Betfair Cotswold Chase: runner-by-runner guide and tip

Six runners have been declared for the Betfair Cotswold Chase (2.25pm) at Cheltenham on Saturday, and L'Homme Presse, the shortest-priced British contender in the ante-post market for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, heads the betting at a best-priced evens. 

Venetia Williams' charge endured a remarkable journey after suffering multiple injuries in 2022, and was absent from the track for almost 391 days. The Jockey Club have recently put a feature together on his road to recovery which is certainly worth a watch when you get chance. 

Irish raider

Gentlemansgame

failed to finish in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup but has some strong form next to his name, and is another who will bid to enhance his Cheltenham Festival credentials here. He is currently a best-priced 40-1 for the blue riband contest.

It is also worth noting that the going is almost certain to change ahead of Saturday. The ground was described as good, good to soft on Thursday, and with rain forecast on Friday, the ground 

 Here's a guide to all the contenders plus a verdict. 

Trainer: Mouse Morris. Jockey: Darragh O'Keeffe. Odds: 5-2.

Positives: Won the Charlie Hall Chase on just his third outing over fences in 2023 and has produced some useful form in defeat at the highest level since then, which included a close fourth in last year’s Punchestown Gold Cup. He also ran a cracker to finish third in the Savills Chase on his return to action, and that is the strongest piece of recent form on offer here.  He's only rated 3lb inferior to L’homme Presse, and his trainer said he should strip fitter for his outing at Leopardstown, which was arguably a career-best effort. 

Negatives: Although he has won over three miles, it is questionable whether he will stay this trip at Cheltenham on ground that could become a shade testing.  It is also a concern he disappointed on his only start at Cheltenham, and even though that was in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, he was beaten a long way from home on soft ground. He could face similar conditions on Saturday, which is unlikely to suit over this trip. 

Verdict: Has the form to go close, but he will need L’homme Presse to underperform if he’s going to score. 

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Jockey: Harry Cobden. Odds: 9-1.

Positives: A smart chaser, at his best, who goes particularly well at this track, and claimed Grade One glory here as a novice at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.His win in the 2023 Paddy Power Gold Cup off a rating of 155 was a smart performance, too, and a case can be made for him on those efforts. He also shaped with more encouragement on his return in the Old Roan in October, his first run since a wind op having disappointed on his final two starts last season. 

Negatives: Has proved a shade disappointing since winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup and his effort in the December Gold Cup when last seen was a backward step. He’s never won over further than an extended 2m4f and while it is worth a go, he isn’t guaranteed to stay this new trip. 

Verdict: Has plenty of questions to answer now, even if a case can be made for him on his best form. 

Trainer: Nicky Henderson. Jockey: Nico de Boinville. Odds: 15-2.

Positives: Quickly developed into a high-class chaser two seasons ago when recording Grade One victories at Cheltenham and Aintree plus was successful in this race in 2022. While things haven’t gone to plan since, he proved he retains plenty of ability when scoring off a rating of 149 – over this course and distance –last time out on his return to chasing and looks set to face similar conditions again on Saturday, which clearly suits. 

Negatives: This 11-year-old has proved a major disappointment over the past couple of seasons and connections were considering hunter chases prior to his latest success, which surely signals they believe he is not as good as he once was. The form of his latest win still falls short of what other rivals here have achieved more recently and needs to prove he can repeat his latest effort having produced string of below-par efforts prior to that. 

Verdict: You can pick holes in his five rivals, so it would not be the biggest surprise if he ends up staying on best, but he will need at least a couple to underperform to go close. 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott. Jockey: Sean Bowen. Odds: 33-1.

Positives: Five-time Grade One winner who has been a brilliant stalwart for the Gordon Elliott team over the past eight years, with three Cheltenham Festival victories also next to his name. He’s a thorough stayer having placed twice in the the Randox Grand National plus has won the past two renewals of the Cross Country Chase (no race last year) at the Cheltenham Festival. Although he is not a Grade One performer anymore, he is still rated 157 and clearly excels at this track. 

Negatives: He is not as good as he once was, and this contest is surely a stepping stone to another tilt at the Cross Country Chase and the Grand National. His two efforts this season do not suggest he is going to strike here and the leading contenders have shown stronger form this Delta Work has in recent seasons. 

Verdict: He is unlikely to be at his best on Saturday and it is hard to make a strong case for Gordon Elliott’s charge. 

Trainer: Venetia Williams. Jockey: Charlie Deutsch. Odds: 11-10.

Positives: A high-class and consistent performer who enjoyed his finest hour when claiming Grade One glory at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. His effort when defeating Protektorat in last year’s Fleur De Lys Chase is also a strong piece of form and he was only headed jumping the second last when fourth in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup last year after helping to set the pace. His form figures of 4113111 suggest the return to a left-handed track will suit, and he shaped with plenty of credit in defeat on his return in the Ladbrokes King George last time out where he would not have been suited by the ground. This course and distance should suit, and the ground looks set to be in his favour. He also receives 6lb from Gentlemansgame, despite being rated 3lb higher than his main rival.

Negatives: Venetia Williams has had just four winners from 33 runners, at the time of writing, this month, and has had plenty of fancied contenders run below par in the past fortnight, which is a concern. He would probably be odds on here if his yard was in better form. 

Verdict: There is no doubt he is the one to beat on these terms and it will be disappointing if he does not prove difficult to beat. 

Trainer: Seamus Mullins. Jockey: Micheal Nolan. Odds: 66-1.

Positives: Was in the process of running a huge race before running out after the third last in the Cross Country Chase at The November Meeting, his first start at Cheltenham, and that would have probably been a career-best effort. He obviously stays well and has form on soft and heavy ground, so won't be hindered by an ease underfoot.

Negatives: His form falls short of what his rivals have achieved and he has a huge amount to find on the ratings. There is also nothing to suggest this ten-year-old is suddenly going to produce a considerable chunk of improvement, and he failed to land a blow in the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase six days ago.

Verdict: It will be a big surprise if he is good enough to score here.

Although Gentlemansgame ran to a high level in the Savills Chase last time out, this is surely a brilliant opportunity for L'HOMME PRESSE to get back to winning ways on these terms. Returning to a left-handed track is a positive and he ran as well as could have been expected in the King George last time considering the ground went against him.

The selection looks the stronger stayer of the two and should have plenty in his favour, with conditions set to ease ahead of Saturday.  

It is hard to make a strong case for the other quartet who all arrive here with question marks to answer, and while the Venetia Williams team could be in better form, that isn't enough to put me off L'Homme Presse.