Key Points
- My NAP betting tip for the weekend runs in the Saturday opener
- Third time lucky for my Paddy Power Gold Cup selection?
- I have a winning pick for the Greatwood Hurdle - but not the favourite
Three weekend bets for Cheltenham
We head into a fine weekend of racing at the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham and I have three hot betting tips for you.
For Saturday, we start off with my NAP bet in the opener, which is an exciting Stayers Chase for amateur jockeys. And then we move on to the highlight race of the day, which is the Paddy Power Gold Cup. For Sunday, we have the 2024 renewal of the Greatwood Hurdle to look forward to.
For each of those races, I’ll discuss the notable contenders, tell you about my selection, and finish up with a 1 - 2 - 3 prediction. All three are tricky puzzles to solve, but I think my picks can do us proud in these relevant early-season events.
Coral is my bookie pick for this weekend
With excellent prices and places on tap for this weekend, Coral gets my vote. Better still, if you
bet £5, you’ll get £20 in free bets. There’s still time to get signed up and use those free bets for the weekend.
13:10 Saturday - The Amateur Jockeys Handicap Chase 3m 1f - Come On Teddy (NAP)
The Amateur Jockeys Handicap Chase is surprisingly competitive considering that it’s only the start of the NH season. The Newest One returns to Cheltenham after winning at the Showcase Meeting last month. His 5lb rise doesn’t seem excessive considering how easily he won last time out, and he is obviously fit and ready to go. He is sure to get competitive again. Read To Return is another interesting contender. He ran at this meeting last year, where he was ridden quietly out at the back, and he wasn’t given a hard time on his last start either. That leaves him very well handicapped, so it would be no surprise to me if this race has been the target for a while now, in which case he certainly poses a threat.
However, I’ve decided on Tom George’s
Come On Teddy
who runs here after a break and has a good record when fresh. He also has some very strong form at Cheltenham, which makes him look extremely well handicapped for this contest. Last season he won off a mark of 137 and returns here to carry 13lbs less. He ticks all of the boxes for a good staying Chaser - the distance is no problem for him, he is a strong traveller and he knows how to finish too. He has no excuses here whatsoever, and I expect him to go very well indeed. The first two horses I mentioned are almost certain to be in the mix, but Come On Teddy gets my vote as the most likely winner.
GJ’s predicted result
- Come On Teddy
- The Newest One
- Read To Return
14:20 Saturday - The Paddy Power Gold Cup 2m 4f - Il Ridoto
We move on to the main event for Saturday next, which is the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Ginny’s Destiny is the current favourite, and he is a horse who likes to make a bold bid from the front. He does very little wrong, and he is sure to run his race. However, I feel he is lacking in the tactical speed department, and the fact that he comes here without a run brings a small question in terms of his fitness. He was second in the Turners Novices’ Chase, so his form stacks up better than most ,but I think he is vulnerable to a late closer.
The 2022 winner of this race, Ga Law, has plenty going for him again this year. He has the right conditions and the advantage of a prep run too. Talking of that, he looked incredibly fit and well on his first run of the season at Chepstow on his seasonal debut. He runs off a mark of 170, which is considerably higher than when he last won this race, but he has already run good races off this weight, and Cheltenham suits him well. It’s fair to expect a big performance from Ga Law as he battles to regain his crown.
But I think it’s the right time for
Il Ridoto
to get his head in front, off a very lenient mark. He has run in this race twice, coming fourth on his first attempt, and third the following year. He handles the quirks of Cheltenham really well and I expect him to really give this a good go.
He has already had a decent prep run and with a slightly more patient ride this time, he could prove to be very effective. He handles fast surfaces well and at the age of seven he is just coming into his prime. I believe he truly deserves to be the ‘third time lucky’ winner of the 2024 Paddy Power Gold Cup.
GJ’s predicted result
- Il Ridoto
- Ga Law
- Ginny’s Destiny
15:30 Sunday - The Greatwood Handicap Hurdle 2m - Under Control
My third and final betting tip runs in the Greatwood Hurdle on Sunday, and this is one of my favourite races of the season. Dysart Enos is the hot favourite for the race, and although she looks very well weighted, this is her first attempt in a Handicap. Additionally, it follows a long break due to an injury. She could easily bolt up in this field, but at such a short price with questions to answer, I’m looking elsewhere.
James Owen’s Burdett Road is well handicapped here, but his jumping leaves a lot to be desired at times, and there is very little margin for error in this race. Despite that, I still expect him to get competitive towards the end of the race, but I don’t think he is our winner. Liari is an interesting horse who has been praised highly by trainer Paul Nicholls. He will stay really well up the hill, and he won't be far away at the line, but he will need to show his very best form to win this.
The winner for me is Nicky Henderson’s
Under Control. She is a mare with a huge amount of talent and I think she is going under the radar here.
Last year's winner was her stablemate Iberico Lord, and when the pair met at Sandown in April, she was only a half length behind him. She has received weight for that performance, but it was a very good effort indeed and she has more than enough ability to win here. Although things haven’t gone to plan for Nicky Henderson so far this season, I still believe that Under Control is smart enough to see off the rest of this field, and she gets my vote.
GJ’s predicted result
- Under Control
- Liari
- Burdett Road
Betting tips for the weekend👇
- 13:10 Saturday - Come On Teddy(NAP)
- 14:20 Saturday - Il Ridoto
- 15:30 Sunday - Under Control
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