Cheltenham Tips: Rory Delargy’s bets Saturday bets for Trials Day

There's a 7.30am inspection but Rory ready for a sensational Saturday at the home of National Hunt racing.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 1 year ago

Rory’s Saturday ITV selections:

11:40 Cheltenham – Scriptwriter 
12:10 Cheltenham – Fire Dancer 
12:40 Cheltenham – Delta Work 
13:20 Cheltenham – Energumene 
13:50 Cheltenham – Fugitif 
14:25 Cheltenham – Protektorat
15:00 Cheltenham – Dashle Drasher 
15:35 Cheltenham – Pembroke 

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

11:40 Cheltenham – Scriptwriter 

Scriptwriter has been underrated in the early market for this four-year-old contest. Already a course winner in a Grade 2 event, he missed a clash with Comfort Zone in the Finesse Hurdle, but was impressive in winning a handicap at Wolverhampton off a BHA mark of 102. The runner-up has won since, and the form is strong, especially as Scriptwriter wasn’t well placed when the pace picked up. He showed a battling attitude there, and has clearly progressed since leaving Aidan O’Brien, so ought to be favourite here.

12:10 Cheltenham – Fire Dancer 

Fire Dancer faces a much stiffer task than when winning narrowly at Ludlow on his return from a lengthy absence, but he looked well ahead of his mark that day until Charlie Deutsch took the decision to nurse him home, and that almost backfired, with the runner-up catching him a stride after the line. This is a different sort of track, and he’s facing much better rivals, but I take the view that he ought to rate much higher and he is the pick on that basis.

12:40 Cheltenham –  Delta Work

A case can be made for several here, with a number of previous course & distance winners in opposition, but the fact is that Rob James is much too good a rider across country to be able to steal a 7lb claim, and it’s a brave man who would oppose the top-class Delta Work with just 11st7lb on his back. None of James’s 293 point-to-point wins are counted in determining his claim, while wins in the Kim Muir and Scottish National show that he’s a top-notch rider in staying events.

13:20 Cheltenham – Energumene

Energumene should prove too strong for Edwardstone in a race which should boil down to a match unless they let Editeur du Gite steal an easy lead. There is an argument that Edwardstone could be rated higher for beating the 171-rated Greaneteen in the Tingle Creek, and that would make it look a good match, but comparing the time figures the pair have produced would make Energumene look to have a distinct edge, and he can prove that point.

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Cheltenham 13:50 – Fugitif

With extra places, several of the outsiders can be considered to offer a bit of value, but I was absolutely blown away with the manner in which Fugitif disposed of some very useful rivals at Chepstow over Christmas, and while he’s always possessed loads of ability, he now looks to have harnessed that fully, having matters firmly in hand some way from home at the Welsh venue. He chased home Amarillo Sky over 2m here in November, and a 10lb rise is unlikely to stop him here. In fact, I think he’ll be racing in Grade 1 company come the spring.

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14:25 Cheltenham – Protektorat

Protektorat is the pick on form, and he ran well enough in the Gold Cup last year to suggest he should have a bit too much class for today’s rivals. His easy win in the Betfair Chase needs to be taken in context, with A Plus Tard clearly amiss, but even his defeat of Eldorado Allen and Frodon reads well here. Noble Yeats impressed when winning the Many Clouds at Aintree, but Protektorat was even more impressive when winning that race by 25 lengths last season, and looks hard to oppose on balance.

15:00 Cheltenham – Dashel Drasher 

Dashel Drasher is one of the most reliable horses in training, and should again get an easy lead here. He’s not as stout a stayer as one or two of his rivals, but if Rex Dingle can take a leaf out of the Danny Mullins playbook by slowing the pace and stacking his rivals up, then he should prove hard to pass, as he always is.

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15:35 Cheltenham – Pembroke

I like Pembroke and he was hugely impressive at Ludlow last time in a race which has worked out well already, but I’m not sure whether an extended 2½m is what he needs given the pace he’s shown over shorter trips to date. He was due to run over 2m last weekend, and there’s a possibility that Dan Skelton is being forced to run him here to some degree. Despite those concerns, and in the absence of Blenkinsop, Pembroke still appeals as the likeliest winner, and a horse of considerable potential.

Rory’s Saturday ITV selections:

11:40 Cheltenham – Scriptwriter 
12:10 Cheltenham – Fire Dancer 
12:40 Cheltenham – Delta Work 
13:20 Cheltenham – Energumene 
13:50 Cheltenham – Fugitif 
14:25 Cheltenham – Protektorat
15:00 Cheltenham – Dashle Drasher 
15:35 Cheltenham – Pembroke 

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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