Cheltenham Trials Day is always a key fixture in the National Hunt calendar, offering crucial clues ahead of the Cheltenham Festival in March. With top-class horses, trainers, and jockeys in action, the Prestbury Park meeting serves as a final testing ground for Festival hopefuls.
This year’s renewal on January 25 didn’t disappoint. It delivered multiple standout performances, shock results, and plenty of talking points. In this article, we take a look at the biggest stories from the day and what they might mean for those looking for Cheltenham tips.
Jagwar roars home in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase
Jagwar kicked off proceedings with a fantastic victory in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase, beating favourite Billythebigred by two-and-a-half lengths.
The Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained six-year-old opened as the market leader in the betting and defied a drift out to 4/1 when keeping on up the hill for a comfortable win.
It marked a third win in four starts for the larger obstacles for the JP McManus-owned horse, bouncing back from defeat to Jingko Blue at Uttoxeter.
East India Docks enters Triumph Hurdle race
There were several clues for the Triumph Hurdle last month, as Nicky Henderson unleashed exciting prospects in the form of Lulamba and £1m purchase Palladium, who both won their respective outings at Ascot and Huntingdon, respectively.
However, James Owen could have something to say about that as East India Dock romped home in the Triumph Trail Juvenile Hurdle by a commanding 10 lengths from 11/1 outsider Stencil—ultimately being slashed to 5/2 for the Grade 1 contest in March.
Owen was in this position with the highly-rated Burdett Road 12 months ago and will be hoping for better luck this year after the dual-purpose horse was ruled out of the Triumph just weeks out from the Festival.
Constitution Hill survives a scare in the International Hurdle
With Lossiemouth unable to travel across the Irish Sea due to Storm Eowyn putting a rematch with Constitution Hill on ice until the Champion Hurdle, the International Hurdle was expected to be a stroll in the park for Henderson’s stable star.
For most of the race, it looked like it was going to be nothing more than a racecourse workout for Constitution Hill as Nico de Boinville took him to the front of the five-runners field and let him coast clear of his rivals.
However, there was a heart-in-mouth-moment for the 1/12 shot at the final hurdle. Constitution Hill made an almost costly mistake, clattering through the timber instead of going over it. Luckily, he stayed on his feet and cantered home. But it might plant a seed of doubt back in some minds.
Potter’s Charm stunned in the Classic Novices’ Hurdle
Ante-post backers of Potter’s Charm would have had their heads in their hands at the end of the day as the short-priced favourite was stunned by Fergal O’Brien’s Sixmilebridge in the Grade 2 Classic Novices’ Hurdle.
Those hoping to have value in their slips for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival were left with egg on their face, as the part-Sir Alex Ferguson-owned horse drifted for the Grade 1 contest as a result of his disappointing showing.
The six-year-old remains the apple of the eye for the Twiston-Davies operation, and the team are confident the previously unbeaten hurdler will be able to bounce back at Prestbury Park in the spring.
L’Homme Presse emerged as Britain’s leading hope for the Gold Cup with a win in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase, but remains between 16/1-20/1 for the big race.
Photo credit depositphotos.com
