Cheltenham stages its two-day Christmas Meeting on Friday and Saturday with lots of exhilarating racing on the agenda in the Cotswolds.
It's the final action of 2024 at the home of jump racing and we have previewed some of the
Day One - Friday, December 13th
12:40 - SSS Super Alloys Novices' Chase
There will be plenty of excitement when CALDWELL POTTER steps out at Cheltenham for the first time in this intriguing novices' chase.
Formerly trained by Gordon Elliott in Ireland, the six-year-old grey was bought by Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, John Hales and Peter Donefor €740,000 in February and is now under the care of Paul Nicholls.
The promising gelding, who won the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle for Elliott last December, made a fine start to his chasing career at Carlisle over two miles at the start of this month.
He steps up in trip on Friday and will face a more searching test of his abilities with Springwell Bay, Jango Baie and Deafening Silence all rivals of substance.
However, Nicholls won this race with Ginny's Destiny last season and Caldwell Potter looks an even more thrilling prospect.
Springwell Bay should welcome a drop back in trip and could follow the favourite home.
SELECTION: CALDWELL POTTER
NEXT BEST: SPRINGWELL BAY
13:15 - Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle
Bo Zenith was last spotted on a racecourse in April 2023, when he was narrowly edged out by Zenta in Grade 1 company at Aintree.
He has since moved to Nicky Henderson and is of interest on his belated return, although it has to be of note that stable jockey Nico de Boinville has chosen to ride WILLMOUNT, who is under the same ownership as Bo Zenith.
He looked a smart prospect when scoring at Newbury on his hurdles bow 13 months ago and was sent off second-favourite for the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at the Berkshire track last December.
He lost a shoe in that race and was subsequently pulled up, but that was surely not his running and he could resume progress on Friday.
Tintintin has plenty of experience over hurdles and Fergal O'Brien's charge ran well in a warm renewal of the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.
He should be in the mix and To Chase A Dream, who has won three races on the spin, and is another horse to keep an eye on.
SELECTION: WILLMOUNT
NEXT BEST: TO CHASE A DREAM
13:50 - Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase
A Cheltenham Festival winner in March, Chianti Classico returned to action in fine style at Ascot (3m, good) last month when defying top weight and a handicap mark of 152.
Kim Bailey's stable star has gone up 5lb for that victory but he has to be respected at a course he has thrived on previously.
David Pipe's King Turgeon bids for a third success in a row. The six-year-old is a great jumper and was an excellent winner of the Grand Sefton at Aintree last time, but perhaps the returning OUR POWER is worth taking a chance on.
He's been absent since a fall at Newbury 12 months ago, but he has a solid record off a break and had some excellent chasing form in the book prior to that.
SELECTION: OUR POWER
NEXT BEST: CHIANTI CLASSICO
14:25 - Middle Distance Veterans' Chase Series Handicap Chase
Shakem Up'arry was another Cheltenham Festival winner in March and is a capable performer when fresh.
The 10-year-old was well beaten at Aintree after that success, however, and he remains on career-high mark for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones.
Eldorado Allen, Copperhead, Dashel Drasher and Torn And Frayed all merit consideration but SHAN BLUE could be the answer for the Skelton brothers.
He shaped as if he would come on for his comeback run at Bangor (3m, soft) and an intermediate trip on a stiff track such as Cheltenham should be right up his street.
Shan Blue has not hit the heights some thought he might earlier in his career but a mark of 141 could underestimate him in this company and his only previous runs over fences at Cheltenham were in Grade 1 contests.
SELECTION: SHAN BLUE
NEXT BEST SHAKEM UP'ARRY
Day Two – Saturday, December 14th
12:40 - Josh Wyke Birthday Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
Nicky Henderson's Peaky Boy made a winning start over fences at Cheltenham last month, scoring over 2m4f and jumping well in the main.
He is now 3-3 over jumps at the track and should build on his recent chase success, although Saturday's test will pose new questions of his stamina.
The Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs was an impressive winner at Aintree over this trip last month but was aided by having just one other finisher to contend with that day.
Newcastle scorer Livin On Luco and last month's course-and-distance victor Transmission have more on their plates, so HILLCREST is given a chance for Henry Daly despite carrying top-weight.
He ran into useful pair Trelawne and Iroko on his first start in two and a half years on his chasing bow at Haydock last month but Sam Twiston-Davies takes the ride again and he will appreciate the longer trip.
SELECTION: HILLCREST
NEXT BEST: PEAKY BOY
13:50 - Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase
Last year's winner Fugitif heads a field of 11 for the highlight of Cheltenham's final meeting of the year, the December Gold Cup,
Richard Hobson's stable star should be sharper for his comeback in last month's Paddy Power Gold Cup over the same course and distance and he is rated 1lb lower than when victorious 12 months ago.
Course regular Il Ridoto won the Paddy Power for Paul Nicholls and Freddie Gingell and he has to be respected in his bid for a big-race double.
Ga Law, second to Il Ridoto last month, should also go well but MADARA could be the horse to take out of that race.
Fourth in the Paddy Power, Madara was perhaps set too much of a challenge by Tristan Durrell and just couldn't get on terms with the front three after a very patient ride.
Harry Skelton takes over in the saddle and his mount has a handy pull at the weights.
A winner at the Dublin Racing Festival in February when trained by Sophie Leech, the five-year-old has one or two more valuable handicaps in him.
SELECTION: MADARA
NEXT BEST: GA LAW
