The Festival at Cheltenham is around the corner, six weeks away, and the racecourse hosts it’s Trials Day today.
Rainfall from Storm Eowyn measured 13mm on Friday and track conditions are posted as soft.
It’s Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday (Pic – Cheltenham Racecourse)
The meeting features the unbeaten Constitution Hill in the Gr2 Unibet Hurdle (17h00) and a clash between L’Homme Presse and Gentlemansgame in the Gr2 Betfair Cotswold Chase (16h25).
The layers have Constitution Hill at 1/10 favourite for today’s race, with Brentford Hope next best at 13/2. It is 40/1 bar.
Nicky Henderson’s superstar is impossible to oppose now he has proven his well-being after a troubled past 12 months.
The Cotswold Chase is more competitive with course winner L’Homme Presse, third last time out in the King George at Kempton, evens favourite.
The ten-year-old joins five rivals at the three-mile, two furlong start including course winners Stage Star and Chantry House from the red-hot Henderson yard.
The market has Irish raider Gentlemansgame as second favourite (9/4) after finishing a fine third to chasing champ Galopin Des Champs over Christmas.
However, the Mouse Morris trained runner must concede 6lbs to Gold Cup fourth L’Homme Presse which looks a tall order.
Earlier on the card, the exciting East India Dock, second favourite for the Triumph Hurdle, takes his chance in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (15h15). James Owen’s charge bolted up at the November meeting, coming clear in fine style, and should be too good for his nine rivals.
The concluding Ais Novices’ Hurdle (18h10) sees the Twiston-Davies-trained Potters Charm look to extend his unbeaten run. The exciting six-year-old was an easy winner of the Gr1 Formby at Aintree on Boxing Day, confirming the promise he showed romping home here in a Group 2 in November.
Bill Joyce was not disgraced when third to The New Lion in the Challow. He could give Potters Charm a race and must be included in the exactas.
