The Weekend Winners team is back, looking ahead to Trial Day at Cheltenham as well as the Great Yorkshire Chase from Doncaster.
A race the team looked at in particular was the Cotswold Chase, which has been used as a Cheltenham Gold Cup trial in the past.
For this year’s renewal, four runners await the trip over the extended trip of three miles and one furlong, with Betfair Chase hero Gray Downing currently leading the betting.
Spillane’s towering JP McManus lines up in opposition, along with L’Homme Presse and Dual Staiers’ Hurdle winner Flooring Porter – embarking on his maiden chase campaign.
Declan Rick…
“I have doubts about the favorite Gray Downing, because the team has a little work to do before the Gold Cup and he takes a penalty here. I will stand aside The Press Man in this and I know what most people are thinking right now. Her consistent form is terrible but I’m not sure the rest of this field is that good and he sets a good standard here.
L’Homme Presse won last year’s Cotswold Chase
“Some of his form in the past has been electric. I think Charlie Deutsch can get ahead of himself and dictate this field. It’s a course and distance he’s run well in the past and with the current weather conditions I’m sure he’ll enjoy it. He’s a no-favourite bet.”
Kate Tracy…
“I’m going to the side.” Gray Dawning and I think it’s low enough in terms of prices, but it should get this. How impressive was he in the Betfair Chase at Haydock? We haven’t seen him since, but he’s pretty fresh. He takes the penalty here, but I think he will be hard to beat.
“There’s a lot of negativity about the three opposition players today and that’s probably why he’s such a low price, but hopefully they can win this and win the Gold Cup in March.”
Sam Boswell…
“They were all really mean.” Spillane’s Tower in the build up to this. He is the only one of these runners not to have won at the Festival, but his form behind the Galopen Des Champs has not allowed him to be the price he is.
“He was previously off-favourite in the King George when he disappointed last year and it has been a fact-finding mission since he has had two starts over hurdles. His record over three miles is pretty good – barring Kempton’s blitz – and he is a bet for me.”
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