Cheltenham Trials Day 2024: Previews, betting tips and racecards for this weekend's horse racing

Cheltenham Festival Trials Day will take place on January 27th, 2024.

This is the final opportunity for punters to see the protagonists take to Cheltenham Racecourse before the Cheltenham Festival begins in March. As a result, Cheltenham Trials Day usually provides us with a clearer picture of what we can expect at the big festival.

Cheltenham Trials Day 2024 features an eight-race card, including six graded contests. At Trials Day, every race has a direct link to the Cheltenham Festival. So, expect to watch several Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup contenders look to enhance their reputation at the meeting in the International Hurdle and the Cotswold Chase.

Read on to discover all of our Cheltenham Trials Day tips for 2024.

Our experts have selected the following picks for Cheltenham Trials Day:

• NAP: Burdett Road (Cheltenham, 12.05), 11/10
• Next best: Paisley Park (Cheltenham, 3.35), 11/4
• Dark horse: Grandeur D’ame (Cheltenham, 1.15), 11/1

Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change, please gamble responsibly.

Keen to see which horses we think will perform well during each race of the Cheltenham Festival Trials?

Here’s our full rundown of each race on the Cheltenham Trials Day racecard, as well as our tips for each race:

A Royal Ascot winner on the level as he landed the Golden Gates Stakes back in June, Burdett Road has changed codes over the autumn and winter of 2023. But, he’s taken to hurdles like a natural since.

He scored easily on his debut and then followed this with a strong showing in a Grade 2 event on the old course back in November. Now, he looks like the leading hope for the home team in the Triumph.

Unlucky to bump into Hermes Allen in a maiden hurdle effort last season, Theatre Man has since managed to get his head in front twice in novice company over intermediate trips.

He was then put away for the summer and brought back as a chaser. Here, he only found the well touted Inch House too good on his chasing debut. However, he did then fail to justify favouritism when last seen over 3 miles at Newbury.

Admittedly he didn’t amount to a great deal over fences last season for trainer Alan King and he only won once in a novice event before his form tailed off towards the end of the season.

However, it looks like things have started to click into place for Grandeur D'Ame and he’s rounding into form nicely heading into Cheltenham Trials Day. After all, he returned to action this season to win a Class Three event by a huge 25 lengths! He then upped in Grade for the December Gold Cup and he put in a decent performance to place fourth behind Fugitif and Il Ridoto.

This year’s Cotswold Chase looks to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. Our pick here is Datsalrightgino, who looks to have plenty going for him coming into the contest. He also might just be the least exposed of those in the staying ranks.

He’s campaigned at 2.5 miles for most of his career and he’s shown he can handle Cheltenham well. After all, he won a Novice Hurdle here and went close in a chase behind Stage Star. That said, he was unable to go the gallop at the Cheltenham Festival, despite being favourite for the Plate Handicap.

It’s impossible to get away from the Nicky Henderson favourite in this race. After all, Jonbon has only tasted defeat twice in his career over obstacles.

Although he found Constitution Hill too good in the Supreme and was beaten by El Fabiolo in the Arkle, he remains blemish free when not facing such lofty rivals.

The two mares are eating up a good chunk of the market at the head of affairs, but we think that there’s still a good bit of value in Rubaud’s price at this level.

As impressive as Lossiemouth was in the Triumph, it’s notoriously difficult for 5-year-olds stepping into open company and she’s lacking a recent run to sharpen her up. Similarly, Love Envoi doesn’t tend to be at her best over 2 miles. As a result, both are likely using this as a stepping stone to the Mare’s Hurdle in March.

It previously looked like the curtain was coming down on Paisley Park’s glittering career. But, the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle winner has regained his sparkle and the revival he’s shown this season has been electric.

He’s only been beaten by the narrowest of margins on both of his outings this season, with a lack of recent running likely getting the better of him at Newbury and younger legs triumphing over him at Ascot.

A winner between the flags in a point to point who then made the transition to rules seamlessly when winning a bumper back in March of last year.

A winning start over hurdles saw Johnnywho get the better of Moon D’Orange at Carlisle. He’s also done the form no harm since by coming 3rd in a Grade 2!

Johnnywho was last seen running in the Challow Hurdle and he showed himself well enough to be 4th and only beaten by 2 lengths.

Looking for even more horse racing tips? Then head over to our free daily horse racing tips page. Alternatively, depending on your style of betting, why not try our NAP of the day or our dark horse tips?

Heading to the racecourse this weekend and looking for some tips for the festival you’re attending? Take a look at our racecourse guides. With these, you can learn about our tips for that day of racing, the intricacies of the track and the jockeys and trainers that have performed well previously.