talkSPORT have you covered with free horse racing tips and free bets on Friday’s fixtures at Cheltenham.
Tom Lunn has gone through the cards, form, going and much more to help guide your horse racing betting choices.
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Friday racing tips
- CHELTENHAM
12.10: That’s Nice 6/5 (1.5pts)
12.40: Caldwell Potter 1/1 (1.5pts)
1.15: Valgrand 3/1 (1pt)
1.50: Chianti Classico 3/1 (1pt)
2.25: Dashel Drasher 11/2 Each-way (2pts)
That’s Nice
The first race looks a great one to bet on with just four runners starting at evens.
They’ve each had runs this season to give a glimpse as to how they can fare against each other.
That’s Nice is still very dangerously unexposed and carrying 7lb less than Wingmen, Country Mile and Palacio as the only filly of the field.
She beat Honky Tonk Highway by over a length last time out and that form has worked out nicely too as that mare went on to win at Sandown last weekend in the Tingle Creek Festival.
She’s seen around 1/1 favourite and could be even more popular on the day to put her at odds-on.
Caldwell Potter
Next up is a fascinating contest in the Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles, a Class 2 at that, that sees the valuable Caldwell Potter make a quick reappearance after winning on debut over fences last time out.
Paul Nicholls and co were clearly keen to scoop this horse up after he showed great form over hurdles and the grey was looking fantastic over fences at Carlisle earlier this month.
He will need improvement to beat these rivals as he carries 11-9 but there’s no reason he can’t come on a lot from that first run and beat this small field of four rivals.
Jango Baie represents another strong chance for trainer Nicky Henderson who has the fav in the first.
But it’s a lot to ask of him on his chase debut, albeit Henderson did have a big success with Jingko Blue, storming home to win by nearly ten lengths at Uttoxeter earlier this week.
Valgrand
Willmount is amongst the favourites, again for Henderson, but he’s not been seen since December last year.
He’s probably still very well weighted given his mark of 130, he seems much better and more capable than that, but because he pulled up in the Challow (Grade 1) and lightly raced the handicapper does give him a chance overall.
His last finish and only hurdle finish was a win by 13 lengths to Beny Nahar Road.
So he’s got a lot of potential if coming back firing for the first time in so long, but does come with a risk due to that reason.
Valgrand carries top-weight having been upped 22lb for his win here in the Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle in October.
But in the November Meeting he was a disappointing second, despite being the odds-on favourite, 11 lengths behind Potters Charm who was clearly unexposed and ran so well that day.
The Skelton team could easily get this gelding back on track as he’s 3-4 over hurdles and perhaps just didn’t quite run as well as he could have, while also bumping into a top rival.
There are plenty that appeal each-way but it’s hard to make a real case for them over the course winner, more experienced Valgrand.
Chianti Classico
Next up is the 3m2f premier handicap a Class 1 chase that sees Chianti Classico the big favourite.
The Kim Bailey-trained seven-year-old won the Ultima at the Festival in March and returned in style with a front-running win at Ascot in the Gold Cup in November.
He handles heavy, good, soft ground and has a big engine which will help him here.
Course form is important and winning the Ultima is the best kind of course form, though he does carry top weight for those successes.
He carries nearly 2 stone more than the next in the betting King Turgeon trained by David Pipe.
It may be another favourite but he was impressive at Ascot and here in March, he can probably impress again making all from the front.
Dashel Drasher
As a general rule I don’t always go for Veteran chases, but this one is certainly an exception.
All signs point to a great run from Dashel Drasher that should put him right up there in this field of 11 runners.
He has been winless since December last year but placed strongly in various races too.
But last time out he ran incredibly well in the Grade 2 1965 Chase at Ascot, only four lengths behind Pic D’Orhy.
That was his first chase start since 2022 and he’s been nudged down even further in the weights despite going quite well behind not only top-class chasers but younger horses too.
He was also not really fancied due to his usual displays in stamina testing 3m stayers’ hurdles.
So the drop to two and a half miles wasn’t always ideal, but he handled it well and has not only won over this distance before but also at Cheltenham, for that crucial course form.
Tom Lunn’s Profit/Loss
- November ’24: +53.23
- From May ’24: +216.81pts
- From July ’23: +429.37pts
All odds correct at time of writing
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