Cheltenham tips: Timeform’s best bets for every race on Trials Day

The boffins fancy Fugitif at 13:50 here.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 1 year ago

Timeform’s Trial Day Tips:

11:40 – JUPITER DU GITE
12:10 – FIRE DANCER
12:40 – DELTA WORK
13:20 – ENERGUMENE
13:50 – FUGITIF
14:25 – PROTEKTORAT
15:00 – PAISLEY PARK
15:35 – PEMBROKE
16:10 – PUNCTUATION

*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 – JUPITER DU GITE

If there’s a runner in here with the ability to be a factor in the Triumph itself, then it’s surely JUPITER DU GITE, who lowered the colours of a well-touted Nicky Henderson runner on his British debut at Newbury and there was certainly no fluke about that performance despite his unflattering starting price.

That performance was one of the best seen by a juvenile in Britain and he looks an exciting prospect. Comfort Zone is already a winner at this level but he didn’t have much in hand come the line with Dixon Cove closing fast and that rival may reverse the form this time on these terms.

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12:10 – FIRE DANCER

The Timeform Novices’ Chase is always a competitive affair and has a good record of producing Cheltenham Festival winners in recent years. The one to beat in this year’s renewal may be FIRE DANCER, who overcame a 27-month absence to make a winning start for these connections with much more in hand than the head margin suggests at Ludlow three weeks ago.

He impressed with his slick jumping and the manner in which he travelled, so strikes as the type that has much more to offer, and looks well handicapped up 6 lb. Dalamoi is next on the list, albeit only marginally as both Malinello and Stage Star merit serious consideration, too.

12:40 – DELTA WORK

DELTA WORK is a classy operator and notably beat stablemate Tiger Roll in the Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival last season before finishing an excellent third to Noble Yeats in the Grand National at Aintree. He confirmed his well-being when landing the odds at Punchestown in November, not needing to be anywhere near his best, but that run is sure to have got rid of any ring-rust, and he will likely prove hard to beat off top-weight.

Singing Banjo was only a short head behind the selection at Punchestown last time and is getting plenty of weight now, so he’s an obvious danger.

13:20 – ENERGUMENE

A rerouted Clarence House and while it will struggle to live up to the breathtaking 2022 renewal, a clash between Champion Chase winner ENERGUMENE and Arkle-hero Edwardstone should still be something to savour.

Strong preference is for Energumene, who is clear of Edwardstone on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, and warmed up for this with a facile win at Cork, while Edwardstone needs to bounce back from an unseat in the Desert Orchid.

13:50 – FUGITIF 

An extremely competitive handicap chase where you can make a case for several but FUGITIF looks the one to side with. He ran a cracker when runner-up to a well-handicapped, progressive sort over two miles at Cheltenham on his return in November and relished the step back up in trip when resuming winning ways at Chepstow last month.

The handicapper has hit him with a 10 lb rise for that success, but he was heavily eased at the finish, and he could well have more to offer. Il Ridoto has shaped well to twice claim fourth spot over at Cheltenham this winter and seems sure to be on the premises again in first-time cheekpieces, while Brave Seasca and Nocte Volatus are also considered.

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14:25 – PROTEKTORAT

The performance of A Plus Tard obviously took plenty away from the Betfair Chase at Haydock 10 weeks ago but PROTEKTORAT couldn’t have been any more impressive that day, sauntering to an 11-length success, and if Dan Skelton’s charge arrives in anything like the same form, he will prove tough to beat.

Noble Yates picked up really well to land the Many Clouds at Aintree eight weeks ago so he looks the obvious threat to the selection.

15:00 – PAISLEY PARK

Already a three-time winner of the Cleeve Hurdle, PAISLEY PARK confirmed the fire still burns brightly when turning the tables on Champ from Newbury and finding plenty to boot when landing the Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

That form is easily the best on offer in this field and he looks the one to beat, with another highly admirable type in Dashel Drasher and Gino Bello who is back from a stint chasing are others to consider.

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15:35 – PEMBROKE

A potentially very informative novice in which plenty arrive with chances, notably PEMBROKE, who is improving in leaps and bounds at present, storming clear of his rivals at Ludlow last time, and that effort was backed up by the clock.

He is taken to take another step up the ladder and complete a hat-trick, likely at the main expense of Henri The Second, who ran to a useful level when opening his account second time up over timber at Sandown early last month, and is another good prospect.

16:10 – PUNCTUATION

PUNCTUATION is unbeaten since joining Fergal O’Brien, recording another career best when completing a four-timer over this course and distance last month, likely suited by the omitted hurdles in the straight but leaving the impression he has much more to offer.

The handicapper has raised him another 8 lb, but he will be well suited by a likely strong pace in this big field, and can progress again to extend his winning sequence.

There are many possible dangers, however, headed by Hacker des Places, Might I and Pikar, who failed to fire when strong in the market last time but remain handicappers with potential.

Timeform’s Trial Day Tips:

11:40 – JUPITER DU GITE
12:10 – FIRE DANCER
12:40 – DELTA WORK
13:20 – ENERGUMENE
13:50 – FUGITIF
14:25 – PROTEKTORAT
15:00 – PAISLEY PARK
15:35 – PEMBROKE
16:10 – PUNCTUATION

*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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