unbeaten after winning the Unibet Hurdle at @CheltenhamRaces. Well done to Michael Buckley & @sevenbarrows
We’ll try and forget about the last flight…😧 pic.twitter.com/hTL7ND2nKm
— Nico de Boinville (@NdeBoinville) January 25, 2025
Did we learn much? Probably not, but he remains odds on for the Champion Hurdle, where he will go next.
L’Homme Presse Wins Gold Cup Trial
Sent off odds on to win the Cotswold Chase, there was no mistake from L’Homme Presse, who pulled nicely clear with Stage Star to show his Gold Cup credentials.
Before the race, I’d got L’Homme Presse down as a lively outsider for the Gold Cup. I think he’s the same now, but I’ve got hopes we see him in better light, with the additional furlong of the Gold Cup suiting him.
A rock-solid jumper and strong galloper, he’s not the classiest animal, but he’s ultra-consistent, tough, and sets a pretty high bar. Are there horses in the Gold Cup better than him? Yes, but he’s sure to run his race and will be there scrapping it out for a place or picking up the pieces if others underperform.
I thought the second placed Stage Star was the big eye catcher. He’s probably not going to the Gold Cup, but I think a flat three miles is what he wants now. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the Aintree Bowl hopefully, assuming they bypass Cheltenham, and longer term, maybe even the King George in December.
East India Dock Proves He’s the Star UK Juvenile Hurdler
If there was any doubt about the quality of East India Dock, then I think he showed his worth on Saturday, recording an impressive 10-length win in the Triumph Hurdle Trial.
There’s excitement around a few Irish juveniles, but if you look at the UK only, he’s much the best, and his trainer seems to think so. This is big praise when you consider what other good juveniles James Owen has now or has had before.
Second favourite for the 2025 Triumph Hurdle on Gold Cup day. He deserves that place in the market and should go to the festival with every chance.
He’s now three from three over hurdles, and two of those have been at Cheltenham, one on each course. It’s easy to see why a lot of people like him.
Mixed Day of Emotions for Team Twiston-Davies
The final two races on the card ended with mixed emotions for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
First up, he won the Cleeve Hurdle with Gowel Road sent off the 5/2 joint-favourite for the contest. A lively outsider in a wide-open Stayers Hurdle, this win over course and distance has undoubtedly done his chances no harm.
It was a positive, but then just half an hour later, the yard was dealt a blow, with Potters Charm finishing second, despite being the 8/15 favourite in the Grade Two Ais Novices’ Hurdle.
Seen as one of the best prospects in the Twiston-Davies yard, if not the best, he was always one of their main Cheltenham hopes. But from the moment they went off, he didn’t look his usual self.
He would finish second behind Sixmilebridge, and after the race, Twiston-Davies was quick to say they regretted running him and should have kept him fresh for the festival.
There’s no doubt this is an incredibly talented horse, but he was expected to win this with ease and needed to if he wanted to enhance his festival claims. He will now go to March on the back of a defeat, with a little more to prove to those who are looking to stay on his side.