Cheltenham December Meeting - Saturday Preview - 13/12/19

Gary Moore currently holds the ante post favourite for the Triumph Hurdle and he looks to have a strong chance in the December trial with Botox Has.

Alan King’s Group Stage poses a big threat but our selection’s performance at Fontwell was very taking and he ran like a sure-fire improver when second at the November meeting.

Allmankind set a fierce pace and he had to make up ground from an unfavourable position but he was staying on nicely in the closing stages and returns to a sounder surface.

The horse he thrashed by 18l on good ground in October followed up next time out.

Nicky Henderson has won this race three times since 2011 and Mister Fisher looks the pick of his pair in this year’s renewal.

This Jeremy gelding was strong in the market on chase debut when finishing second to Torpillo and the 3rd has since followed up convincingly.

He is sure to improve for this step up in trip and he receives a healthy 8lb from top weight.

Dan Skelton is prolific in these Cheltenham handicaps and Destier, who is much better going left-handed, looks good enough to cope with top-weight.

He finished 3l behind Janika despite jumping left at Exeter and that form makes him the one to beat here.

As a 6-y-o he has more room for progression up against older horses and he will be fit from his recent outing.

Paul Nicholls has a terrific record in this race and our antepost selection Secret Investor has been strong in the market throughout the week.

He was second to Real Steel in adverse conditions on return and now returned to reasonable ground in full-fitness he rates a strong e/w proposition.

Secondly, Not That Fuisee looks interesting based on his staying-on second to Al Dancer at this track a few months back.

He jumped poorly but tanked up the hill looking every bit a staying type. If reproducing that effort he will be there at the finish.

It is a typically competitive renewal of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle but we have found a live e/w chance in Mossy Fen.

The yard have picked up this prize twice since 2014 and on jockey bookings he is their number one.

As a 4-y-o he is the least experienced but based on his two runs this season that shouldn’t be a problem. He stays well and could be very hard to pass if getting his own way out in front.

He goes well left-handed and should relish the hill.

Last year’s Triumph winner Pentland Hills is likely to be popular here but it is easy to pick holes in his form and it is another Henderson charge which catches our eye.

Call Me Lord is in off 11st and the way he travelled through his race at Ascot suggests he could still be a force at 2m.

We have followed this horse since his smooth debut victory at Sandown and quotes of 6/1 posses big e/w value.

Elixir De Nutz is also interesting at the prices but he has a break to overcome.

Queens Cave has a live chance here and looks overpriced at 8/1 but it is hard to bet against Dame De Compagnie, who is evidently held in high-regard with connections being so patient.

She returned from a 577 day-break to finish an eye-catching fifth here in November and a 2lb rise looks lenient.

The owners aren’t shy of landing a nice-touch in these races here so we expect her to go off shorter than 7/2.