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 for 279 days so he should come on plenty and off a 2lb lower mark with the ground still in his favour he will run a big race. Stumptown impressed winning in Ireland last month and is definitely in with a good chance in this.

Bet on MISTER COFFEY each way at 11/2 with bet365

Cheltenham 3.35

There was an air of inevitability about that win from DOYEN QUEST at the November meeting here last month. He made quite a bad mistake at the second flight but that didn’t stop him slicing through the pack to win in the style of a very well handicapped horse.

He is understandably 10lb higher now but remains completely unexposed over this trip and this looks another good opportunity. Long Draw ran well chasing home handicap blot Hamsiyann last month and another run like that would make him the biggest danger.

Bet on DOYEN QUEST to win at 7/4 with Sky Bet

Saturday 14th December

Cheltenham 12.10

I know LAVENDER HILL MOB let supporters down on hurdles debut at Newcastle but he may well have bumped into quite a nice horse in the shape of Inappropriate. His trainer James Owen still thinks a lot of him and it wouldn’t surprise me if he got back on track here.

Quantock Hills showed a good attitude to win well at Fontwell last month but that form has been let down somewhat since which is a bit worrying. Total Look is over from Ireland and is another one that could get competitive.

Bet on LAVENDER HILL MOB to win at 2/1 with bet365

Cheltenham 12.40

After going 2-2 over hurdles PEAKY BOY made a really promising start over fences winning readily at the November meeting here last time. He landed a bit awkwardly 2 out and it was hard to tell how well he was going but he quickly came back on the bridle and stayed on well to win by 2 and a half lengths.

This step up beyond 3 miles looks sure to suit and he is a horse we could see winning a nice prize at the Festival in March. Definitely one to keep on side with the yard going great guns. Transmission impressed winning here last time and could be the one to give him most to think about.

Bet on PEAKY BOY to win at 11/4 with bet365

Cheltenham 1.13

The step back up in trip should see THEONEWEDREAMOF come good here. She impressed winning at Tipperary back in the summer and despite failing to fire on the Flat at Galway she has been put away since and retains plenty of potential.

She is off a mark of just 111 and I can see that being lenient. The Skelton team are represented by Coco Mademoiselle who I can see running a big race. She was beaten just a head on chase debut at Worcester but that experience won’t have been lost on her.

Bet on THEONEWEDREAMOF each way at 6/1 with bet365

Cheltenham 1.50

I know we only have 11 runners for the December Gold Cup but there should be plenty of pace on and that can play into the hands of MADARA for Dan Skelton. This 5yo was given a very quiet ride on stable debut at Ascot but left that behind to run a massive race in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month and that is often a good pointer for this race.

Harry Skelton takes over in the saddle and he could be off a very good mark off just 140. He usually comes good at this time of year and has plenty in his favour. Fugitif won this last year and is another one likely to be played late which should suit. He needs to be delivered late and might not be the most straightforward but definitely lurks as a big danger.

Bet on MADARA each way at 5/1 with Sky Bet

Cheltenham 2.25

Libberty Hunter wants softer ground so it is worth chancing MASTER CHEWY. He has fallen on two of his last four starts so he’ll need to put in a clear round of jumping but if he does I expect him to give weight and a beating to this field.

He was denied just a head by Found A Fifty at Aintree earlier in the year and had Libberty Hunter 11 lengths back that day. He will find this easier than the Tingle Creek last time and as long as this doesn’t come too soon I make him the one to beat. Third Time Lucki needed the run off a long layoff behind Matata but could come forward and run better here.

Bet on MASTER CHEWY to win at 5/2 with Sky Bet

Cheltenham 3.00

Skyjack Hijack has been one of the success stories of the season so far making it 6 wins in a row at Newcastle last month. My worry is connections said they were going to take a break with him after that but have instead come here for this.

I think he is opposable at the top of the market and CLONDAW GENERAL is a horse I really like. It is all based on potential with him but he was impressive in a point to point and then stayed on strongly to make a winning start under Rules at Worcester. I expect him to come forward plenty again and he is a horse that could do well going forward.

Bet on CLONDAW GENERAL to win at 3/1 with bet365

Cheltenham 3.35

I’m really looking forward to seeing JOYEUSE out again and she could be one of the gambles of the day here for Nicky Henderson. She beat a nice horse of Paul Nicholls in Tutti Quanti at Taunton and that horse has won readily at Ffos Las since to boost the form. In fact that race has produced multiple winners since which is always encouraging to see.

She was beaten at Ascot on return but the winner was Celtic Dino who looks hugely exciting and the runner-up Wade Out is also a horse with a lot of potential. An opening mark of just 119 could prove lenient and I expect her to get firmly back on track now.

Bet on JOYEUSE to win at 5/2 with bet365

My top tip for this weekend’s Cheltenham racing

It is punter heaven this weekend with Cheltenham back on our screens and I’ve got a feeling it might be ‘gamble landed’ for the Nicky Henderson team in the mares’ handicap hurdle. JOYEUSE beat Tutti Quanti pretty much head in chest at Taunton before finishing an excellent third at Ascot on her return.

That form involving Celtic Dino and Wade Out is particularly strong and now handicapping off a mark of 119 with the step up in trip sure to suit she can prove a cut above these.

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