Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Betting Tips
13.45 Cheltenham – Leau Du Sud
14.20 Cheltenham – Protektorat (each-way)
14.55 Cheltenham – Gowel Road (each-way)
15.15 Newcastle – The Foxes (each-way)
15.30 Cheltenham – Wyenot (each-way)
15.48 Newcastle – Annaf
*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.
13.45 Cheltenham – Leau Du Sud
ITV Racing returns Saturday for racing from Cheltenham and Newcastle, starting here with a Grade 2 novices’ chase over 2m. LEAU DU SUD was a non-runner recently on good ground, and everything suggests he wants it muddy, but that all said, provided he turns up, he should take some beating for Harry and Dan Skelton.
There could well be a burn up for the lead here between my hope and Lookaway, but rated 148 Leau du Sud should be too good and he jumped well last time at Stratford bar one bad mistake. Stays very well.
14.20 Cheltenham – Protektorat (each-way)
The big betting race of the day in the incredible and beautiful Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase over 2m4f. There should be plenty of pace on here and there’s no doubt Ginny’s Destiny could be hard to catch. Ga Law could easily bounce back to his best as the defending champion, who did just that last season.
However, I’m taking a chance with class act PROTEKTORAT, who did this column a right favour when landing Ryanair at Cheltenham in March. If he’s ready after a 218-day absence, he should jump for fun. He usually travels well, and I’m not sure this is the deepest renewal of all time.
Obviously, it’s not going to be easy under 12st, but good ground is not an issue, indeed he was second in this on good ground in 2021 when rated 154. His task is shown with a mark now of 167 but on his day he’s very decent. I’ll have a few quid on each-way.
14.55 Cheltenham – Gowel Road (each-way)
A handicap hurdle over 3m. This looks pretty open. I’d expect GOWEL ROAD to have a solid each-way chance for all that he’s high in the handicap off 143, up 2lb for his latest defeat.
He was sixth in the Final of this event at Cheltenham in March and the good ground might just help him get up the hill as he tired late that day and was a little stressed at the finish. Sam Twiston-Davies rides for his old man Nigel.
15.15 Newcastle – The Foxes (each-way)
On the Flat now for the Listed Churchill Stakes over 1m2f. This is a really decent race. Dubai Honour may well give the weight away but I’ll be backing THE FOXES each-way for Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding.
My hope stays well, he once finished fifth in the Derby, and was a fine third to Enemy and Military Order at Southwell not so long ago. He was rated 113 then and is now down to 108 and I suspect he’s got a bit more talent than that rating suggests. Getting 7lb from Dubai Honour I would think he’ll be bang in the mix.
15.30 Cheltenham – Wyenot (each-way)
Here’s a handicap hurdle over 2m5f. WYENOT is young and has always looked like a decent horse and appears to have appreciated going up in trip recently. This is the furthest she has gone.
My selection made all over a little shorter at this track last time and is up 6lb for that success. It makes things harder, but she’s in great form, can bounce along on the front end and might be hard to pass. Each-way claims.
15.48 Newcastle – Annaf
The Listed Golden Rose Stakes over 6f. Tough race to call as ANNAF really should be too good for this field but is out of form.
Mick Appleby’s star was a fine winner in Riyadh in February of this year but hasn’t done much since, although that said, he was a reasonable third in a Group 3 at Newbury and ninth of 20 behind Kind of Blue in the Champions Sprint at Ascot. Has to be the selection, but I’m not confident.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Cheltenham ITV Racing Tips
13.45 Cheltenham – Leau Du Sud
14.20 Cheltenham – Protektorat (each-way)
14.55 Cheltenham – Gowel Road (each-way)
15.15 Newcastle – The Foxes (each-way)
15.30 Cheltenham – Wyenot (each-way)
15.48 Newcastle – Annaf
*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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