This Saturday’s live racing is packed full of quality with six Grade 2s and two Premier Handicaps covered amongst the nine races on ITV. Five of the televised races will be from Cheltenham, with a further four races at Doncaster.
- 1:15 Cheltenham: JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle – East India Dock @ 4/6
- 1:30 Doncaster: Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase – Calico @ 9/2
- 1:50 Cheltenham: Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase – Il Ridoto @ 10/1
- 2:05 Doncaster: Pertemps Network River Don Novices’ Hurdle – Moon Rocket @ 7/2
- 2:25 Cheltenham: Betfair Cotswold Chase – L’Homme Presse @ Evens
- 2:40 Doncaster: Virgin Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle – Wyenot @ 7/2
- 3:00 Cheltenham: Unibet Hurdle – Constitution Hill @ 1/10
- 3:15 Doncaster: Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase – Idalko Bihoue @ 8/1
- 3:35 Cheltenham: Betfair Cleeve Hurdle – Strong Leader @ 11/4
The Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle will be the first of five live races from Cheltenham on Festival Trails Day, with East India Dock looking to confirm his position as a contender for the Triumph Hurdle in March. Next from Cheltenham is the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase which has Ginny’s Destiny for Paul Nicholls and Iroko for Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero at the top of the weights.
The second Grade 2 from Prestbury Park is the Cotswold Chase over 3m1½f. Willie Mullins won this race for the first time in 2024 when Capdanno was victorious but the 9-year-old won’t be lining up this year. Instead we have L’Homme Presse for Venetia Williams and Gentlemansgame for Mouse Morris heading the betting.
Next from Cheltenham is the Unibet Hurdle, which has Constitution Hill long odds-on to win after defending champion, Lossiemouth, wasn’t entered. The final live race from Gloucestershire will be the Cleeve Hurdle which will give us some pointers for the Stayers’ Hurdle in March.
At Doncaster, ITV will cover a handicap chase and two Grade 2s in the River Don Novices’ Hurdle and the Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle before their big betting heat of the day, the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase. Nigel Twiston-Davies has had one winner in this race each decade since the 90’s and he saddles Idalko Bihoue in this year’s race.