Rory Delargy delivers today's Punting Pointers and he has four bets at Cheltenham.
Racing Betting Tips: Saturday December 14
0.5pts e.w Teriferma in the 12.10 Cheltenham at 12/1 (General) – min 10/1
1pt win Master Chewy in the 2.25 Cheltenham at 5/2 (General) – min 5/2
1pt win Western Knight in the 3.00 Cheltenham at 6/1 (General) – min 5/1
0.5pts e.w Royale Margaux in the 3.35 Cheltenham at 17/2 (Sky Bet 1/5 1,2,3,4,5)
12:10 Cheltenham - 2m1f Juvenile Hurdle
The big question here is what effect the cheekpieces will have on Lavender Hill Mob, for so long touted up as James Owen’s best chance of winning the Triumph Hurdle even before he’d had a hurdles run. Much of that touting came from the yard itself, but they would have to be disappointed with his hurdles debut at Newcastle where his hurdling was poor at times, and he never really looked happy, finishing second but a well-beaten odds-on favourite. Rated in the 90’s on the Flat, you’d fancy he must be better than that, but I couldn’t back him at 2-1 here.
Total Look would look like the obvious alternative if Lavender Hill Mob misfires again. He looked like winning an easy four or so lengths at Navan but a slow jump at the last meant he only got home by half a length, for all he never looked like getting caught. He’s another furlong to travel here, which isn’t guaranteed to suit, but he’s clearly got chances here.
However, at bigger prices it’s easy to make cases for both Moutarde and TERIFERMA. Moutarde was given a very considerate ride when fourth to East India Dock here at the last meeting but looked a potential improver, and he didn’t need to be at his best to win easily at Kempton last time. He looks more a stayer and will appreciate the switch to the New course today, making this more a stamina test.
Teriferma would surely be a shorter price if he was still with Joseph O’Brien but now finds himself in the care of Jack Jones, who did a decent job with An Bradan Feasa last year (who, lest we forget, also came from Joseph and races in the same colours). He won his first two hurdles starts and lost nothing at all in defeat when trying to give over a stone away to Zaynab at Listowel last time. Sean Bowen in the saddle is another plus, and he looks a couple of points too big at 10s.
1:13 Cheltenham - 2m4½f Handicap Chase
Another oh-so-tough handicap chase and there’s very few I could rule out - wasn’t keen on Trapista or Autumn Return but bar those two, plenty have a chance.
With a very strong pace looking likely this could be set up for a finisher. Regal Renaissance benefitted from such a scenario at Warwick last time out when the pace collapsed late and she came through to win going away, having jumped better than had been the case on her other two chase starts this year. She looks to be getting the hang of things and whilst she needs to improve again, that’s far from impossible.
Realisation has been unlucky not to win at least one of her two chases to date, having been beaten a head at Lingfield last time and just over a length at Warwick in October, on both occasions staying on really well late. This test is definitely going to suit her, and she looks one of the more obvious candidates here.
1:50 - Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase 2m4f127y
Ga Law is at his best on good or yielding turf and he’s also best short of 3m, with his chase record on yielding or faster at 2m-2m5f reading 111231122. He’s pretty much bombproof under these conditions, and although 1lb higher than when second to Il Ridoto in the Paddy Power, he’s expected to reverse that form on 8lb better terms and holds both Madara and Fugitif on that running.
2:25 Cheltenham - 2m Handicap Chase
Chances are that all roads will lead to the Grand Annual again for Libberty Hunter and with that I’d be reasonably sure he’s going to need this first run back after being off since April. He ran a cracker there to finish third to Found A Fifty ar Aintree but hang on, MASTER CHEWY was second in that race, beating Libberty Hunter by eleven lengths. Yes, Master Chewy is 8lb worse off today but he also has race fitness on his side, making a quick reappearance as he does after falling in the Tingle Creek last week.
In short, Master Chewy fully deserves the weight he will carry here, and backing high-class chasers conceding weight has always been a profitable angle, so it’s worth making the assumption that the son of Walk In The Park is none the worse for his recent spill.
3:00 Cheltenham - 3m Hurdle
Skyjack Hijack has been superbly placed by Jennie Candlish to win six on the spin since August, but he’s not had to beat much of note, with the highest official rating of any of those he’s beaten being 117. He had something to spare when beating Zanndabad at Newcastle last time, but this requires more and he looks short at 2/1.
For instance, WESTERN KNIGHT beat the 135-rated Excello and 132-rated Kloth Of Utopia when successful at Ascot last time, and that whilst still looking far from the finished article. He’d looked clueless when winning at Uttoxeter the time before as well, and another big chunk of improvement might well come now he steps up to three miles today.
3:35 - Mares' Handicap Hurdle
ROYALE MARGAUX, who is lightly raced over hurdles for Tom Symonds, is taken to build on the promise of her latest second at Ascot. In truth, she proved something of an underachiever over fences after joining Symonds from David Cottin but is well treated on the form she showed over the smaller. All the same, she’s well treated back over hurdles and won 5 times from 10 starts over the smaller obstacles when trained in France including the Italian Triumph Hurdle. The return to an extended 2½m should suit and she is a tempting price despite her losing run.
2:32 Newcastle – Handicap Chase
It's taken some time, but the Sue Smith/Joel Parkinson partnership is starting to go through the gears a bit, with a couple of winners and a handful of places from their last dozen or so runners, and in a particularly weak event, Just Jess is worth a second look.
She badly needed her first run of the season at Southwell three weeks ago, making a bit of ground up turning in but she was held when making a mistake two out. She has, however, come on for her first run of the year for the last two seasons, and on both occasions has turned in a better effort here at Newcastle, which seems to be a track that suits her. A drop of rain wouldn't go amiss, but you feel they wouldn't let her take her chance if the ground wasn't suitable.
Preview posted 0955 14/12/24
Want to know more about horse welfare within our sport?
Recent success
- Pep Talking 9/4
- Rockola 11/4
- Smurfette 11/4
- Es Perfecto 100/30
- Telepathique 9/2
- Boomslang 11/4
- Sweet David 10/1
- Eyed 2/1
- Masaccio 7/4
- Coquelicot 16/1
- Martator 13/2
- Pep Talking 9/2
- Minella Drama 3/1
- Sindabella 14/1
- Gris Majeur 17/2
- Hartswood 10/1
- Northern Spirit 14/1
- Hour By Hour 7/2
- Late Arrival 15/2
- Lethal Levi 8/1
- Rock Melody 9/1
- Dion Baker 9/1
- Going Remote 18/1
- Law Of Average 9/2
- Carrytheone 9/2
- Assailant 16/5
- Get Up Mush 3/1
- Alflaila 9/4
- Olivers Travels 13/2
- Glory Call 15/2
- Forcing Bull 6/1
- Outreach 9/2
- Red Hat Eagle 4/1
- Harvanna 2/1
- Captain's Pick 13/2
- Golden Rainbow 11/2
- Porta Fortuna 5/1
- Jayarebe 10/1
- Ain't Nobody 14/1
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.