Saturday ante-post tips at Cheltenham: two Trials Day selections

We have a brilliant day of action to look forward to at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day this weekend, with The New Lion set to take on Sir Gino in the Unibet Hurdle, and other high-profile performers, including Poniros, Grey Dawning and Impose Toi, putting their Cheltenham Festival credentials on the line. 

I struggled to find a bet against those star names, so have instead concentrated on the handicaps on the card, starting with the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase, which has proved to be a rich source of Cheltenham Festival winners. 

The past five winners of the opening contest have recorded form figures of 12121 at the Cheltenham Festival on their next outings, and this year's renewal features plenty of improving contenders.

The going on Tuesday afternoon was described as soft (good to soft in places) on all three tracks, although rain is forecast throughout this week, and Clerk of the Course, Jon Pullin, said on Monday that soft ground is expected. 

I live about 20 miles away from Cheltenham, and it is lashing it down as I write this column, so I'm hoping he's right, as the two selections below both enjoy some give underfoot! 

With plenty of Cheltenham Festival clues on offer this weekend, you may also want to check out Racing TV's Cheltenham free bets page. Be lucky.

Race: Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase (12.05).

Best odds: 6-1 (William Hill).

This seven-year-old has been given plenty of time to mature by connections, and was described as a "big baby" on a couple of occasions last season. He's certainly built like a chaser, and fitted in the "anything he does over hurdles is a bonus" category.

He still produced some strong form over the smaller obstacles, though, and chased home The New Lion at Newbury before winning a Listed contest. He was also sent off favourite for a Grade One at Aintree where he sustained an injury.

It has to be noteworthy that Henderson decided to unleash Califet En Vol over fences at Cheltenham for his chasing debut in December, which isn't something the Seven Barrows maestro often does, and is a sign his charge had been impressing with his schooling at home. 

The RaceiQ data also backs that theory up as, despite a handful of mistakes, he recorded a Jump Index score of 8.3/10 when finding the potentially high-class Sixmilebridge, who had the benefit of race fitness, too good. 

That was an encouraging performance, and while his jumping was not as good over the same course and distance next time out (his RaceiQ Jump Index score was 7.7/10), the gelding probably found the ground too quick, and could not match speedier rivals in the closing stages.

Henderson is on record saying Califet En Vol prefers softer ground, so conditions should be ideal on Saturday, and further progress is highly likely now. His course and distance experience will also be an advantage, and I expect connections will be disappointed if he does not end up better than a 137-rated chaser.

In an exclusive column published on racingtv.com on Monday, Henderson confirmed Califet En Vol will be running at Cheltenham on Saturday, and that "we are out there to try and win". Read more here.

Race: Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (1.15).

Best odds: 4-1 (William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral).

I strongly fancied Booster Bob for the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day but, unfortunately, he was not declared due to good ground.

With soft ground likely, it will be a surprise if he does not line-up here, especially as this is his only entry, and the case remains the same. 

Olly Murphy's charge did remarkably well to record a dramatic win in the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury on his final start last season, a performance which can be upgraded given the amount of ground he conceded, and the runner-up, Vincenzo, has franked that form in valuable handicaps off higher marks since. Saint Segal and 2024 Coral Gold Cup winner Kandoo Kid were also in behind, so it looks a strong piece of form. 

The eight-year-old travelled with more enthusiasm when scoring at the same venue on his return, and impressed with his jumping having recorded a RaceiQ Jump Index score of 8.1, which gained him over 15 lengths.

His performance compared favourably on the clock to the other chases on the card, which featured the Coral Gold Cup, and was another career-best effort. 

He's been raised a further 2lb without running, so is 9lb higher now. That will make life harder for him, but I think he has been a work in progress, and he remains unexposed over this trip.

The New Course at Cheltenham should bring his stamina into play, and the give underfoot will be a positive, while Murphy has been operating at a 27 per cent strike-rate in the past fortnight, at the time of writing. 

Jagwar is the obvious danger, and is priced accordingly, but there's plenty to like about Booster Bob's chances, with Sean Bowen already booked to ride.