Cheltenham's December Meeting continues on Saturday, with five more excellent races featuring on the ITV Racing coverage. Along with some big races from Prestbury Park, ITV viewers will head up to Doncaster for three high-quality handicaps.
In Excelsis Deo flew up Cleeve Hill to finish a close third behind Dancing On My Own and Triple Trade on his reappearance here in October. Softer ground and switching from the sharp Old Course to the more testing New Course will certainly suit. The favourite is clearly well-handicapped, but any value in his price has evaporated.
Another who should be well-suited by the conditions of this race is MADARA (12/1), who unseated at the third-last behind Dancing On My Own on his stable debut here in October, before finishing sixth behind Triple Trade the following month.
Leech's four-year-old travelled powerfully into that contest, before getting outpaced on the short run to the line. Madara won a two-and-a-half mile chase on heavy ground in France during the spring and front-running sorts like Calico, Funambule Sivola and Aucunrisque should ensure this is more of a test of stamina. Leech has booked Harry Cobden for the ride too. Madara is a good value alternative, especially with some bookmakers offering three paid places.
1:50pm Cheltenham - December Gold Cup Tips
Get the latest odds, some key recurring trends and our best betting tips for this huge handicap in our full guide to the 2023 December Gold Cup.
A tricky race. Both recent Wetherby winners, Cerendipity and Findthetime have chances. Deeper Blue is respected after a pleasing reappearance. Cruz Control cannot be ruled and, if he jumps well on his chasing debut, Henry's Friend has the class to contend.
MISTER WHO (4/1) showed a marked improvement on his first chasing start at Lingfield last month, staying on powerfully to finish a close second behind Oxygen, who handed Venetia Williams yet another winner. Toby Lawes' six-year-old is the least exposed runner in the field, having run just three times over hurdles, and the long run-in at Doncaster should suit. He'll be my tentative selection.
2:25pm Cheltenham - Handicap Chase Tips
Again, this race is almost too competitive to call. Broadway Boy brings plenty of course form to the table. City Chief should play a big hand under such a lightweight. Malina Girl remains progressive and Protektorat - despite his welter burden - is a multiple Grade One winner running in a handicap.
That being said, I've been waiting for EASY AS THAT (5/1) to step up beyond two-and-a-half miles since the beginning of his novice chasing campaign. Venetia Williams' star stayed on stoutly up the hill when sixth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his reappearance and Charlie Deutsch's mount will shoulder just 10-02 as he steps up in distance for the first time.
I'm glad I took the 10/1 that was on offer at the start of the week, but even at 5s, Easy As That isn't a bad bet.
Sam Twiston-Davies riding Rare Edition clear the last to win The Ladbrokes 'We Play Together' Novices' Hurdle at Kempton Park. (Getty)
2:40pm Doncaster - bet365 Handicap Hurdle Tips
Following a flying start to last season, RARE EDITION (13/2) was being mentioned alongside Britain's best novice hurdlers. Charlie Longsdon's racked up an impressive hat-trick during the autumn and winter, including a seven-length thrashing of Rubaud, who's since reached a mark of 149.
Longsdon's star was then beaten in the Sidney Banks by the classy Marble Sands, before struggling in Grade One company during the spring. Rare Edition will now make his handicap debut off a mark of just 136, around a course he won impressively at last November. Longsdon's six-year-old won first time out in each of the last two seasons and Bradley Roberts' claimer leaves Rare Edition shouldering just 10-07.
Having ended his time over hurdles with an impressive win here at Doncaster, MANOTHEPEOPLE (10/1) kicked off his career as a chaser with two wins at Chepstow last autumn, before a decent effort behind Bridge North at Newbury.
Fergal O'Brien's novice was pulled up in the Scottish Grand National, but showed no ill-effects from that experience on his reappearance at Exeter, where Manothepeople was beaten a neck by Any News. Connor Brace was forced out of the saddle early on his latest effort at Ascot, as the leader Emir Sacree jumped badly across his path. Manothepeople was fancied that day too, so I see no reason why he can't contend in what looks to be a winnable race.
3:35pm Cheltenham - Mares' Handicap Hurdle Tips
Fergal O'Brien will be hopeful of a quick-fire ITV Racing double, with Bonttay currently topping the betting for Saturday's card-closer. Windtothelightening won very impressively at Wetherby on her reappearance, and Good Luck Charm - who I tipped up at 25/1 when she won at Wincanton in November - is worth a second look too.
I find myself leaning towards the top-weight THEATRE GLORY (11/2), who ran a fine race to finish sixth in the Mares' Hurdle here at the Cheltenham Festival, having been held up and posted wide throughout. Theatre Glory has since finished a close third in two Grade Twos, following Knappers Hill and Goshen home in the Select Hurdle at Sandown, before a decent effort behind Blueking D'Oroux on her reappearance at Ascot.
Switching back to a left-handed track should suit and Theatre Glory could still be well-handicapped off this mark of 143.
Verdict
Saturday's top ITV Racing tips:
Best Bet1: Easy As That 2:25pm Cheltenham @500.00 at Stake.com - 10 Units
Best Bet2: Theatre Glory 3:35pm Cheltenham @550.00 at Legendz - 10 Units
Best Bet3: Rare Edition 2:40pm Doncaster @650.00 at dabble.com - 10 Units
Best Bet4: Manothepeople E/W 3:15pm Doncaster @1000.0 at blockbet (NEWBONUS) FT - 10 Units
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