The Wine Tipster: “Highway One O One (nap) has a good chance of scoring here”

CHELTENHAM Trials Day is always a meeting I look forward to attending and tomorrow is no different with plenty of good racing on offer and a dry day forecast. Let’s hope Paisley Park can win the Cleeve Hurdle for the Emma Lavelle yard and owner Andrew Gemmell, with all roads to the Stayers’ Hurdle in March. Another big name is Bristol De Mai, who surely deserves more credit for not only his performances at Haydock but elsewhere too, having won nearly £700,000 in prize money.

I’ll be at Cheltenham talking racing, food and some super premium wines, which are new to Cheltenham from Australian Grade 1 producers Petaluma, Grant Burge and St Hallett. These producers will be at The Festival too.

See you tomorrow!  

 

1.15 Cheltenham Novices’ Handicap Chase 2m ½f

Champagne Court ran a cracker here at The Festival when finishing fourth in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

He is now showing over fences that his career continues on an upward trajectory, winning handicaps at Sandown and Plumpton respectively. Although this is much more competitive, he can strike for inform Jeremy Scott at a course we know he will run well at.

Unibet 13/2 each way

 

1.50 Cheltenham Handicap Chase 2m 4½f

Highway One O One (nap) has a good chance of scoring here for Chris Gordon, who is having a cracking season.

In 2019 Highway One O One was runner-up to the smart Kildisart in this contest and in the meantime, he has run plenty of cracking races, including last time out at Kempton in December over three miles.

On that occasion he was well clear turning for home, however the extra distance didn’t suit him, and he was collared by Just A Sting and Quarenta in an absolute cracker.

Back down in trip this good jumper can score his first success at Cheltenham. 

Unibet 9/2 win

 

2.25 Cheltenham Cotswold Chase 3m½f Grade 2

This is a graveyard for favourites and Bristol De Mai currently second in the market looks the one for the inform Nigel Twiston-Davies team.

He is the highest rated here and his third in the 2019 Gold Cup behind Al Boum Photo and Anibale Fly was an impressive performance as he came to challenge at the last from off the pace. Bristol De Mai has never been given the credit for this performance, as he is very much seen as a Haydock specialist and I backed him for the Gold Cup last November. 

Unibet 9/4 win

 

3.15 Doncaster Handicap Chase 3m

Burbank for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson delivered a career best performance at Newbury last time out on Challow Hurdle day when finishing clear of Tidal Flow in a Novices’ Handicap Chase in truly eye-catching style. 

This eight-year-old might be coming of age and whilst a 11lb rise for his Newbury success might appear pretty unpalatable he looks a cracking each-way bet.

Unibet 8/1 each-way

 

3.35 Cheltenham Cleeve Hurdle 3m Grade 2

Paisley Park might not face an easy task here, but it will still be a big surprise if the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle winner doesn’t hold off the likes of If The Cap Fits. At Cheltenham last March he hit his typical flat spot and after coming to challenge made a mess of the last before going away to make it five wins in a row. This season he kicked off at Newbury beating the wonderful Thistlecrack, giving away six pounds here and connections have been patient in waiting for the next opportunity.

Unibet win 4/6

 

Summerville Boy (each way), who won the 2018 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, really showed he was right back to his best when winning the Relkeel Hurdle here beating the very smart Roksana.

That trip was over 2m 4½f and he has to step up here, however there was plenty to like about the way he was going away at the finish. This really could be the right time for him to take on 3 miles.

Unibet each way 9/1