The Weekend Wager: Raceolly's Five Tips For Cheltenham Trials Day on Saturday

We are set for some superb National Hunt action at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day, and our resident weekend tipster Raceolly is back for this week's edition of The Weekend Wager, and he has five bets across the racing at Prestbury Park...

12:15 Cheltenham - SSS Super Alloys Handicap Hurdle

ASHUTOR is a handicap chase winner off a mark of 132 and he placed off 139 when with Paul Nicholls, so is of great interest now down to a mark of 112 and over hurdles for Sophie Leech. Beaten 19 lengths in the Grand Annual off 139 at the festival on only visit to the track, finishing alongside and in front of horses holding handicap marks in the 150’s. He had a 217 day break before his stable debut for Sophie Leech this season, which came off a mark of 132 at Newbury, and he ran well when beaten 13 lengths in his second start in a decent field at Ludlow. Last time out tested the stamina which wasn’t the first time he’s been travelling well, but got tired late on when going that far. He runs off 10lbs lower than his last start here and never been off a mark this low in his career. Takes a keen hold so the probable strong pace here is a plus and race should be run to suit 

12:45 Cheltenham - JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle

Alan King's recent form is a little worrying but FOREVER WILLIAM is currently priced up at 12/1 and that makes plenty of appeal .He finished 3rd on latest start in the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, where the 2nd has won since, and the winner has a rating of 135. Alan King won this race three times on the bounce from 2007 to 2009, two of them came here on the back of the same Chepstow race as Forever William does here. Pied Piper is the obvious danger.

13:20 Cheltenham - Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase

GOA LIL is a super little horse who has form this year over hurdles and fences and over two miles to three miles. He's only up 2lb from a win last time out when he would have likely finished 2nd if not for Amarillo Sky coming down two out. He's very versatile with regards to running style and can imagine him taking the lead tomorrow with hopefully another upside (likely Your Darling) to try and keep him from going out to his right too much at his fences. He's won twice left-handed this season already though, so jumping doesn’t hinder him too much, the first win when beating Fat Sam who’s won both starts since and gone up 10lbs in the handicap. 

13:55 Cheltenham - Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase

EDEN DU HOUX was a very promising novice hurdler who got a 130 handicap mark during that season. He ran well mostly last season despite a problem with his breathing which resulted in two wind surgeries over six months and came out of it with a handicap mark of 125. After a 236 day break he kicked this season off with a nice win at Ffos Las in a race where the form as been franked since by five of the six runners. Ran into the in-form Frenchy Du Large to within a length on next start after another 71 day break and can continue the promising career now the breathing issues have been fixed with plenty of form to suggest he’s better than a 130 chaser. Blinkers interestingly return here along with the tongue tie.

16:15 Cheltenham - Alan Swinbank Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race

I tend to avoid races where there’s only two places each way, so there's a long wait until the final selection of the day then which comes in the bumper. CHIC AVENUE ran a race packed with promise on debut despite running very green. The yard were clearly impressed with that effort and went to the listed bumper here on New Year’s Day where technical issues meant the horse didn’t get the chance to show her best with the bit slipping in her mouth and the jockey taking over half a furlong to try and get it back in. The yard won this race last year also and Chic Avenue comes here as the outsider of the field and the only four-year-old which is another interesting angle as the last three winners have all been four.