Joe’s best betting tips for Cheltenham’s Christmas Meeting (13-14 December)
Don’t you just love this time of year? The racing comes thick and fast and it feels like every weekend we have a big meeting to get stuck into. The Christmas Meeting formerly known as The International Meeting is sandwiched perfectly between the November Meeting and the racing on New Year’s Day with the December Gold Cup the undoubted highlight. The racing looks as competitive as ever but as a result there is plenty of value on offer so buckle up and let’s start as we mean to go on. As well as my best horse racing bets, you can get the best online horse racing bookmaker to place your next winning bet. Best bets for the Cheltenham Christmas Meeting Friday 13th December 12.10 – THAT’S NICE at evens with Sky Bet 12.40 – CALDWELL POTTER to win at 10/11 with Sky Bet 1.15 – WRECKLESS ERIC each way at 7/1 with bet365 1.50 – KING TURGEON to win at 3/1 with bet365 2.25 – SHAKEM UP’ARRY each way at 9/2 with bet365 3.00 – MISTER COFFEY each way at 11/2 with bet365 3.35 – DOYEN QUEST to win at 7/4 with Sky Bet Saturday 14th December 12.10 – LAVENDER HILL MOB to win at 2/1 with bet365 12.40 – PEAKY BOY to win at 11/4 with bet365 1.13 – THEONEWEDREAMOF each way at 6/1 with bet365 1.50 – MADARA each way at 5/1 with Sky Bet 2.25 – MASTER CHEWY to win at 5/2 with Sky Bet 3.00 – CLONDAW GENERAL to win at 3/1 with bet365 3.35 – JOYEUSE to win at 5/2 with bet365 Cheltenham 12.10 This is a race that has been won by some nice types down the years so don’t be fooled by the small field as all four of these have potential. THAT’S NICE does look a standout for Nicky Henderson though. This Walk In The Park filly made a taking start under Rules winning on the bridle at Warwick despite looking far from the finished article. The runner-up Honky Tonk Highway has won at Sandown since so the form has been franked. She’ll improve plenty and can remain unbeaten. Irish raider Wingmen also made a bright start over hurdles and looks the one to give her most to think about. Bet on THAT’S NICE to win at Evens with Sky Bet Cheltenham 12.40 I know Nicky Henderson thinks a lot of Jango Baie and he has sent some good ones for this over the years in the shape of Mister Fisher and Fusil Raffles but he lacks experience and that would have to be a worry. CALDWELL POTTER however has always looked a chaser and made a pretty faultless start at Carlisle at the start of the month. He will improve again up in trip and looks a deserved favourite. Springwell Bay isn’t a forlorn hope either back down in trip as his chase debut win at Chepstow was impressive and has been well advertised since. Bet on CALDWELL POTTER to win at 10/11 with Sky Bet Cheltenham 1.15 A fiercely competitive handicap hurdle now and the each way value may well lie with WRECKLESS ERIC for Jonjo O’Neill. This good looker confirmed the promise of his reappearance run (fell 2 out when in contention) to win readily at the November meeting here last time. He was given a patient ride that day before picking them off and he stayed on well to win with a bit up his sleeve. He is 8lb higher now but clearly has more to offer and at 7/1 should give us a good run for our money. Willmount is still armed with a lot of potential and is a danger to all. Bet on WRECKLESS ERIC each way at 7/1 with bet365 Cheltenham 1.50 Chianti Classico will understandably prove popular here after carrying a big weight to success on reappearance at Ascot last month. He is up another 5lb though and comes up against the improving KING TURGEON for David Piple. The latter is going from strength to strength putting in a terrific jumping display to win at Chepstow on return before improving to take the Grand Sefton at Aintree last month. He is 6lb higher but has more to come and can complete the hat-trick. Chianti Classico is the danger but The Newest One could run well at a bigger price too. Bet on KING TURGEON to win at 3/1 with bet365 Cheltenham 2.25 I do love watching these Veteran events and I’m pretty sure most of us would have bet on all of these down the years at some point. SHAKEM UP’ARRY is lightly raced in comparison to some of these and a return to this venue could see him back to his best. He beat a good horse in Crebilly over C&D in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival and while he disappointed at Aintree he should bounce back and be a big player off his mark. Eldorado Allen still showed enthusiasm for the game when second at Warwick on return last month and will be spot on for this now so looks the danger. Bet on SHAKEM UP’ARRY each way at 9/2 with bet365 Cheltenham 3.00 The Cross Country is always a fascinating watch and MISTER COFFEY would have gone into plenty of Notebooks off the back of that run behind Sweet David at the November meeting 28 days ago. That was his first sight over this course and I loved the way he ran on up the hill. That was his first start f
Don’t you just love this time of year? The racing comes thick and fast and it feels like every weekend we have a big meeting to get stuck into.
The Christmas Meeting formerly known as The International Meeting is sandwiched perfectly between the November Meeting and the racing on New Year’s Day with the December Gold Cup the undoubted highlight. The racing looks as competitive as ever but as a result there is plenty of value on offer so buckle up and let’s start as we mean to go on.
As well as my best horse racing bets, you can get the best online horse racing bookmaker to place your next winning bet.
Best bets for the Cheltenham Christmas Meeting
Friday 13th December
- 12.10 – THAT’S NICE at evens with Sky Bet
- 12.40 – CALDWELL POTTER to win at 10/11 with Sky Bet
- 1.15 – WRECKLESS ERIC each way at 7/1 with bet365
- 1.50 – KING TURGEON to win at 3/1 with bet365
- 2.25 – SHAKEM UP’ARRY each way at 9/2 with bet365
- 3.00 – MISTER COFFEY each way at 11/2 with bet365
- 3.35 – DOYEN QUEST to win at 7/4 with Sky Bet
Saturday 14th December
- 12.10 – LAVENDER HILL MOB to win at 2/1 with bet365
- 12.40 – PEAKY BOY to win at 11/4 with bet365
- 1.13 – THEONEWEDREAMOF each way at 6/1 with bet365
- 1.50 – MADARA each way at 5/1 with Sky Bet
- 2.25 – MASTER CHEWY to win at 5/2 with Sky Bet
- 3.00 – CLONDAW GENERAL to win at 3/1 with bet365
- 3.35 – JOYEUSE to win at 5/2 with bet365
Cheltenham 12.10
This is a race that has been won by some nice types down the years so don’t be fooled by the small field as all four of these have potential. THAT’S NICE does look a standout for Nicky Henderson though. This Walk In The Park filly made a taking start under Rules winning on the bridle at Warwick despite looking far from the finished article.
The runner-up Honky Tonk Highway has won at Sandown since so the form has been franked. She’ll improve plenty and can remain unbeaten. Irish raider Wingmen also made a bright start over hurdles and looks the one to give her most to think about.
