Ahead of the return of Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, William Hill ambassador Nigel Twiston-Davies has picked out his favourites to secure a win at the Festival on each day this week.
Twiston-Davies is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing, and he’s trained a winner at every Cheltenham meeting this season.
Thanks to William Hill, the 64-year-old has previewed his team for each day of the Festival as it kicks off on Tuesday before concluding with the Gold Cup on Friday.
Tuesday March 15
“I can’t believe it’s 30 years since my first ever Cheltenham Festival winner, Tipping Tim in 1992, that really does sound like a long, long time ago!” Twiston-Davies wrote in his blog.
“That was in what we now call the Ultima (2:50pm, Tue), where I think we’ve got a very good chance this year with Fantastikas.
“He’s quite unexposed in my mind. We’ve been running him in some novice chases against some very good horses. He jumps very well, goes on most ground, and has been very consistent too.
“He’s gone up 16lb through the course of the season, but he’s a seven-year-old who’s hopefully still on the way up, so we’d say he’s got a very good chance.
“This race has been on our minds for quite a long time. With a young horse like this you can’t plan too far in advance, but it’s worked out well with him and we think he could still be ahead of his handicap mark. He must have a good shout.”
Wednesday March 16
“Gowel Road must have a very strong chance in the Coral Cup (2:50pm, Wed). We’ve been keeping him back for this race for quite a long time, and I’d say he’s one of our best chances of the week.
“His latest run when second at Lingfield was solid, and two starts before that he romped home over course and distance.”
Cheltenham, Thursday March 17
“On Thursday, we’ve got the old boy, Ballyandy, in the Pertemps (2:10, Thu). He’s been a revelation since taking on three miles.
“He’s not getting any younger, so I couldn’t be confident that he’s as well-treated as some of his rivals in a race like this, but he’s in very good form and he’ll give his best.
“Rocco will have a crack at the Kim Muir (5:30pm, Thu) if he gets in and Zac Baker is set to ride.
“He needs to bounce back from his last couple of efforts, but if he finds the sort of form that saw him win the Badger Beers Chase in November then he’d have a chance.”
Cheltenham, Friday March 18
“I Like To Move It had the Supreme as an option, but we’ve decided to hold onto him for the County Hurdle (2:10pm, Fri) instead.
“He’s a very good horse who was just beaten a short-head in one of the most valuable hurdles races of the season, and if that race had been up the hill at Cheltenham he probably would have won it.
“He’s gone up a few pounds, and there’s the Irish to take on, but you’ve got to give him a good chance. We think he’s a very good horse, so hopefully the weight won’t be enough stop him, while this two-mile trip on the New Course, which is more of a staying course, should suit.
“Both Zambella and Vienna Court will go for the Mares’ Chase (4:50pm, Fri). Vienna Court has been in fine form and just seems to keep improving. Like all of us she seems to love Cheltenham too, having been there twice and won twice so she’s pretty exciting.
“Zambella is a mare we’ve always liked a lot and she’s had another good season. She was going okay in this race last year before falling and would have a good chance too.
“If the ground dries out through the week, which it looks like it could, then Earlofthecotswolds might go for the Martin Pipe (5:30pm, Fri). He’s in super form, has come out of his win at Kempton at the weekend really well and we could easily be tempted to run him if he gets his conditions.”
Best chances
“Overall, I’d say Fantastikas, Gowel Road, and I Like To Move It would be my best three, but I think they’ve all got good claims.
“Vienna Court could be something of a dark horse given she’s fast-improving and is a double-figure price.”
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