Robbie Power’s Cheltenham Festival Trials Preview

Robbie Power previews the eagerly awaited Cheltenham Festival Trials Day this weekend in what promises to be a great day of racing.

13:15 Race Preview

I think Il Ridoto (4/1) probably deserves favouritism. He’s been very unlucky in his last 2 starts, especially the last day in Cheltenham in December. So he deserves to win one of these big pots. And I think he’ll take plenty of beating that.

Venetia Williams’ horses are in fantastic form at the moment and Victtorino (13/2) is a big player in this race for me. That was a good performance in Ascot when he beat Yeah Man. The ground is going to be testing as well.

If there’s one to put it up to him, Victtorino is definitely the one for me to give him a good run for his money.

Click HERE for 13:15 Race odds

Cotswold Chase Preview – 13:50

It is definitely a very competitive race, but Royale Pagaille (11/4) is going to have everything in his favour, conditions-wise.

He was a good winner of the Betfair chase when he beat Bravemansgame. And around Cheltenham in March, he doesn’t usually get his ground, but he’s going to get good soft ground this weekend, which will suit him.

Royal Pagaille is definitely the one I think they all have to beat, he’s the highest-rated horse in the race. He’s the form horse coming into it.

The unexposed, unknown quantity is Stay Away Fay (3/1). He’s still a novice with only 2 runs over fences. So it is a big ask and you can pick question marks about his form.

He has beaten The Changing Man by 1¾L and Giovinco. That’s a long way short of this level. So it’s a big ask for Stay Away Fay, against an experienced horse like Royale Pagaille.

So I’d be on Royale Pagaille’s side. I think he’s got a lot of things in his favour this weekend.

Click HERE For 13:50 Race odds

Clarence House Preview – 14:25

I think Jonbon (2/7) will have a bit more of a challenge in this race. I think we all know Jonbon is a better horse on nicer ground. It’s going to be soft ground.

Editeur Du Gite (6/1) is a course specialist around Cheltenham. He’s a brave front-runner. I know his form has dipped a little bit since he won this race last year. But I think we will get a good test for Jonbon.

I thought his performance in the Tingle Creek was only okay. I didn’t think it was a standout performance from Jonbon. Ground obviously on that occasion was very soft so maybe that was the reason for it. I still think Jonbon will win.

It’s a big ride for James Bowen to pick up. He’s riding really well at the moment, riding with lots of confidence but it’s a big spare ride for him to have. And it’ll be interesting.

Editeur Du Gite around Cheltenham can produce some good form so Jonbon won’t have everything his own way.

Click HERE For 14:25 Race odds

Unibet Hurdle – 15:00

This is definitely a stepping stone towards Cheltenham for Lossiemouth (8/11) and I don’t think she’s going to improve a whole pile for the run. Coming out of Closutton, Willie [Mullins] doesn’t leave a lot to work on so I think she’ll go there ready.

Love Envoi (5/2) was a bit disappointing in Sandown in the rescheduled Fighting Fifth, I thought that run was a bit disappointing. She needs to improve from it and I think she will improve. She’s going to get soft ground.

However, Lossiemouth looks very, very progressive. This is a stepping stone towards the Mares’ hurdle and I think this is a clash between the two mares and I can’t see anything else. I’d be very surprised if any other horse gets involved.

Click HERE For 15:00 Race odds

Cleeve Hurdle – 15:35

There could very well be a surprise within the field. That division in England especially is wide open at the moment, the Stayers’ Hurdle division.

Obviously, Crambo here is going to go straight to the Cheltenham Festival, he beat Paisley Park in Ascot.

Soft-ground Paisley Park (11/4) will take the roof off Cheltenham. He’ll be a real people’s horse if he does win on Saturday. We’d love to see it, he deserves to win again.

Paisley Park has run 2 really good races this year when just beaten the short head and a head by Crambo and Dashel Drasher. He renews his rivalry with Dashiell Drasher again here.

I think Noble Yeats (7/2), after having that run in Limerick at Christmas, second to Sa Majeste, needs to improve a bit off that. But this extra stamina trip will really suit Noble Yeats and he could be a fly in the ointment for Paisley Park. 

Click HERE For 15:35 Race odds

*Prices subject to fluctuation

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