Cheltenham Trials Day takes place this Saturday and while the meeting often fails to live up to the name of being a trials day for the main event, this year looks like being a little different.
We’ve not only got the prospect of Constitution Hill running in the Unibet Hurdle this weekend, but we’ve also potentially got Lossiemouth in opposition.
Elsewhere, there’s the Cotswold Chase, a trial for the Gold Cup, plus other good contests to enjoy.
As every Cheltenham meeting is, this is sure to be informative for punters, whether it be for the festival or elsewhere.
Unibet Hurdle Features Constitution Hill
When Constitution Hill won the Christmas Hurdle on reappearance at Kempton, the most likely plan was to go straight to the Champion Hurdle. But a week ago, out of the blue, Nicky Henderson told us he’d be heading to the Unibet Hurdle here.
This should be a comfortable success, assuming Lossiemouth doesn’t find massive improvement for that last run, where she was comfortably put in her place by Constitution Hill.
We’re unlikely to see a big swing in the Champion Hurdle market unless Constitution Hill bombs out, and at current antepost odds of 1/4 for the Unibet Hurdle, betting on the race will likely be minimum.
But we get to see a star in action, hopefully, a star performance and confirmation that Constitution Hill is back.
L’Homme Presse Leads Cotswold Chase Market
The Cotswold Chase isn’t the best Gold Cup trial and often attracts either outsiders for the big one or horses that miss it all together.
This year’s field isn’t any better in the main, but L’Homme Presse is a lively Gold Cup outsider and has a chance to nail down his claims here.
The Venetia Williams-trained runner has been third in the King George and fourth in the 2024 Gold Cup in his last two starts. A repeat of those would more than likely be enough to win this.
Gentlemansgame from Ireland, who was third behind Galopin Des Champs over the festive period, would provide the main competition if coming across for this.
Crambo Aiming for Cleeve Hurdle Success
I don’t think the staying hurdle division is particularly strong at the moment, and it feels like it’s waiting for a star to emerge. Could that be Crambo?
The eight-year-old won the Ascot Long Walk Hurdle just before Christmas, a Grade One success and a race that was arguably stronger than this one here.
CRAMBO WINS THE LONG WALK HURDLE! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/fgkMaPv3vf
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) December 23, 2023
He’s a talented runner, I don’t think he’s a great, but at the moment, you don’t need to be great in this division. I’d love us to see something dominate this division, so Crambo winning this race and then following it up in the Stayers Hurdle would give me what I ordered.
Exciting Prospects in Grade Two Contests
There are two Grade Two events that start and end the card, a juvenile race and a novice race, and both have plenty of exciting prospects in them.
The opening Triumph Hurdle Trial will hopefully see East India Dock go to post. He’s two from two over hurdles, the latest coming in a Grade Two at this track.
Currently, a best price of 13/2 for the Triumph Hurdle a big performance here, and he could well be challenging for favouritism in that one.
We end with a novice hurdle over two and a half miles, and I am really looking forward to seeing Potters Charm on the track again.
He won a Grade One at Aintree on Boxing Day. Before that, he won a Grade Two contest here. He’s five from five under rules in total and four from four over hurdles this season, a perfect record.
A potential star for the Nigel Twiston-Davies team, he’s 10/1 for the Turners Novice Hurdle in March. That price will go into single figures if he wins again this weekend.