Horse Racing Betting Tips Today

Will Smith Tips

Minella Study

12.10 Cheltenham

** EW 3 places 1/5

11/2

Lucky 15

View Tips

11/2

A quick dissection of yesterday’s results at Cheltenham suggest that ground was perhaps faster than described, and certainly on the chase track where the times suggest it was ‘good’ ground, and so with that in mind I’m holding fire on what would have been a strong fancy in the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup at 1.50 at Cheltenham.

Vincenzo ran a massive race in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month, given he helped force a strong pace on the inside, where the ground had been raced on, opened up and appeared harder work, and apart from Vincenzo, 5 of the front 7 were held up and kept wider. However, I think Vincenzo would need soft ground to produce his best, so am reluctantly keeping powder dry.

The only bet of a less inspiring second day on the betting front of Cheltenham’s December meeting comes in the opening JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at 12.10, where I think the market has potentially the wrong favourite, and by quite some margin.

One Horse Town is clearly very nice and his ability to win given any set of circumstances is not discredited, but the substance of Minella Study’s win in the Listed Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle is not to be sniffed at in my opinion.

At 11/2 each-way generally, Minella Study is a 2-star ** Daily Value selection for WhichBookie in a race where most at bigger odds have a good bit to find and might appeal more as likely Boodles projects.

Minella Study won at Wetherby in the fastest furlong-per-furlong time of all hurdle races on the card, which is a rarity for a juvenile hurdle. He was also fastest on the final circuit of all hurdlers and managed to maintain a very strong finishing effort, even after clouting the second last. It was a mistake that would have derailed a horse of lesser ability or one who was tiring. Not so for Minella Study – he just kept galloping.

An extra furlong and the galloping nature of the New course at Cheltenham today will both be of added advantage to Minella Study, and he can go very close to landing Adam Nicol his biggest win to date as a trainer.

David Young Tips

Ruby Island

1.15 Cheltenham

EW 5 places 1/5

22/1

Vincenzo

1.50 Cheltenham

Win

7/2

Prince Zaltar

2.05 Doncaster

Win

100/30

Reckless Spending

3.00 Cheltenham

Win

11/2

Bowmore

3.17 Doncaster

Win

9/2

Siog Geal

3.35 Cheltenham

Win

3/1

1.15 Cheltenham – Mares’ Handicap Chase – 2m4½f

A competitive looking handicap chase here where I thought 8-year-old Novice chaser RUBY ISLAND looked grossly overpriced given her progressive profile and preference for this step up in trip.

She’s a mare who has been a little keen in her races but should get a strong tempo to aim at here and her three chase starts to date have been at about the minimum trip however her best hurdling form came at about the middle trip.

She has plied her trade on the northern circuit and I’m not sure the form carries to most courses but she has already run well in a bumper a few years ago.

Last years winner was a big priced 8-year-old and we’ve seen 5 of the last 10 winners carrying 11-10 or more, so I think she has the right profile to go really well in this.

RUBY ISLAND – 0.5 STAR EW @ 22/1 (5 places 1/5)

1.50 Cheltenham – December Gold Cup Handicap Chase – 2m 4½f

VINCENZO still looks to be a well handicapped horse following his 2lb rise from the Paddy Power Gold Cup here last month.

He was the best finisher from the front end of the pace in that contest but this is an easier assignment and this isn’t as deep as his last race.

Favourite Jagwar is the talking horse for this contest but I don’t like that he missed last months engagement and I think that VINCENZO has the upper hand because he did run last month

VINCENZO – 1 STAR WIN @ 7/2

2.05 Doncaster – Handicap Chase – 3m

PRINCE ZALTAR hasn’t chased for Dan Skelton yet and took a while to land a race over fences but might just be a little unexposed. His three runs for his new yard have seen a win and a good effort last time out particularly behind Kikijo who has won again since and is now rated 14lbs higher

PRINCE ZALTAR – 1 STAR WIN @ 100/30

3.00 Cheltenham – Bristol Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) – 3m

Think Reckless Spending just got caught by the winner last time getting first run on him and wasn’t given too hard a time to the line. Might be one who needs to be nursed through a race but the step up in trip looks the right idea for a yard with previous in this and I think he’ll be suited to tracking Conman John and he can pick him up in the latter stages if he does indeed stay this trip

RECKLESS SPENDING – 1 STAR WIN @ 11/2

3.17 Doncaster – Handicap Hurdle – 2m½f 

BOWMORE has some solid form in the book in my opinion with a decent effort behind Indemnity who was just a better handicapped horse on that day. A chance there are some in here who better handicapped again, but he’s run well on his two runs for his new connections this season and while better ground has been his choice he does have some old form on slower ground too.

Tactically paid to be on the front end last time out which I think people are using to detract from his performance when winning at Newbury but I believe this race could be set up for him again

BOWMORE – 1 STAR WIN @ 9/2

3.35 Cheltenham – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – 2m 4½f    

I’d probably be happy to oppose the front two in the market. The favourite would have won with a better jump but her jumping keeps letting her down although the pair did pull well clear so they could fight this out again.

SIOG GEAL would be the one I think at the weights is the right play here though. Ran well in 3^rd behind Hartinton on seasonal reappearance and won in December last season after bumping into the Aintree Grade 2 bumper winner Seo Linn on her second start here in a listed bumper.

Form in defeat reads well, behind Jubilee Alpha when only getting 3lbs so 15lbs better off now, and even bumping into Bluey after, she’s a nice mare herself.

SIOG GEAL – 2 STAR WIN @ 3/1

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