Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five racing tips at Cheltenham and Doncaster on Saturday. View selections below.
MADARA (1.50) looks worth a bet in the fiendishly difficult Nyetimber December Gold Cup, the feature event on a first-rate Cheltenham card.
The ex-French-trained gelding was having his first start for Dan Skelton when finishing a never-nearer fourth to Paul Nicholls’ Il Ridoto in the Paddy Power Gold Cup run over the Old course here last month and that should have tuned him up nicely for today’s test.
Il Ridoto can make a bold bid to follow up under Freddie Gingell while last year’s winner Fugitif will be better suited by a return to this more stamina-sapping New course.
The Nicholls yard is also represented by top weight Stage Star, disappointing when managing only fourth behind Minella Drama at Aintree in late October.
Gemirande and Le Patron may present stronger challenges. Gerimande jumped his field ragged when making all the running under Charlie Deutsche at Ascot last month and Venetia Williams has the happy knack of plundering these big handicap chases.
Le Patron bounded clear under Freddie Mitchell to win decisively at Newbury 15 days ago and is clearly in great heart.
COCO MADEMOISELLE (1.13) faces 12 useful opponents in the 2m 4f mares’ handicap chase but possesses the potential to make her mark this season.
Dan Skelton’s six-year-old, a three-time winner over hurdles, made a satisfactory chasing debut when going down narrowly to classy Hometown Boy at Worcester in late October.
Malaita ran out a comfortable winner here last April before being pegged back on the run-in on her most recent outing at Carlisle last month.
Harry Cobden is reunited with LIBBERTY HUNTER (2.25) in the BetMGM Handicap Chase (2.25) after they finished second to Unexpected Party in the Grand Annual Chase in March.
The Evan Williams-trained gelding capitalised on favourite Matata’s last-fence error to score here on New Year’s Day.
Libberty Hunter has a bit to find with reopposing Master Chewy after they filled the places behind Gordon Elliott’s smart Found A Fifty at Aintree but my selection enjoys a hefty weight advantage.
Nigel Twiston-Davies pulls out Master Chewy quickly following his fall behind Jonbon at Sandown last Saturday.
At Doncaster, strong traveller CLASSIC KING (12.25) returns to the scene of his recent gutsy success.
Emma Lavelle’s top weight is prone to the odd error and almost tossed away victory with a final fence blunder before rallying to lead close home.
Bucksy Des Epeires returned from a 234-day break to score for the Williams yard at Ascot 22 days ago and Ned Fox’s 5lb allowance negates a rating rise.
The Kalooki King mopped up a brace of novice hurdles last season but found one too strong when a beaten favourite over fences at Ayr. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding can go well.
More was expected from even-money favourite Sea Invasion when well held at Plumpton but this galloping track may prove more suitable.
ALTOBELLI (3.15) disappointed when well-backed to land the competitive Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last February but something may have been amiss as he hasn’t been seen since that flop.
Harry Fry’s gelding is better judged on his close third to talented pair Luccia and Impose Toi at Ascot last Christmas and a repeat of that performance would make him hard to beat in the two-mile bet365 Handicap Hurdle.
Donald McCain won this race 12 months ago and relies on Jungle Jack, the mount of Brian Hughes.
Jungle Jack wasn’t disgraced when running fourth to Might I at Bangor last month, his first start in 171 days.
Tally Ho
Alan
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
