Rolling the dice in the Saturday handicaps....

Friday, 13th December 2024

Rolling the dice in the Saturday handicaps….

There are good betting targets for handicap punters at Cheltenham this afternoon….

…. I went out with my picks yesterday – if you missed that, catch up here….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in all the big Saturday handicaps….

The December Gold Cup is the feature at Cheltenham tomorrow….

…. the off time is 1.50….

…. and my pick of the prices is GRANDEUR D’AME at 8s….

I’m also on CHARLIE UBERALLES in the 2.05 at Doncaster – he’s up at 16s ….

…. and I’m on ROYALE MARGAUX at 11s in the 3.35 at Cheltenham….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below…. 

Read on….

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In the 1.50 at Cheltenham….

This is a funny race – with lots of familiar Cheltenham names towards the top end of the market and at the top end of their own handicap ranges….

…. and not so many left-field options with which to take them on….

On balance – all things considered – my preference at the prices is Alan King’s GRANDEUR D’AME at the general 8s….

He was fourth in last year’s renewal – beaten 14-lengths by Fugitif who gets to run off a pound lower tomorrow….

But King’s charge was pretty much unfancied that afternoon – and 3lb out of the handicap….

…. plus he’s had a different preparation this time around….

…. starting earlier in the season and getting a longer period to recover before heading into this next assignment….

He’s best fresh and he’s a fresher horse this year heading into the race than he was last year – and you’d think this has been a definite target for him….

Back at Chepstow in October he had Ga Law and Il Ridoto in behind – both going on to produce big performances (1st and 2nd) in last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup….

Grandeur D’Ame is up 4lbs for that win – which seems plenty fair – and he could yet have more to offer off a mark of 136 that puts him right at the very foot of the weights and in the handicap proper….

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In the 2.05 at Doncaster….

This is a trappy race with plenty out of form and those that have shown a bit well-found by the market….

The one that might be overlooked is CHARLIE UBERALLES at the 16s….

He’s not the most reliable of horses, he’s 3lb out of the handicap, and – after going well last time in first-time cheekpieces – his trainer has left the headgear off this time….

I’m not sure what’s going on there….

…. but this will be the third time he’s been aimed at a valuable handicap prize at this track….

Last time – in March – in the Grimthorpe, soft ground made it hard work and that seemed to contribute to him tiring (though he went deeper than most)….

The time before – when entirely unfancied in the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase – he ran a cracker to finish third….

That was on better ground – more like he’ll get tomorrow – off a mark just a pound shy of what he runs off in this assignment….

…. and Danny McMenamin – who rode him in the Great Yorkshire – is back on duty tomorrow….

He’s got a decent record on the horse – and if they put their best foot forward tomorrow – they can go a lot better than the price suggests….

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In the 3.35 at Cheltenham….

ROYALE MARGAUX is the pick of the prices at the 11s in this one….

Back in March 2023 on her first run in Britain she ran in the G3 Imperial Cup at Sandown off an opening mark of 135 – having won a Listed hurdle event in France….

…. and she came nowhere….

Chasing proved fruitless – and this term she’s been back over hurdles and turns up tomorrow officially rated 120….

…. having looked very much like she can win something off that mark last time at Ascot….

Up at 3m for the first time that day she got outstayed in the later stages – having drawn clear of the rest with the winner to whom she was conceding weight….

The trip just seemed to empty her late and back down to this intermediate trip tomorrow, on a mark that could prove very generous, and on ground you’d think was fine for her….

…. she makes appeal at a double-figure price….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back next week….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd