14:00
Cheltenham
Odds correct as of 9:48am 13th Dec
All eyes will no doubt be on a fantastic card at Cheltenham tomorrow, and Doncaster have a cracking card too, but I’m very interested in the opening beginners’ chase over the extended two miles at Fairyhouse. The race could give us some Cheltenham Festival clues and one horse in particular might surprise a few! Check out our free horse racing tips which are live on the website right now.
The hugely exciting Majborough is set to go off a warm order for this beginners’ chase. He won the Triumph Hurdle, is light raced, and it’s fascinating that Willie Mullins wastes no time in sending him chasing. However, will the four-year-old have it all his own way?
One thing is for sure, he’s going to have to be very good to beat both Tullyhill and Asian Master. He is a big unit of a horse and is better than the pair over hurdles, but it’s a big ask to dominate the novice division over fences as a four-year-old.
I think Asian Master is a cracking price on Saturday, and is also a cracking price for the Arkle. Initially thought to be a proper staying type, he showed plenty of speed when winning twice over hurdles last season and was only beaten five lengths into fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
His point form is very interesting. Asian Master finished runner-up to current Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Fact To File at Belharbour in 2022, and he also won a further two points, including when beating Now Is The Hour. That horse won a Grade 2 hurdle at Haydock emphatically in February.
Chasing was always going to be Asian Master’s game and if he can beat Majborough tomorrow, the seven-year-old will shorten a lot for the Arkle.
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