Cotswold Chase Tips and Preview
It’s Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday. A number of the races on the strong card feature horses who are in with a chance of winning the biggest contests at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival. Traditionally, the Cotswold Chase has been used as a trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and we’ll see some genuine contenders for the blue riband race in action on Saturday.
Cotswold Chase Tips
Odds correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Much for Santini to Prove
Santini sits at the top of the betting for the Cotswold Chase. Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old was one of the leading novice chasers heading into last year’s Festival but missed out to Topofthegame in the RSA Chase. He wasn’t seen again until November when he made a winning return at Sandown but there was little in that performance to instil confidence that he is ready to win a Gold Cup.
Sent off a ¼ favourite in the Listed race, Santini was given a real scare due to some fairly lazy work. Optimists will say that Santini did what he needed to win and should be cut some slack given it was his seasonal reappearance. Is that enough to convince punters to part with their cash in the Cotswold Chase thought?
Bristol De Mai Can Head to the Festival With a Win
Bristol De Mai is a very popular horse. The nine-year-old has a hard earned reputation for being an incredibly hardy stayer thanks to excellent record at Haydock which always tests horses’ stamina.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge is much more than a mudlark though as he proved in last year’s Gold Cup. His run in third was of a very high class and it looks to be all systems go for another crack at the big one come March.
The Twiston-Davies team are taking a different approach this year, taking in the Cotswold Chase. It could prove to be a very wise move with Bristol De Mai more than capable of getting the better of Santini to win at 2/1 with 888Sport.
De Rasher Counter Looking to Step Up from Handicaps
Even if De Rasher Counter were not to run again until 2021 this season would go down as a good one for him. That’s because Emma Lavelle’s eight-year-old won the Ladbrokes Trophy last time out at Newbury.
He may not have been the classiest horse in the field that day but he did look a perfect fit for the race and duly got the job done at a starting price of 12/1. You won’t quite get that about De Rasher Counter’s chances of victory as he steps up from handicaps into the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase but the 15/2 that BetVictor are quoting looks tempting for an each way bet.
It will be interesting to see how early he takes up the running against such quality opposition. If De Rasher Counter is allowed to run his natural race he may not win but he could well claim a credible place.
Betting Predictions
Bristol De Mai is a very popular winner wherever and whenever he gets the job done. Favourite backers won’t be cheering him on in the Cotswold Chase but many racing fans will if he can overturn Santini and win at 2/1 with 888Sport.
Cheltenham Trials Day can only mean that the 2020 Cheltenham Festival is fast approaching. Check out our Cheltenham preview and offers now! You should also check out all of racing offers and free bets to improve your chances of profit!