3 minute read

Dan Barber runs through his best bets ahead of Saturday's racing at Cheltenham on Trials Day.

13:15 Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase - Cheltenham

Almost as soon as Imperial Aura passed the line – indeed, perhaps even as he crossed the final fence clearly a tiring horse – thoughts turned to the Timeform-sponsored novice handicap on this weekend, and it seems connections had the same plan, seemingly saving him for it in the six weeks since. Imperial Aura jumped and travelled almost as well as RSA-bound Pym on that occasion until the longer trip seemed to find him out, and it would be a major surprise if he ends his first season over fences with his mark still in the 130s as it is at the moment.

15:00 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) - Cheltenham

It didn't take King Roland, unbeaten in bumpers, too long to get it right over hurdles, going one better than on his first attempt (when undone by a falsely-run race at Newbury) in an Exeter maiden on New Year's Day, giving a nineteen-length hammering to thirteen rivals. An imposing, chasing type, King Roland is very much the time to go on progressing and, with the further step up in trip sure to suit, he can fully justify the decision to hike him into a graded novice.

13:50 Paddy Power 45 Sleeps To Cheltenham Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3) - Cheltenham

Neither Imperial Aura or King Roland will be get-rich-quick prices, and justifiably not, but Garde La Victoire may just be. He has a wealth of Cheltenham experience, shaped perfectly well on his recent belated reappearance and, to top it off, has fallen another 3 lb since, leaving him on a mark of only 141. In addition, there looks sure to be considerable pace to chase, with at least three candidates for the front-running role, which ought to work out well assuming Garde La Victoire is ridden with a degree of patience by new rider Tom O'Brien.