The Cheltenham December Meeting kicks off on Friday the 13th this year, but superstitious punters don’t need to trust entirely to luck. There are a host of handicaps on the card including a Cross Country Chase for the Crystal Cup.
Headlining the opening day of this two-day fixture is a Premier Handicap Chase over 3m 2f, meanwhile. Lots of old favourites take part in a middle-distance Veterans’ Chase, so Cheltenham betting sites might belie current downward trends in turnover.
All the action takes place on the New Course, used for the first time this core National Hunt season. That also features a couple of handicap hurdles, a novice chase and novice hurdle. Our experts provide race by race analysis for the entire card below.
Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1 Preview
12:10 – 2m 179y Class 3 British EBF National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier
That’s Nice proved her stamina when beating a subsequent Listed scorer in promising fashion over 2m 3f at Warwick on her Rules bow. She’s the least exposed in the meagre field and open to the most progress. Her rivals all have claims, however, and Haydock Grade 2 second Country Mile might be the biggest danger.
Dan Skelton’s runner bumped into a now 135-rated rival on Merseyside last month. Wingmen has already won over 2m 4f around Navan, so this Irish raider might find dropping back in trip a little sharp for Gordon Elliott. Palacio made all around Chepstow at a big price last time, meanwhile, and steps into deeper waters now.
12:40 – 2m 4f 127y Class 2 SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase
Caldwell Potter made all the running over 2m 1f and jumped slightly left, which won’t be an issue here. A Grade 1 novice hurdler when in the care of Elliott, he has a fitness edge over and experience of fences that Jango Baie lacks. Henderson has three wins in this contest since 2017, but it’s a tall order for his five-year-old to win first time out in this sphere against such talented opposition.
Springwell Bay concedes weight all-round, meanwhile, and didn’t get home over 3m here in November. The Jonjo O’Neill runner drops back in trip and class, but race terms don’t exactly favour him. Deafening Silence needs to take a step forward from his third on chase debut around Haydock.
1:15 – 2m 179y Class 3 Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
There are dangers aplenty to Wreckless Eric in the first handicap of the Cheltenham December Meeting, however, and the well-in To Chase A Dream looks chief among them. Paul Collins’ charge landed consecutive Carlisle races in this grade and Harry Cobden now takes the ride. To Chase A Dream has a 7lb penalty, but will run in future assignments off 3lb higher.
Lightly-raced Henderson horse Willmount makes his handicap bow, but might find a lengthy racecourse absence problematic and an opening mark of 130 a tad too high. Tintintin ran a blinder when fourth in the Greatwood Hurdle here last month and now drops markedly in grade off an unchanged rating for Fergal O’Brien.
1:50 3m 2f Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
King Turgeon has done nothing wrong in winning both of his starts this season, meanwhile. David Pipe’s charge is an improving chaser who, like Chianti Classico and others in the line-up, runs here after the Becher Chase was abandoned at Aintree due to Storm Darragh. Those two are well found in the market as they remain open to the most progress.
Of the others running in the Cheltenham December Meeting day 1 feature, Java Point could take a step forward from his return to action in an amateur jockeys’ race at the course last month. Henry Oliver’s nine-year-old finished in front of another local horse in The Newest One that day. Both are slightly out of the weights, while the others don’t have much to recommend them.
2:25 – 2m 4f 127y Class 2 Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (0-150)
Torn And Frayed hails from a local yard and might have one last hurrah in him up the famous Cheltenham hill. Festival conqueror Shakem Up’Arry now enters veterans’ company for the first time following his success in the Plate in March. Harry Redknapp’s horse with the Ben Pauling stable has a mixed record fresh, however, and that’s a concern on reappearance.
Seddon is 3lb above his 2023 Festival Plate win, meanwhile, and jockey Ben Harvey no longer claims any weight off his back. Nonetheless, John McConnell brings him over from Ireland for what could be the last time. Fit off the Flat, Seddon could still deliver. Others to consider in a wide-open betting heat include Copperhead, Dashel Drasher, Eldorado Allen and Shan Blue.
3:00 – 3m 5f 56y Class 2 Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase
Stumptown and last month’s course and distance runner-up Mister Coffey represent credible alternatives to the Elliott pair. Henderson’s runner doesn’t have to worry about being out of the handicap this time and is 2lb lower than in November. French raider Iceo Madrik used to be trained in the UK, but returned across the Channel and has since reinvented himself as a Cross Country horse.
The concern with him is the six-year-old is 11lb out of the handicap. Iceo Madrik has a jockey who can claim 3lb off his back aboard here, yet that still leaves him more than half-a-stone wrong with official assessment. Dennis Murphy mare Three By Two is 6lb out of the weights, but has lots of banks runs under her belt. Veteran Latenightpass should find this trip more to his liking too after good runs in this sphere last winter.
3:35 – 2m 7f 213y Class 2 Citipost Handicap Hurdle
It seems rough on Gowel Road, so comprehensively beaten by the selection the last day, that the assessor upped him 2lb. The Twiston-Davies’ horse is a consistent runner around this venue, though, and shortlisted again. Other dangers include those placed in November’s intermediate handicap Long Draw and Wonderful Eagle.
Don’t rule out a better showing from Zain Nights away from rain-softened ground if conditions dry out or remain good to soft. The betting also speaks in favour of Might I, but Harry Fry’s charge has stamina to prove. Thanksforthehelp took fourth in the race won by Doyen Quest, but also has a preferred engagement at Bangor.
