Cheltenham Tips For ITV Racing On Friday: 1-2-3 December Meeting Best Bets

It’s day one of the December Meeting at Cheltenham on Friday and you can see Andy Newton’s quickfire 1-2-3 ITV racing tips for the five LIVE contests.

Cheltenham Tips for ITV Racing On Friday 15th December 2023

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• 1:15: Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle Cl3 2m1f ITV4: DODDIETHEGREAT (e/w)
  
• 1:50: Cheltenham Racecourse Food Bank Collection Mares’ Handicap Chase 2m4½f ITV4: I AM GONNA BE (e/w)
• 2:25: Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase Cl2 2m 4½f ITV4: STORM CONTROL (e/w)
• 3:00: Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase 3m5½f ITV4: FRANCKY DU BERLAIS (e/w)
• 3:35: Citipost Handicap Hurdle Cl2 3m ITV4: TIGER JET (e/w)

Note: Odds are supplied from BetMGM and are subject to change

You can also narrow down the runners and put history on your side with Andy Newton’s Friday ITV Cheltenham trends here.

Cheltenham Tips: 1-2-3 Best Bets On December Meeting Day One

It’s all set for a cracking day at Prestbury Park on Friday and SportsLens’ Andy Newton, gives you is take on the five LIVE ITV4 races.

1:15: Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (3yo+ 0-140) 2m1f ITV4

SportsLens (Andy Newton) 1-2-3 Cheltenham Tips: The unbeaten Nicky Henderson-trained DODDIETHEGREAT can get ITV racing backers off to a flyer. This 7 year-old has had his problems with just four career runs that span over three years – however, returned last month from a 746-day break to win well at Ascot. Yes, the dreaded ‘bounce factor’ comes into play too. But, connections have given him three weeks off to recover and he could finally have a clear run at showing us what he’s capable of.

If Doddie has an off day, then the Paul Nicholls runner Panjari can pick up the pieces. He caught the eye when winning well at Taunton last month and despite this a harder race looks to be on the up. Williethebuilder, who was a fine third at the track last time, can also make his presence felt.

• DOODIETHEGREAT (e/w)
  
• Panjari
  
• Williethebuilder

1:50: Cheltenham Racecourse Food Bank Collection Mares’ Handicap Chase (Challenger Series Qualifier) Cl3 (4yo+ 0-125) 2m4½f ITV4

SportsLens (Andy Newton) 1-2-3 Cheltenham Tips: The Lucinda Russell yard does well at the track with their chasers with a 25% strike-rate and also have their horses in fair form. With that in mind, I AM GONNA BE (e/w) is chanced here after returning last month with a nice silver at Ayr. A 3lb hike for that looks fair and jockey Patrick Wadge remains in the saddle to claim 3lbs. That last run was also her first back since a wind op, so it clearly had an impact and that was also her first run over fences so would have learned a lot.

Topweight, La Malmason, for the shrewd Gavin Cromwell Irish yard, is also respected having run third to the useful Found A Fifty last time. While CD winner Walk In Clover is another that can get involved.

• I AM GONNA BE (e/w)
  
• La Malmason
• Walk In Clover

2:25: Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase Cl2 (9yo+ 0-150) 2m4½f ITV4

SportsLens (Andy Newton) 1-2-3 Cheltenham Tips: Some old faces on show here in this veteran’s race, including last year’s winner Magic Dancer for trainer Kerry Lee. However, it’s another runner from the Lee camp that gets the nod – STORM CONTROL (e/w). This 10 year-old is a proven course winner here – when successful at this meeting in 2020.

He’s only won once more since, but as a result is starting to look very well-treated off a mark of 129 and also gets in here with just 10-7 to carry. His last win came off a 3lbs higher mark and the yard have been amongst the winners in the last few weeks too, plus boast a 27% strike-rate with their chasers at the track.

Former CD winner Cepage and recent Kempton winner Le Ligerien are others that can get in the shake-up.

• STORM CONTROL (e/w)
  
• Cepage
  
• Le Ligerien

3:00: Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (5yo+) 3m5½f ITV4

SportsLens (Andy Newton) 1-2-3 Cheltenham Tips: Galvin, who was runner-up in the Cross Country race at the Festival will be on many shortlists. However, he ran below-par the last day here – beaten 21 lengths. The worry is that he’s not won a race now since October 2022. Former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo is an interesting runner over these fences for the first time. But having past experience of these obstacles has been a good stat in the past with 15 of the last 18 winners having had run over the Cross Country course before.

With that in mind, FRANCKY DU BERLAIS (e/w), who was fourth here last time out over the course, is the pick. He’s dropped a pound for that run and gets in again with a low weight (10-2), while the useful Sean Bowen rides. This will be his fourth run over the fences so is slowly building up experience and the way he stayed on last time was another plus.

Former Foxhunter winner Latenightpass loves these type of fences as was second over this track last month – a repeat of that will see him go close off just a 3lbs higher mark. While past winner of the race, Diesel D’Allier could be overlooked at a price with a light weight and a chance is also taken on the Grand Sefton winner Gesskille, who has proved himself over the Grand National fences which bodes well for his first try here.

• FRANCKY DU BERLAIS (e/w)
  
• Diesel D’Allier
  
• Gesskille

3:35: Citipost Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 3m ITV4

SportsLens (Andy Newton) 1-2-3 Cheltenham Tips: The final race on day one of the Cheltenham December Meeting is a tricky handicap hurdle with 10 runners that could all have a squeak. Last year’s winner Captain Morgs is back for more and has to be respected for the Nicky Henderson yard, despite being 3lbs higher. While the Seven Barrows camp also run Bold Endeavour. At the time of writing the Racing Post have jockey Nico de Boinville down as riding them both.  So that will be an interesting day out for him. Which ever one he does end up on is sure to be the shorter-priced in the betting with the best UK horse racing betting sites.

The horse that is given the pick though is the Brian Ellison runner – TIGER JET (e/w). This 7 year-old caught the eye last time at the track when third at the November Meeting and was only beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Springwell Bay that day. Up just 2lbs for that and top jockey Harry Cobden remains in the saddle.

Of the rest, the pair of White Rhino and Gyenyame are also sure to be popular with punters given their consistent profiles.

• TIGER JET (e/w)
• Captain Morgs
  
• Gyenyame