Five runners on Trials Day whose ante-post prices are worth watching for the Cheltenham Festival in March.
It’s a massive day at Cheltenham this weekend, as Prestbury Park hosts its informative Trials Day. I have turned my attention to three races in particular that are likely to provide pivotal clues for the Cheltenham Festival in just over six weeks’ time, with ante-post odds likely to change for certain runners, including these five.
Burdett Road – Triumph Hurdle
Story to follow: Exciting Burdett Road to strengthen Triumph Hurdle favouritism with victory in the opener
To kick off a brilliant day’s racing, we have the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (12.05), where the top two in the betting for the Triumph Hurdle, Burdett Road and Sir Gino, will go head-to-head.
Trainer of Burdett Road, James Owen, had initially thought about supplementing his unbeaten youngster in the Unibet Hurdle later on the card. However, the decision is to stick to the juvenile race.
This Royal Ascot winner could prove impossible to beat if he can turn up in the same form he did when powering to success in another trial race back at the November meeting. His biggest danger is Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino, but I think the former will be difficult to beat.
The 4/1F for the Triumph Hurdle in March is 11/10F to potentially retain his unbeaten record over hurdles this weekend, and victory would certainly strengthen his position at the top of the market.
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Lossiemouth – Mares’ Hurdle
Story to follow: All roads lead to the Mares’ Hurdle for Unibet Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth
Only five horses will go to post for the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle (15.00), but the eagerly-anticipated return of Lossiemouth, the 10/11F, bids to resume racing with success before tackling the Mares’ Hurdle in March, in which she’s available at a best price of 5/2 and will be ridden by regular rider Paul Townend this weekend.
The 2023 Triumph Hurdle winner will have to overcome Love Envoi, who chased home Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle last year, but the former is the one to beat. She has not been seen since backing up that wonderful win at the Festival of last year with Punchestown glory, but a lack of a run should prove no hindrance.
Stay Away Fay – Brown Advisory
Story to follows: Albert Bartlett winner Stay Away Fay to step up to the plate in the Cotswolds
A small but select field will tackle the Grade 2 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (13.50) and it is a good opportunity for last season’s Albert Bartlett winner, Stay Away Fay, to make his mark at a higher level over fences after two wins from two starts so far in this sphere.
The seven-year-old has bags of stamina and courage to match his class, and he currently holds three entries at the Cheltenham Festival, which are the National Hunt Chase, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Given he’s just 13/2 for the Brown Advisory, that appears to be the target, and a win this weekend could see him go favourite. He is the lowest-rated runner in the field, but we know he acts around the course, and this race should be right up his street. He’s a definite for the shortlist at a best price of 10/3.
Paisley Park – Stayers’ Hurdle
Story to follow: Three-time winner Paisley Park bids to rewrite the history books in the Cleeve Hurdle
The old guard could well come to the fore in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle (15.35), which is headlined by Paisley Park, who will go in search of landing a fourth win in the race and is the current 11/4F to regain his crown, ahead of old rivals Dashel Drasher, Champ, and former Grand National winner Noble Yeats.
This remarkable stayer has proved this year that age is just a number, given the fact that the 12-year-old has gone down narrowly in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury behind Dashel Drasher and in Ascot's Long Walk Hurdle when beaten a short head by Crambo.
Emma Lavelle’s charge will meet his old nemesis Dashel Drasher on 6Ib better terms, and the former Stayers’ Hurdle winner is available at 25/1 to potentially roll back the years and take the crown for a second time. A win here would see his odds shorten immediately for Thursday’s showpiece in March.
Gidleigh Park - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
Story to follow: Unbeaten Gidleigh Park odds-on to book a return trip to the Cheltenham Festival
A big future could await Harry Fry’s giant of a horse, Gidleigh Park, who beat subsequent Grade 1-placed The Jukebox Man by six lengths at Chepstow last year in March in his sole bumper before recording two facile wins over hurdles, which earned him a crack at this contest.
He goes in the Grade 2 SSS Super Alloys Novices' Hurdle (16.10) and is the 4/6F to keep his unbeaten record intact. The six-year-old is sure to make a smashing chaser in time, but a win here would see him line up in either the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, in which he’s 10/1, or the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, available at 25/1.
My inclination is that he will line up in the former, and maybe he is the horse Harry has been searching for since one of his former brightest prospects, Neon Wolf, came close to winning Wednesday’s opener at the Cheltenham Festival. I am excited to see him and would recommend backing him for either of those two races now.
