2024 Cheltenham December Meeting Preview & Tips – DS
2024 Cheltenham December Meeting Saturday
Last weekend our run of winners came to an end. Aintree was cancelled but at least Conkwell Legend managed to get the place money, though it could have been more only for a slow jump two out. On Saturday we focus on the 2024 Cheltenham December Meeting, hopefully we can get back into the winner’s enclosure.
1.50 Cheltenham – December Gold Cup (Premier)
The one that appeals most at a decent e/w price in this handicap is Guard Your Dreams. A course regular (and winner), he has run ok in novice handicap chases at this track the last twice since winning on his seasonal bow at Warwick back in early October.
Later that month he ran off 136 here in a 20f novice handicap and was beaten 6.5l into fourth behind Lisnamult Lad. Last month he ran in another novice handicap over the same C&D and was beaten 4.55l behind Peaky Boy.
That run also came off 136 and he races off the same rating here. The big difference is that this time, he’ll only be carrying 10st 2lbs, whereas in those previous races he was burdened with 11st 10lbs and 11st 9lbs. The son of Fame And Glory boasted some very smart form over hurdles in graded company and he has only had three starts over the bigger obstacles.
It is still early days for him in this sphere and in the hope that there is more to come, Guard Your Dreams is the e/w selection at odds of 18/1.
2024 Cheltenham December Meeting Tip: Guard Your Dreams e/w @ 18/1 (4 places) NB
2.05 Doncaster – bet365 Handicap Chase (Class 2)
I’ll be tearing my hair out if Kinondo Kwetu wins this but I am instead going to take a chance on the Dianne Sayer trained Charlie Uberalles. Regular readers might remember me tipping this son of Geordieland up in the Welsh National last year when he pulled up on bottomless ground.
We backed him again on his next start at 66s and he ran a cracker over this C&D back in January to finish third in that Grade 3 handicap chase off 122, beaten just over 3l for the win. He has to run from 3lb out of the weights here but he’s effectively running off 123, just 1lb higher than he was back in January.
Danny McMenamin won on him the last time he rode, he should get his favoured ground and at odds of 16/1, Charlie Uberalles is worth backing e/w.
2024 Cheltenham December Meeting Tip: Charlie Uberalles e/w @ 16/1 (4 places) NAP
2.25 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Six runners and only one is bigger than 10/1. An easy race to swerve. No bet.
2024 Cheltenham December Meeting Tip: No bet
3.00 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Again, just a small field and no bookies are paying three places. Connections of Skyjack Hijack will be nervous as this race will provide the winner of his last six races with his toughest task to date. Clondaw General looks a nice recruit from the pointing sphere but the ground is a question for him.
Western Night is another nice prospect and the French raider Jet Blue is an intriguing challenger. What will win? I don’t have a strong opinion to be honest but one thing is for sure, there will be a few bubbles burst after this race. No bet.
2024 Cheltenham December Meeting Tip: No Bet
3.35 Cheltenham – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
I was hoping that the step up in distance would suit Greyval at Wincanton last time and it did. She was ridden to get the 21f trip and she stayed on very nicely for third, landing our each way bets in the process.
It is unusual that a mare with as many runs as she has for Fergal O’Brien hasn’t run here before because he likes to target races here. Her best form has come on flat tracks but in her defence, when she tried a galloping track at Newbury a year ago, she didn’t get her ground.
The assessor has generously left her on the same mark after her good run last time and given how she shaped at Wincanton, this slight drop in trip on a stiffer track might suit. At odds of 20/1, Greyval is the each way selection.
