Cheltenham tips on January 28
Before the Clarence House Chase was added to Saturday's card, Trials Day at Cheltenham was set to be headlined by the Cotswold Chase. This key trial for the Gold Cup was first staged back in 1980 and greats like Little Owl, Master Oats and Looks Like Trouble all completed the Trials Day and Cheltenham Festival double during their careers.
We've taken a look through the field set to run in this year's Cotswold Chase and picked out our best betting tips.
2023 Cotswold House Chase Odds
*Odds taken on 26/1/23*
2023 Cotswold House Chase Entries
Leading the way in the market is Dan Skelton's star, Protektorat, who finished third in the Gold Cup last season. Protektorat leaped up the Gold Cup betting following his runaway victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and Harry Skelton's mount is currently the 13/8 favourite to win on Saturday.
Current Gold Cup second-favourite, Noble Yeats has been rerouted to Cheltenham after missing the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield. Paul Nicholls' 11-year-old Frodon also returns to Cheltenham, four years after winning the Cotswold Chase.
Sean Quinlan will ride Sounds Russian for Ruth Jefferson. Lucinda Russell will be represented by Ahoy Senor, withNico De Boinville and Nicky Henderson teaming up with Dusart.
2023 Cotswold House Chase Tips
PROTEKTORAT ran very well when third in a slowly run, good ground Gold Cup in the Spring and absolutely demolished the competition in the Betfair Chase last time out. Dan Skelton's star sets a very high standard here, and it's up to the rest of the field to try and better that.
The favourite would likely be sitting at an odds-on price if it wasn't for the support for Noble Yeats. I agree that Emmet Mullins' Grand National winner is still improving and his victory in the Many Clouds Chase was impressive. Yet, Noble Yeats is coming up against a proven Grade One winner with proven form around Cheltenham - two things Sean Bowen's mount is currently lacking.
Ahoy Senor has been one of the most disappointing horses of the entire season so far, and I can't see Lucinda Russell's star springing an upset here at Cheltenham. Frodon has had his one big run for the season and both Sounds Russian and Dusart will have to raise their games massively to get involved.
Personally, I think if Protektorat runs to the best of his ability, none of the other runners are good enough to beat him. 13/8 might even represent a decent amount of value.
