Cheltenham is back! A bumper 9 race card live on ITV from Cheltenham and Doncaster.
In some people's minds the best 2 mile hurdler ever is back at Cheltenham, Constitution Hill. The champion will face 4 challengers in the Unibet Hurdle.
The Main race of the day is the Cleeve Hurdle with a top class field headed by Crambo looking to make up for his poor runs at the Cheltenham and Aintree festival last season.
Quality fields and a good crowd will make for an amazing day at the home of jumps racing.
Click which raced you'd like to read about below.
Cheltenham
Doncaster
13:15 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle
Hurdle Turf, Grade 2 Class 1
Distance: 2 miles and 1 furlongs
Runners: 10
Going: Good
1st place prize money: £45,560
Our picks for the race
To win: East India Dock
Good stayer for James Fanshawe on the flat, superb first 2 juvenile hurdle runs. 18 length win here in Grade 2 company in November, will like the ground.
Each-way: Teriferma
Useful hurdler for Joseph O'Brien when winning 2 out of 3 starts, switched to Jack Jones and won on debut for the yard in dead heat here in December. Could improve for that run. Sean Bowen booked.
13:50 Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase
Chase Turf, Grade 3 Handicap Class 1
Distance: 2 miles and 4 furlongs
Runners: 11
Going: Good
1st place prize money: £56,270
Our picks for the race
To win: Imperial Saint
One of our horses to follow this season, All rules win are on Good or Good to Soft ground so that's no concern here. 3 wins from 4 when switched to chasing. Won easily last time when not putting a foot wrong. First run at Cheltenham.
Each-way: Moon D'orange
3342 since switched to Chasing. Good 2nd to the market leader at Newbury 2m 6f. Form from his 3rd here is working out well. This Irish challenger is of a low weight and Sean Bowen booked.
14:25 Betfair Cotswold Chase
Chase Turf, Grade 2 Class 1
Distance: 3 miles and 1 furlong
Runners: 6
Going: Good
1st place prize money: £70,338
Our pick for the race
To win: L'Homme Presse
Has questions to answer going over 3 miles and has come up short at the top level. 3rd in the King George at Kempton one month ago. Has an excellent chance at these weights.
He acts on soft ground so would prefer the ground softer then currently advertised (Good).
15:00 Unibet Hurdle
Hurdle Turf, Grade 2 Class 1
Distance: 2 miles and 1 furlong
Runners: 5
Going: Good
1st place prize money: £71,188
Our pick for the race
To win: Constitution Hill
Will canter around to win against this field. Great to see him once more before the Cheltenham Festival. Connections have mentioned he is in even better form then at Christmas when he comfortably beat Lossiemouth. We are excited to see him again, possibly the greatest of all time.
15:35 Betfair Cleeve Hurdle
Hurdle Turf, Grade 2 Class 1
Distance: 3 miles
Runners: 8
Going: Good
1st place prize money: £39,389
Our picks for the race
To win: Crambo
Dug very deep to win the 3m Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in 2023 and 5 weeks ago on soft ground. Disappointed at Aintree and Cheltenham Festival last season which could be a concern but in the thick of things here.
Each-way: Monmiral
Fairly smart hurdler who landed the Grade 1 Juvenile at Aintree in 2021. Patchy form last few years but won a Valuable Grade 3 at last seasons Cheltenham Festival. 3 lengths behind Strong Leader last time out so each way claims here.
Doncaster
13:30 Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase
Chase Turf, Handicap Class 2
Distance: 2 miles and about 1/2 furlong
Runners: 7
Going: Good to soft
1st place prize money: £26,405
Our picks for the race
To win: General Madrano
Consistent sort who doesn't win often, but form this season is strong when easily winning a Class 2 at Newbury. Struggled next time out back at Newbury but maybe that come too soon, could bounce back.
14:05 Pertemps Network River Don Novices' Hurdle
Hurdle Turf, Grade 2 Novice Class 1
Distance: 3 miles and about 1/2 furlong
Runners: 8
Going: Good to soft
1st place prize money: £42,713
Our picks for the race
To win: Western Knight
Very good form this season winning both hurdle starts at Uttoxeter and Ascot. Found one too good in Grade 2 company here in December. Form is by far the best in the field and we know he handles Cheltenham.
Each-way: Gamesters Guy
Won two bumpers in 2023 and start of 2024. Made ideal start to hurdling when winning his 2nd start at Carlisle by 16 lengths easily. Harder task here but big chance there's a lot of improvement.
14:40 Virgin Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle
Hurdle Turf, Grade 2 Class 1
Distance: 3 mile and about 1/2 furlong
Runners: 6
Going: Good to soft
1st place prize money: £34,170
Our pick for the race
To win: Wyenot
Smart mare who is 5 wins from 9, all coming over hurdles. Won a listed contest last time out at this venue easily. David Bass takes the ride and should be bang there.
15:15 Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase
Chase Turf, Grade 3 Handicap Class 1
Distance: 3 miles
Runners: 17
Going: Good to soft
1st place prize money: £56,950
Our picks for the race
To win: The Changing Man
Consistent this season after wind surgery, albeit fell on his first start this season. Then backed up with two nice 2nd places at Newcastle and Ascot, only beaten a combined 2 lengths across both those races. Win is not far away and this race looks ideal for him. Ran well round here so we know he handles the track. Big chance.
Each-way: Frero Banbou
10 year old now but has been a very consistent stall wart for Venetia Williams. Three good races this season including win at Newcastle ahead of The Changing Man on Good ground. Current ground is Good so should be right up his alley. Ned Fox takes off 3 pounds and his current price of 14/1 looks well overpriced. Interesting contender.
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