Cheltenham Placepot predictions: Expert picks for Saturday January 28
It’s Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday, the last action at the Gloucestershire venue before March, and there is a cracking afternoon of racing in store.
Cheltenham Tote Placepot predictions — Saturday selections
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Cheltenham Tote Placepot predictions — Saturday selections
Race 1: Cheltenham 11.40
Scriptwriter should be on the premises in this 2m 1f juvenile hurdle. He is 2-2 over timber for Milton Harris, including over course and distance, and has a win on the all-weather in late December to keep him tuned up for this. Dixon Cove was only a neck behind Comfort Zone last month at Chepstow and Paul Nicholls’ filly is 5lb better off now, ensuring she’s a key player too.
Selections: No 3 Scriptwriter, No 7 Dixon Cove
Race 2: Cheltenham 12.10
Unexpected Party has yet to win in three chase outings this season but he has drawn swords with smart performers such as McFabulous, Jonbon, Boothill and Loughderg Rocco. He goes handicapping in the 2m 4½f chase and looks one worth getting onside with for Dan and Harry Skelton.
Selection: No 3 Unexpected Party
Race 3: Cheltenham 12.40
Singing Banjo was only a short head behind Delta Work over 3m 1f at Punchestown last time and gets plenty of weight from his old rival over an extra 5f here. He has form around here to boot and is a decent shout to throw his hat in the ring. Back On The Lash is a course-and-distance winner already for Martin Keighley and is on a favourable mark. The classy Delta Work won’t have to concede all this weight when he returns in March to defend his Cross Country Chase crown and so is omitted now.
Selections: No 9 Back On The Lash, No 11 Singing Banjo
Race 4: Cheltenham 1.20
Edwardstone should give Energumene a race but the latter looks to be the top two-mile chaser in Britain and Ireland right now and can tee himself up for the defence of his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown in March by landing this re-arranged Clarence House Chase. Trainer Willie Mullins is likely to be delighted the race is being run here, giving his charge more Cheltenham experience.
Selection: No 4 Energumene
Race 5: Cheltenham 1.50
Paul Nicholls has already seen Il Ridoto finish fourth in two similar contests this winter and the improving six-year-old has leading claims again in this 2m 4½f handicap chase with a pair of first-time cheekpieces applied today. Caribean Boy hasn’t entirely convinced anyone he wants a testing three miles and this trip around here could be optimal, especially if there’s a positive reaction to his recent wind surgery. He could run into the money at decent odds.
Selections: No 4 Caribean Boy, No 10 Il Ridoto
Race 6: Cheltenham 2.25
Just six contest the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase but two of them – Protektorat and Noble Yeats – are proper Gold Cup contenders.
The former looked better than ever in his Betfair Chase win at Haydock in November, albeit the race collapsed when A Plus Tard was pulled up. He was third in the Gold Cup last term and has strong claims for the Skeltons.
Grand National hero Noble Yeats stormed past Ahoy Senor en route to winning the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree in December and, upped in trip to 3m 1½f, his stamina should be key here. Emmet Mullins believes there’s more to come from him and it’s very hard to split the big pair in the market for this Gold Cup rehearsal, ensuring both are included for Placepot purposes in this final leg.
Selections: No 2 Noble Yeats, No 3 Protektorat
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