Cheltenham Trials Day 2020

Cheltenham Trials day takes place on the final Saturday in January and provides punters with possible clues as to which runners and riders will come out on top by the time the Cheltenham Festival comes around in March.

For many, it will be their last outing before the Festival itself, with the momentum gained from a win on Trials Day often proving invaluable by the time the main event takes place. With a total of seven races to look forward to during a jam-packed day at Cheltenham Racecourse, there is plenty of opportunities for punters to cast their eye over some potential Festival bets.

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About Cheltenham Trials Day 2020

It may be very early in the UK National Hunt horse racing season which takes us from autumn 2019 through to the spring of 2020, but there’s plenty going on. Horse racing enthusiasts and sports bettors have one eye on 2020 Cheltenham Festival, following the form of the main runners without yet knowing which contests they will run in.

The 2020 Cheltenham Trials Day is an invaluable tool for those looking to get their cash down on the Prestbury Park showpiece event which takes place over the course of four days in March, running from Tuesday to Friday. Bookmakers have priced up a number of antepost markets on the festival and this gives punters the chance to predict which races horses will run in and how they will perform, placing win and each-way bets.

The Cheltenham Trials Day will take place on Saturday 25 January 2020 and will be the final meeting before the festival in March. One last chance to get a look at some of the early betting favourites, checking on form, price and fitness. The results of Cheltenham Festival trials day will have a huge impact on how many punters approach their antepost bets.

Cheltenham Trials Day Races

Let’s now take a closer look at all seven of the races that help to make up the Cheltenham Trials Day, starting with the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Prestbury Juvenile Novices Hurdle – JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial – 12:40

This race is also known as the Prestbury Juvenile Novices Hurdle and has a Grade 2 listing. It is contested over two miles at Cheltenham and is open to three-year-old entrants with eight hurdles standing between the opening field and a champion. The race was first run back in 1987 when Daffodil scored under the ride of Ron Hyett for owner Sally Oliver.

What Happened in 2019?

The 2019 race was won by Fakir D’Oudairies for the jockey and owner team of Slevin and JP O’Brien. They finished ahead of runner up Fine Brunello under the ride of Barry Geraghty with Adjali back in third that day. Fakir D’Oudairies ran in the Supreme Novices Hurdle last year but finished back in fourth, a race won by Klassical Dream at 6/1.

JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Past Winners

• 2019 – Allmankind (Jockey: Harry Skelton / Trainer: Dan Skelton)
• 2018 – Quel Destin (Jockey: Harry Cobden / Trainer: Paul Nicholls)
• 2017 – Apple’s Shakira (Jockey: Barry Geraghty / Trainer: Nicky Henderson)

Timeform Novices Handicap Chase – 13:15

The second race of the day comes in the form of the Novices Handicap Chase, which gets underway at 13:15pm. Run over a distance of 2 miles and 5 furlongs, many trainers will be looking on to see if their prized assets have the stamina to last over such a demanding track.

With a number of Cheltenham hopefuls expected to line up in this one, it could well be one of the most competitive races on Trials Day, with the betting odds from the bookies representing this already. Mick Channon-trained Mister Whitaker was last years winner.

Key Runners

Whether or not any of this particular bunch of novices can go on to make their mark at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival remains open to doubt, however it’s a fascinating potential line-up at the five-day entry stage with Gordon Elliott’s former Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner Samcro the standout name.

Here are six of the best early entries with final declarations being made on Friday January 24th:

• Burbank (Age: 8, Trainer: Nicky Henderson)
• Champagne Court (Age: 7, Trainer: Jeremy Scott)
• Cloudy Glen (Age: 7, Trainer: Venetia Williams)
• Imperial Aura (Age: 7, Trainer: Kim Bailey)
• Samcro (Age: 8, Trainer: Gordon Elliott)
• Simply The Betts (Age: 7, Trainer: Harry Whittingdon)

Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase Tips

Rather typically for a handicap, and just as it should be for that matter, the early entries and weights for this novices’ chase make the contest look extremely tight and it may well take some solving.

Burbank (8/1)

As a last-time-out winner trained by Nicky Henderson, Burbank will be popular if he runs but he arguably wasn’t at his best over hurdles at Cheltenham so may not be in love with this place, while he was also better for going over a longer trip last time out.

Samcro (12/1)

Potential topweight Samcro is a Cheltenham Festival winner over the smaller obstacles and has started well all things considered in his chasing career.
Gordon Elliott’s charge has good form with Fakir D’Oudairies, who many feel he would have beaten had he stayed on his feet, and with Faugheen who clearly saw out the trip in heavy ground better than this chap last time.

He does need to jump better though and its particularly crucial round here, so carrying 11st12lbs would not be ideal without the knowledge that he has performed much, much better at home.

Imperial Aura (3/1)

Kim Bailey’s Imperial Aura has been installed as the ante post favourite for the race following a virtual walkover at Fakenham on his chasing debut and a fine runner-up effort behind Pym here last time out. That last race proved he can handle Cheltenham, but also that the three-mile trip was too far for him so going back over this distance is a major positive and he should go extremely close.

Simply The Betts (8/1)

At a bigger price there should be some interest in Harry Whittingdon’s Simply The Betts. He’s hard to judge right now, but on potential he has a big chance and at a general 7/1 and 8/1 represents some value.

Simply The Betts handles Kempton OK and saw things out at Newcastle over a shorter distance, leading to doubts as to whether he’ll be at his best up the Cheltenham hill which all means that the percentage call at a best-priced 7/2 is Imperial Aura.

Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase Ante Post Tip: IMPERIAL AURA

Spectra Cyber Security Solutions Trophy Steeple Chase – 13:50

Another race that’s sure to pull in the crowds, the results, times and performances of each of the entrants will have antepost backers reaching for their notepads, jotting down those all-important numbers with an eye on March’s festival. Could a Cheltenham Festival winner appear in this race?

It’s certainly possible but this race is also a great chance for backers to boost their profits in great time for March. This may be a trials race but it’s also a very competitive contest and there will be no lack of value available. For those unable to attend Cheltenham, this race will be shown live on ITV.

Key Runners

This will be a thoroughly competitive Grade 3 handicap chase, one that could provide several Festival candidates. There are at least ten in with chances at the ante post stage, these six perhaps being the biggest headline-grabbers:

• Ex Patriot (Age: 7, Trainer: Ellmarie Holden)
• Highway One O One (Age: 8, Trainer: Chris Gordon)
• Jerrysback (Age: 8, Trainer: Philip Hobbs)
• Lalor (Age: 8, Trainer: Kayley Woollacott)
• Spiritofthegames (Age: 8, Trainer: Dan Skelton)
• Warthog (Age: 8, Trainer: David Pipe)

Spectra Cyber Security Solutions Trophy Steeple Chase Tips

Ex Patriot (8/1)

Seven-year-old Ex Patriot was well fancied for a very similar race to this here on New Year’s Day in which he made a mistake at the last fence and was beaten just four lengths. With that experience under his belt he may now go on to better things for his little-known Irish handler and is right in with a shout.

Highway One O One (7/1)

Highway One O One is a very consistent performer including over this course and distance, but he’s not one that is showing any real improvement making his virtually unchanged handicap mark of 145 look hefty enough and so he may be fighting for place money.

Jerrysback (8/1)

JP McManus’ Jerrysback was gambled on in a major way for the Silver Cup at Ascot and he did alright there to finish third. He could come on for that run, however he hasn’t always looked his best around Prestbury Park and so we can perhaps knock a couple of pounds off what we think his potential performance level will be.

Lalor (7/1)

Kayley Woollacott’s Lalor is a former Arkle Trophy favourite who ran a cracker here last time when upped to this course and distance, finishing third ahead of Ex Patriot in a blanket finish and being unlucky not to win.

While Ex Patriot may well improve, so too will this chap meaning the 3lb pull the Irish horse has shouldn’t be enough to make up four lengths. If that race is the best form guide which we think it is, then this horse could be the one.

Spiritofthegames (7/1)

Spiritofthegames is yet another here with strong course and distance Grade 3 form, but much like Highway One O One he remains consistent without improving while Warthog, you guessed it, a course and distance Grade 3 winner, can keep improving from his lower rating but may not be coming into this from a race as strong as the Lalor/Ex Patriot form and that’s crucial.

At around 7/1 ante post then, Lalor appears to represent the best value.

Spectra Cyber Security Solutions Trophy Steeple Chase Tip: LALOR

Past Winners