Ginger Joe - Betting Tips for Saturday 14 December 2024

It’s time for the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham

I am feeling very confident as we head towards December Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham and I have two big-value selections lined up for you.

We begin with a Handicap Chase for the Novice Stayers’. Now this is a race that is well worth watching, as we could easily be seeing the shape of the future unfolding right here. I eventually narrowed the field down to the two most likely candidates with little to choose between them. However, the price of one has convinced me that now is the right time to catch him.

Saturday’s highlight race is of course the December Gold Cup. And after some very careful deliberation (on a truly worthy field of runners) I’m going for the horse who carries minimum weight. But it isn’t just that, the form from his latest win has worked out very well indeed.

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12:40 Cheltenham - The Novices’ Handicap Chase 3m 1f - Isaac Des Obeaux @ 8/1 (EW)

We start off in the Novices’ Handicap Chase and this is set to be a cracker. Destroytheevidence has some good form at Cheltenham, and has already beaten a few in this field, so he must come into the equation. He is likely to be ridden prominently here, and if his jumping holds up, he will have a big chance. However, the problem with going off from the front is that it could set the race up for a fast finisher, and there are two here that immediately spring to mind.

Peaky Boy was extremely impressive last time out and this race is likely to set up well for him, but he is a rather short in the market. To be frank, in this sort of race I much prefer to see a bit more juice in the price. Of course, there is no denying that Peaky Boy has plenty of speed to back his claims up, and don’t think for a moment that he isn’t the main danger here.

Nevertheless, Isaac Des Obeaux is my choice. He ran really well at Chepstow last time out, before fading late on, but the Paul Nicholls yard wasn't exactly in the best form at that point in time, and I’m expecting him to see the trip out much better with that run under his belt. I think this one is going to be a seriously smart horse in time. Not to mention the fact that you can back him at a very decent each way price right now, making him all the more tempting.

13:50 Cheltenham - The December Gold Cup Handicap Chase 2m 4f - Grandeur d’Ame @ 8/1 (EW)

The highlight race of the weekend is the December Gold Cup Handicap Chase, complete with an ultra-competitive field. The market is currently undecided, with no clear favourite and plenty sitting at a backable EW price.

Stage Star is carrying a huge weight here, but he is a solid enough yardstick and likely to run his race. Meanwhile, Il Ridoto won the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month, but gets an 8lb hike in the weights for that, which could well be enough to stop him winning again. I’d say those two both have equally good chances.

We also have Le Patron, who is a little bit high in the weights, but as a six-year-old he certainly has room for further improvement. I thought his run at Newbury last time out was pretty impressive, so perhaps the rise in weight is not as harsh as it looks. I’d give him as good a chance as a few others here, especially at a double-figure price.

Nevertheless, I think the one to side with is the bottom-weighted Grandeur d’Ame, who has been unlucky not to win more races. His form at Chepstow, where he beat Ga Law, has worked out very nicely, and a minimal 4lb rise for that victory seems very generous on the part of the handicapper. He is sure to travel well around here, and I think the fact that he has such a small weight to carry will see him with his nose in front at the finishing line.

Betting tips for December Gold Cup Day👇

• 12:40 Cheltenham - Isaac Des Obeaux (EW)
• 13:50 Cheltenham - Grandeur D’ame (EW)

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