The Cotswold Chase is a big fixture early in the new year. It is the annual trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. So this is a big chance for the runners to test their credentials. Last year it was Bryony Frost who took the win on Frodon.
It is the Nicky Henderson-trained Santini who is going as the favourite for this year’s renewal. But his connections are looking for a big step up in form from him at Prestbury Park. He is up against some excellent opposition.
Cotswold Chase Odds*
Santini 2/1
Bristol De Mai 9/4
Slate House 5/1
Top Ville Ben 7/1
De Rasher Counter 8/1
Mister Whitaker 20/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 24th, 2020 at 3:17 pm)
Horse Racing Betting at Boylesports
Table of Contents
Can Santini improve ahead of Gold Cup?
Right from the start of the season eight-year-old Santini has been pencilled in as a very strong Gold Cup prospect. In his last outing at Sandown however, he struggled to get the better of Now McGinty, beating his opponent only by a head.
Given that he is facing much stiffer opposition on Saturday he is going to need to raise his game considerably. It wasn’t an impressive run for Santini as the 1/3 odds-on favourite. It followed a second-place to TopOfTheGame at Cheltenham back in March. That had rounded off a good first season over the hurdles. He goes as the 2/1 favourite in this Cotswold Chase* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 24th, 2020 at 3:17 pm)
Bristol De Mai should be in the frame
A third-place finisher in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, Bristol De Mai was a beaten favourite in his last outing. The nine-year-old, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, finished second by a half a length to Lonstintranlsation in the Grade 1 Group 1 Betfair Chase in November.
He took a third-place finish in the 2018 renewal of the Cotswold Chase. Since then he has claimed the one win. That was a Haydock victory in 2018. Bristol De Mai has been lightly worked, but that good second place at Haydock recently saw him in sharp form.
This will be his fifth trip at Cheltenham, yet to secure a win. He will have plenty of backers at 9/4 odds* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 24th, 2020 at 3:17 pm)
Slate House and Mister Whitaker
Slate House arrives in positive shape after landing the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton. It’s been three wins that he has taken this season. The first of those happened at Cheltenham back in October over 2m 3f in at Class 2. Because of that form, the 8-year-old is coming in with decent claims.
This is a step up for him, especially in trip. But based on form alone, he’s an interesting entry. Mister Whitaker was only fifth of 12 from a 10/1 mark in his last run. That was a chase at Cheltenham early in January which leaves him as an outsider for Saturday’s race.
Trial to give a clearer picture
De Rasher Counter came up big in landing the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury at the back end of November 2019. So he has now been sent to this trail to see what his connections do with him in terms of sending him to the Gold Cup or not.
Top Ville Ben crushed the field at Wetherby on Boxing Day in the Rowland Meyrick. He is pretty much in the same boat as De Rasher Counter. This is a run to see if he could go to the Gold Cup or not, looking for a good run over the distance as opposed to realistic winning chances.
Predictions & Tips
Something wasn’t quite happening for Santini when up against the lower-graded Now McGinty at Sandown in his last race. That was a run which leaves him vulnerable and connections seem to be hoping that he can raise his game.
So the steadier option looks to be Bristol De Mai. He showed that he is still a major contender after just missing out on his third straight Betfair Chase success at Haydock in November. He’s being held back specifically for this since then.
Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
Some of Saturday’s action from Cheltenham is being broadcast live on ITV Racing so will fall into the Bet365 4/1 Winner Offer. Therefore if you back a winner of at least 4/1 odds then you will be able to play a wager to the same stake (up to £50) on the next race broadcast live.
If that following selection loses, you will get a stake refunded. The Bet365 offer applies to the FIRST single bet placed by a customer on each race shown live on ITV Racing.
If the following bet were to also win at odds of 4/1 then the offer would roll on to the next qualifying race until the winning sequence at those minimum odds is broken. At that point, you would still end up with the receipt of a refund.
Live ITV Qualifying Races for Cheltenham on Saturday
13:50 The Festival Trials Day Trophy Handicap Steeple Chase (Grade 3)
14:25 The Cotswold Steeplechase (Grade 2)
15:00 The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race (Registered As The Classic Novices” Hurdle Race) (Grade 2)
15:35 The Galliardhomes.Com Cleeve Hurdle Race (Grade 2)
18+ Please Gamble Responsibly. See bookmaker for full T&Cs
Key Terms & Conditions
This offer is only available to new and eligible customers and applies to the FIRST single bet placed by a customer on each race shown live on ITV Racing. This offer will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, any refund amount or subsequent risk-free bet amount will be equal to the remaining active stake.
If a qualifying bet is edited using the Edit Bet feature, any refund amount will be equal to the new stake and not the original stake. Where a risk-free bet is changed using Edit Bet, no refund will be given and the offer will no longer apply. Where more than one selection in the same race is placed on the same bet slip, the first selection is deemed to be the one which is highest on the bet slip.
Offer applies to bets placed on Win and Each Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. All other markets, including adjusted place terms (Each Way Extra), Ante-Post bets and Tote/Pari-Mutuel (bets and dividends), are excluded from this offer.
Risk-free bets must be placed on the next eligible race using your own funds – if your bet loses then the stake will be refunded to your account shortly after the race. Refund up-to £50 per race. The first bet on a race will be deemed as your qualifying bet.
If you back the winner of the last race on any day, your risk-free bet will be the first bet you place on the next qualifying race. Bets can be paid for from either your Withdrawable Balance or Bet Credits. Bets placed from your Withdrawable Balance will be refunded to your Withdrawable Balance and bets placed with Bet Credits will be refunded as Bet Credits.
