Ginger Joe - Cheltenham Preview & Betting Tips 15 December 2023

Two previews for Friday at Cheltenham

Friday is the first day of a cracking two-day meeting at my all-time favourite racecourse, Cheltenham. For the opening day, I have two race previews and two selections for you. The races I’ve selected to look at are the extended 2m Novices’ Hurdle and the 2m4f Novices’ Chase, where there is some really competitive action.

As I’m sure you’re all aware, the ground is still on the soft side, so regardless of trip, you want your selections to have plenty of stamina if they are to finish out their races properly coming up the long Cheltenham hill.

It almost goes without saying that there will be another fantastic day of racing on Saturday, and I’ll be bringing you another three selections, so watch this space.

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12:05 – The Novices’ Hurdle - 2m ½f – Beat The Bat

In the opener there’s a really good bunch of Novices lining up. Most eyes will be on Fergal O’Brien’s Dysart Enos, who won the Grade 2 Mares’ Bumper at Aintree. This will be her first real test, but connections seem happy enough to let her take chances against the boys and we will get a good idea of her ability thereafter.

There are also a few others looking to looking to stamp their credentials in a decent event. We’ve got Kintail and Meatloaf, who are two nice sorts and neither seems to do much wrong. They could both do well here, but it’s fair to assume they may need to improve a little before they start getting their heads in front at the line. Spirits Bay, for the Twiston-Davies team, is another who should go well and showed his ability to pull off a strong late finish when last seen at Sandown.

The one that has caught my eye though, is Beat The Bat, who ran really well to beat Welcome To Cartries by a head at Sandown last month. That was a really good performance, but it looks to me like there is still more to come from Harry Fry’s charge. So, if he handles the undulations at Cheltenham, then he should be right there at the finish.

12:40 – The Novices‘ Chase - 2m 4f - Trelawne

Grey Dawning sets a really good standard here after winning the Graduation Chase at Haydock. He evidently stays and finishes well, but I do have a bit of a concern that he won’t find the quirks of Cheltenham quite so easy to handle, so I think he is a touch vulnerable here.

Crebilly was closing on Ginny’s Destiny when the pair met here last month, neither being daunted in the slightest by the long uphill finish, so both command respect. However, my selection for this race is the relatively unexposed Trelawne, who runs for the Kim Bailey team. He has the potential to be a really smart horse and I think he will handle Cheltenham well, better than those at the top of the market in fact.

Betting tips for Friday at Cheltenham

• 12:05 Beat The Bat
• 12:40 Trelawne

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