Horse Racing | Friday, December 15, 2023 6:30 PM

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Cheltenham, Doncaster, December 16th

PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo Runners and riders during the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase on day one of the November Meeting at Cheltenham racecourse.

Stephen Harris

Horse Racing Expert

Today’s Racing Tips – December 16th

Saturday’s ITV racing coverage has the best of the jumping action from Cheltenham and Doncaster, with drying eased ground likely after a better week weather-wise and some really tough and competitive handicaps to solve across both tracks. There is Graded action at Prestbury Park, with the 3.05pm sure to attract some very exciting young novices from Britain and Ireland.

In this article:

Today’s Daily Nap

In Excelsis Deo

Doncaster 1:15 (UK time)

Harry Fry’s young chaser returned to the fray with a cracking third over this course and distance 49 days ago, and is entitled to sharpen up fitness-wise with the run under his belt. There should be plenty more to come over fences after just five career starts, and the improving ground conditions this week should be very much in his favour under Jonathan Burke.

Odds: NA

Today’s Value Angle

Monmiral

Cheltenham 1:50 (UK time)

Paul Nicholls has a brilliant record in the valuable Saturday handicaps, and fresh might be the time to catch this classy performer. He won five times over hurdles between 2020 and 2021, and remains open to improvement over fences after just three career starts (highly tried against warm novices each time).

Odds: NA

Odds are best odds available as at 9am December 16th 2023. Odds may now differ.

ITV Racing Tips – Saturday December 16th

Time (UK)	Track	Horse	Analysis
1:15	Cheltenham	In Excelsis Deo	Harry Fry’s young chaser returned to the fray with a cracking third over this course and distance 49 days ago, and is entitled to sharpen up fitness-wise with the run under his belt. There should be plenty more to come over fences after just five career starts, and the improving ground conditions this week should be very much in his favour under Jonathan Burke.
1:50	Cheltenham	Monmiral	Paul Nicholls has a brilliant record in the valuable Saturday handicaps, and fresh might be the time to catch this classy performer. He won five times over hurdles between 2020 and 2021, and remains open to improvement over fences after just three career starts (highly tried against warm novices each time).
2:05	Doncaster	Deeper Blue	Harry Fry’s novice has not been easy to train, forced to have a year off the track before his return at Plumpton in October (where he posted a very promising effort from miles off the pace). He has been given time to recover from that effort to avoid the dreaded bounce factor, has optimum conditions at Doncaster on Saturday (flat track and the ground drying out this week).
2:25	Cheltenham	Elvis Mail	Nick Alexander has enjoyed a cracking couple of months as usual at this time of year, and his progressive chaser impressed when landing hefty market confidence at Kelso last time out (digging deep on the run in). He now has a career high mark to defy under regular claiming rider Bruce Lynn, but should relish the test of stamina over 3m2f with a strong pace early on likely to help him settle.
2:40	Doncaster	Gin Coco	Harry Fry’s progressive handicapper landed hefty market confidence at Ascot last month in a decent race for the grade, and he is fancied to defy a career high mark at Doncaster on Saturday. He has now won 3 of his 9 career starts over hurdles, and the improving ground conditions in the past few days have very much come in his favour under the promising 3lb claimer Ben Bromley.
3:00	Cheltenham	Cadell	Lucinda Russell’s promising novice let down backers when turned over at odds-on at Kelso in November, but that muddling small field did not suit and this stiffer stamina test should unlock plenty more improvement. He looked a smart prospect on hurdling debut in October, and this stiff three miles should suit ideally under regular rider Derek Fox.
3:15	Doncaster	Castle Robin	Charlie Longsden would be better known for winners in the spring and summer on decent ground, but he seems sure to have his useful chaser fit and primed after eight months on the sidelines. He has won once and been placed twice from three previous visits to Doncaster, and a typically attacking ride from the front by Paul O’Brien could soon take these rivals out of their comfort zone from an early stage.
3:35	Cheltenham	Good Luck Charm	Anthony Honeyball has a fantastic yard full of promising young horses this season, and his versatile mare is worth sticking with despite being raised up the weights for a shock 18/1 win at Wincanton in November. She has now won 3 of her 5 career starts over hurdles after failing to take to fences in six attempts last winter, and this extended 2m4f should suit under the excellent Sam Twiston-Davies.