CHELTENHAM INTERNATIONAL MEETING - SATURDAY 12th DECEMBER 2020

 

THE INTERNATIONAL - SATURDAY

A good start to the weekend with some nice winners on Friday here at Cheltenham and now we look to the second day of the International meeting. It's a competitive card for Saturday includes the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup [1:50] and The Unibet International Hurdle [3:00]. The international hurdle is a top class race in it's own right but also a good trial for the Champion Hurdle later in the season, even though it's been a long time since a winner has emerged from this race (Rooster Booster back in 2002) it has been won by some famous hurdlers. 

Enjoy Saturday's racing with a great card and live racing on the ITV 4 channel (Uk viewers) with coverage of the final four races on this card plus some racing up at Doncaster. 

Surface:   Turf.
Weather:   A sunny day at Cheltenham but a chilly one with a max temp of only 9c.
Going:     Soft.

12:05  JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (3yo)
2m 179y  (Class 2  9 runners)
Nice open hurdle contest where SON OF RED (Alan King) and ADAGIO (David Pipe) are two to take very seriously with the Triumph Hurdle on the agenda at the festival. Preference is for an each way shout on SHAKE A LEG (Dan Skelton) a good handicapper over in Ireland and now tries his luck over obstacles. A nice race to start us off with. 

Result - (4) Adagio @4/9 [Tom Scudamore].

12:40  Jockey Club Cheltenham And SW Syndicate Novices' Chase
2m 4f 127y (Class 2  4 runners)
Only four declared and two are trained by Nicky Henderson FUSIL RAFFLES was pulled up here in a grade 2 novice chase last time and there are a few questions to answer as a result, stable mate CHANTRY HOUSE who is a lively favourite having won 4 from 5 starts in all to date. Paul Nicholls runs QUEL DESTIN and this is only his second try over fences, was runner up first time out and that experience should put him in a good place today. The quartet is completed by LIEUTENANT ROCCO, made a few mistakes on chase debut and might find these a bit too hot today.

Result - (1) Fusil Raffles @16/5 [D A Jacob].

1:15  Spreadex Handicap Chase

2m 62y  (Class 2  9 runners)
All have a good chance in this chase perhaps bar Gino Trail who at 13yo is finding his racing a bit too hot to handle now and regularly pulled up, Paul Nicholls runs two, CAPELAND is probably preferred over MAGIC SAINT but we will oppose him today with ZANZA (Phillip Hobbs) who has mixed chasing wit hurdles and was a winner last time at Newbury. Also like the chances of NIETZSCHE a big price winner of the Greatwood hurdle couple of years back, has still been running into places over fences too and continues to give his trainer Brian Ellison plus connections plenty to enjoy. 

Result - (9) Sky Pirate @4/1 [Tom Scudamore].

1:50  Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase
2m 4f 127y  (Class 1  17 runners)
First of the feature races this afternoon, a big field is headed by MASTER TOMMYTUCKER who has been successful on his last two runs albeit in very small fields and might find the hustle and bustle a bit unsettling unless he can gain an uncontested lead the percentage call is to oppose. One to be interested in having already won over course and distance is COOLE COADY successful in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here in November, had AL DANCER back in third and would be no big surprise if the winner came from one of these. A big price player for the place market could be ANNIE MC trained by Jonjo O'Neill sure to stay the trip well at 25/1 looks overpriced.

Result - (14) Chatham Street Lad @16/1 [D J O'Keefe].

2:25  Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

(Registered As The Bristol Novices' Hurdle)

2m 7f 213y  (Class 1  8 runners)
MAKE GOOD [WON 12/1] has been kept busy on both Flat and NH codes over in Ireland and his latest win was better than the 13L officially recorded since he was significantly eased down, Richard Johnson is booked for today and expecting a big run. While TOOK THE LOT as won a pair of small Bangor races for the Twiston-Davies team and should be monitored closely in the betting market, a place bet for me in an open race.

Result - (4) Make Good @12/1 [Richard Johnson].

Call Me Lord wins here for James Bowen in 2019

3:00  Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2)

2m 179y  (Class 1  10 runners)
The main race for Saturday is the International Hurdle, a field of 10 declared today, won last year by Call Me Lord who reappears again today, the same colours are worn by Sceau Royal too who was beaten by current champion hurdler Epitante in the fighting fifth at Newcastle. The interesting one for me is GOSHEN who unseated when miles clear in last years Triumph Hurdle and should have been unbeaten over hurdles still has had a couple of runs on the flat and must go close if he doesn't lose the jockey this time. VERDANA BLUE is still dining out on beating the then champion hurdler Buveur D'air in the Christmas Hurdle a coupe of years back and is consistent without winning much since but is one for the place money.

Result - (4) Song for Someone @6/1 [Aidan Coleman]

3:35  December Mares' Handicap Hurdle

2m 4f 56y  (Class 2  10 runners)

We conclude today's meeting with a mares hurdle, top weight INDEFATIGABLE [N/R] winner of the Martin Pipe race at the festival and giving weight to all but is still a force to be feared, while MOLLY OLLYS WISHES [N/R] looks a nice price for this and has picked up a couple of similar events this calendar year along with AGGY WITH IT and it's that pair we will back against the field in the lucky last.

Result - (5) The White Mouse @10/3 [Bryony Frost].

Results will be updated later on during the afternoon and we hope you enjoying a good weekend too. We will be back here on New Years Day and hopefully we can start to attend some racing our self in 2021, until then stay safe.