ITV will be televising eight races this Saturday. Cheltenham will have five live races from the second day of their Christmas Meeting and will be joined by three races from Doncaster in their final fixture of the year.
- 1:15 Cheltenham: Quintessentially Mares’ Handicap Chase – Realta Liath @ 13/2
- 1:50 Cheltenham: Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup Handicap Chase – Colonel Harry @ 7/1
- 2:05 Doncaster: bet365 Pennine Handicap Chase – Prince Zaltar @ 7/2
- 2:25 Cheltenham: Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap Chase – Triple Trade @ 13/2
- 2:40 Doncaster: bet365 Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle – World Of Fortunes @ 4/1
- 3:00 Cheltenham: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – Conman John @ 11/8
- 3:17 Doncaster: Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Hurdle – Amancio @ 11/2
- 3:35 Cheltenham: Download The BetMGM App Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – Siog Geal @ 7/2
A mares handicap at Cheltenham opens the live racing on Saturday, with Warren Greatrex’s Realta Liath our selection to follow up an impressive 6½ length win at Fontwell last month. This will be a step up in class, but Sean Bowen is booked for the ride.
There are eleven runners set to go to post in what looks a strong renewal of the December Gold Cup. TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase winner Jagwar heads the betting though this is his first run since that victory back in March. Vincenzo and Hoe Joly Smoke were second and third respectively in November’s Paddy Power Gold Cup but we’re backing Grand Sefton winner Colonel Harry to follow up with another big run here.
The Pennine Handicap Chase at Doncaster is followed by another handicap chase at Cheltenham before the Listed Doncaster Mares Hurdle back in South Yorkshire. Dan Skelton’s Kateira is the highest rated runner and a worthy favourite, but better value may be found with World Of Fortunes in the five runner field who won at the same course and distance back in March.
The highest class race on our screens on Saturday will be the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore’s Conman John is favourite having won on his last two outings, at Kelso and at Cheltenham both in October. The most likely challenge may come from They Call Me Hugo who won his first race since switching to Olly Murphy’s yard in a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las in November.
Faye Bramley’s Amancio looked impressive when winning a novices hurdle at Sedgefield by five lengths last month and could pick up another victory in the Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Hurdle.
The final televised race of the day, a mares’ handicap hurdle, sees Paul Nicholl’s Jubilee Alpha and Joe Tizzard’s Sweet Caryline first and second in the betting. The two contested a mares’ handicap hurdle at Wincanton last month with the latter coming out on top. Jubilee Alpha was perhaps unlucky when making a mistake two from home so could reverse those placings, but we prefer Siog Geal for Fergal O’Brien who finished a respectable third on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle in early November.